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Roadmap 2026
by Norman Feske 29 Dec '25

29 Dec '25

Hello everyone, I'm writing this email on a Sculpt OS image [1] running on Genode's custom kernel and using HID as the format for its textual user interface [2]. To me personally, a distant dream has just become real. What else happened this year, and where to go next? Let me kick off our annual roadmap discussion with sharing my perspective and ambitions. [1] https://genode.discourse.group/t/sculpt-25-10-with-hid-syntax-highlighting [2] https://genodians.org/nfeske/2024-12-20-moving-on-from-xml Reflection of 2025 ------------------ Our overarching theme for this year was "rigidity, clarity, performance" [3]. My main contributions towards these goals had been the replacement of C++ exceptions by sum types throughout the framework, and the move from XML to the lean syntax I envisioned 2,5 years ago and officially proposed in December last year [2]. [3] https://genode.org/about/road-map Both topics had ripple effects on the entire code base. The systematic change of the error handling to sum types forced me to reconsider the longest-standing system-wide abstractions such as the low-level allocator interfaces, to the welcome effect of becoming conscious of all possible error conditions, unveiling loose ends formerly obscured, and ultimately solving them. I'm extremely grateful to my team mates who joint the effort, e.g., Alexander applying the new error handling scheme to the seL4-specific portions of Genode, or Stefan for the tremendous curation of our custom kernel as well as Genode's virtualization interfaces. It has been a long way. But now we have the luxury of knowing that Genode's base system has left no error condition unconsidered. The replacement of XML with a human-friendly alternative had been largely my personal line of work. While being convinced of the goal, I was quite cautious of possible disruption. I tried hard to not distract my colleagues from their working topics by pursuing the migration path to the new syntax on my own account while upholding the framework's compatibility to XML. I was quite afraid to disrupt API users external to our team for a mere syntactic change. However, by combining the change with an API revision that addresses long-standing deficiencies of the former XML utilities, I could justify the disruption. We had to revise the XML processing anyway. The introduced 'Node' and 'Generator' APIs generally simplify the code, do not rely on exceptions, and improve memory safety. Even we kept XML, this repair would have been needed rather sooner than later. As the intended side effect, components using the new API became syntax-agnostic. Voila. In summer, I managed to start up Sculpt OS using the new syntax, and in October, I switched to this flavour full time, eating my own dog food with great delight. All the while working on these main topics, I witnessed wonderful things happening in Genode land: With the new scheduler and the added virtualization support for our custom kernel, the final puzzle pieces have fallen into place for using Sculpt as self-sufficient OS without depending on a 3rd-party kernel! The culmination of a seemingly eternal line of work, which started as a heretic idea "Couldn't roottask and the kernel be merged into one program?" I dared to utter in 2007 to the distress of the Dresden church of L4, then first explored by Martin Stein with Genode on the Xilinx Microblaze in 2011 [4], then moved to the realms of x86 by Adrian-Ken Rueegsegger and Reto Buerki in 2015 [5], then becoming our go-to kernel for using Genode on ARM for many years, later equipped with x86 virtualization support by Ben, and now finally made fit for general-purpose use with Sculpt OS by Stefan and Johannes. Given this long story, having the kernel now running on the laptop under my fingers is truly amazing. [4] https://genode.org/documentation/release-notes/11.02#Approaching_platform_s… [5] https://genode.org/documentation/release-notes/15.05#Principal_support_for_… Another super satisfying sight had been the coolness of Sebastian, Josef, and Alex while updating our arsenal of Linux-based drivers to Linux 6.12, reinforcing hardware support as one of Genode's most distinctive features in the world microkernel-based systems. The tool-chain update to GCC-14 went equally smooth, thanks to the careful preparation and execution by Christian Prochaska. Finally, I'm overly happy to see the proliferation of the Goa SDK as the central tool for the development of Genode software. I see Josef's re-organization of the Genode-world repository as a Goa-project tree as the begin of a new chapter. Ambitions for 2026 ------------------ What could that "new chapter" be about? I think it should be about building bridges. Bridges to other open-source projects. Bridges to a variety of programming languages. Bridges to new user demographies. Bridges for the interoperability of applications. Personally, I feel the urge to implement HID parsers to different programming languages while - at the same time - bringing those programming languages to Genode. So we gain new freedom for implementing components, and the HID syntax could potentially become useful elsewhere. Another interest of mine is the seamless interoperability of Genode components in a sort of capability-based desktop environment. As a preparatory step, I'm longing to make the VFS more flexible, in particular adding dynamic reconfiguration support. Closely related to the VFS, I'm dreaming of making the GUI session available as a VFS plugin. With the GUI session exposed as file-system interface, the porting of GUI toolkits will become easier because those toolkits no longer need to interface with Genode's C++ API. For Sculpt OS, I have a long list of topics in the back of mind. I hope that I will have the time to realize the on-screen documentation view and the interactive management of USB devices. I'd love to see HID becoming the default in Sculpt OS 26.04 and to drop the support for XML in version 26.10. How about you? -------------- I'm eager to learn about the perspectives and plans of you, users and developers alike. What is your retrospective on Genode in 2025? Which topics are of most interest to you? How do my plans resonate with you? What are your plans for 2026? Where do you see Genode by the end of 2026? Following the tradition of the previous years, I'll do my best to distill your input along with the plans of Genode Labs into the project's official road map by mid of January. Cheers Norman -- Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske Genode Labs https://www.genode-labs.com · https://genode.org Genode Labs GmbH · Amtsgericht Dresden · HRB 28424 · Sitz Dresden Geschäftsführer: Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske, Christian Helmuth

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write access to U-BOOT environment with Genode 25.08 onward
by Pirmin Duss 28 Nov '25

28 Nov '25

Hello Genodians We have an tool that can read / write the environment of U-BOOT. On Genode 25.05 reading / writing works without any problems. The relevant part of the config looks as follows: <start name="usdhc" caps="150" ram="16M"> <binary name="imx8mq_sd_card"/> <provides> <service name="Block"/> </provides> <config report="yes"> <default-policy device="mmcblk1boot0" writeable="yes"/> </config> <route> <any-service> <parent/> </any-service> </route> </start> <start name="uboot_tool" caps="100" ram="16M"> <route> <service name="Block"> <child name="usdhc"/> </service> <any-service> <parent/> </any-service> </route> </start> When switching to Genode 25.08 or sculpt-25.10 there is the following error when trying to write: [init -> uboot_tool] Error: failed to read environment data WRITE block=7680 count=128 Read access still works. How do I need to update the policy to allow write access to the U-BOOT partition? For normal partitions it adding the default policy as described in the release notes for Genode 25.08 was sufficient. Kind regards, Pirmin

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Announcement: Genode OS Framework version 25.11 released
by Christian Helmuth 27 Nov '25

27 Nov '25

Hello everyone, I'm happy to announce the release of Genode 25.11. https://genode.org/documentation/release-notes/25.11 In this release, we wrap up our year of "rigidity, clarity, performance" with many under-the-hood improvements as well as some prominent changes. First, our custom kernel received special tuning of its new CPU scheduler addressing Sculpt-OS workloads on devices with limited resources (e.g., the Pinephone) as well as beefy Intel notebooks. Also, the new human-inclined data (HID) configuration format is now supported in almost all Genode components simultaneously with XML. The most impactful topic, however, is a new modus operandi of co-maintaining applications and libraries in the Genode-World repository, which is re-designated as meeting place for concerted efforts. The latter is supported by new enhancements of the Goa SDK to make software co-maintenance a nonchalant task. Further the release addresses the use of seL4 on 64-bit ARM, Intel Alder Lake GPUs, and USB-to-serial adapters, as well as the addition of TCP/IP Keep Alive. The current release contains the following changes and new features: - Genode-world repository transitioned to the Goa SDK - Goa SDK improvements for project co-maintenance - Maturing human-inclined data (HID) processing and tooling - Automatic restarting of health-monitored components - TCP/IP keep-alive and keep-address functionality - New driver for USB-to-serial adapters - Intel GPU on Alder Lake platforms - Compatibility to the seL4 kernel on 64-bit ARM - X2APIC support for Genode's custom base-hw kernel - Streamlined and modernized on-target test suite Read the complete release documentation for the version 25.11 here https://genode.org/documentation/release-notes/25.11 Best regards -- Christian Helmuth Genode Labs https://www.genode-labs.com/ · https://genode.org/ https://floss.social/@genode · https://genodians.org/ https://de.linkedin.com/company/genodelabs Genode Labs GmbH · Amtsgericht Dresden · HRB 28424 · Sitz Dresden Geschäftsführer: Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske, Christian Helmuth

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Announcement: Sculpt OS version 25.10.1
by Norman Feske 21 Nov '25

21 Nov '25

Dear Sculpt-OS users, today we released a minor update of Sculpt OS - version 25.10.1 - that contains a number of bug fixes (most importantly [1]) and various refinements such as: - Solved touch-keyboard glitches in the symbol layer on the PinePhone - Enabled GPU-accelerated graphics on Intel Alderlake - VBox shared clipboard enabled on the HRD version - Preserved formatting when using /tool/hrd to manipulate data The new version is available for the PC, PinePhone, and MNT Reform. My personal "human-readable-data" flavor [2] published as 'nfeske' has also been updated. You can find Sculpt OS 25.10.1 in the system-update dialog or as downloadable images at: https://genode.org/download/sculpt Hoping you will enjoy the new version, Norman [1] https://genode.discourse.group/t/possibility-of-data-corruption-with-raw-vm… [2] https://genodians.org/nfeske/2025-10-30-sculpt-human -- Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske Genode Labs https://www.genode-labs.com · https://genode.org Genode Labs GmbH · Amtsgericht Dresden · HRB 28424 · Sitz Dresden Geschäftsführer: Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske, Christian Helmuth

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Nitpicker support for sel4
by Rumen Mitov 05 Nov '25

05 Nov '25

Hi, I wanted to ask if the nitpicker component is compatible with sel4? When I tried to run the run/demo script I just got a black screen. Does it require any specific configuration that I might have missed while reading the docs? For reference I ran the following command: ```sh make -C build/x86_64 KERNEL=sel4 BOARD=pc run/demo ``` Best, Rumen

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[FOSDEM'26] Call for Participation: Microkernel and Component-Based OS Devroom
by Sebastian Sumpf 04 Nov '25

04 Nov '25

Hello, we are looking for cool talks and demos: We are happy to announce the CfP for the "Microkernel and Component-Based OS" devroom at the upcoming FOSDEM 2026. Developers and users of various free and open-source microkernel-based and component-based operating systems will meet again at FOSDEM during the weekend of January 31st and February 1st 2026 and will share a developer room. The Microkernel and Component-Based OS devroom is currently looking for your participation in the form of proposals for talks, demos and other related activities. Possible topics for the devroom include, but are not limited to: * Introduction of a specific OS or framework * Design of subsystems and the general architecture of an OS * Languages, tools and toolchains used * Enabling support for hardware architectures, devices and programming languages * Development processes, debugging * Maintenance, testing and release engineering * Safety, security and robustness * Trends and challenges * Research and open questions * Community and governance * Use cases, experiences and status updates * Best practices and lessons learned * Live demos Important Dates The deadline for submitting proposals is December 1, 2025 (23:55 CET). Please use the FOSDEM website at https://fosdem.org/submit, select the track "Microkernel and Component-Based OS" and include at least the following information: * Title of your proposal * Short abstract (one or two paragraphs) * Duration (20 - 30 minutes, including demos and Q&A) * Your full name * Your short bio The devroom schedule (with accepted talks) will be announced on the devroom website at https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/track/microkernel by December 15, 2025. The schedule will also be posted to the devroom mailing list and the speakers will be notified via email. Like previous years, the devroom will take place as an in-person event at the ULB Campus Solbosch in Brussels, Belgium during the second half of February 1, 2026 (Sunday). Due to the high number of submissions that FOSDEM received again this year, our devroom has only been allocated half a day. Therefore, the final decision on the duration of the talks will be made by the devroom organizers based on the number of accepted proposals. Given these restrictions, eight to nine half hour slots with a speaking time of 20 to 25 minutes and 5 to 10 minutes of Q&A form the upper limit. Requirements The communication language of the devroom is English. All content must relate to free and open-source software. By participating in the event, you agree to the publication of your talk recordings, slides and other content provided under the same CC-BY license as all other FOSDEM content. All participants are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct: https://fosdem.org/2026/practical/conduct/ Contact For the 2026 edition, the organizers of the devroom are * Sebastian Sumpf (sebastian.sumpf [at] genode-labs.com) * Josef Söntgen (josef.soentgen [at] genode-labs.com) For any comments, questions and suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly or via microkernel-devroom-manager at fosdem.org. Announcements and inquiries are additionally available through the devroom mailing list https://lists.fosdem.org/listinfo/microkernel-devroom About the Devroom Since the first Microkernel OS Devroom at FOSDEM 2012, this devroom has been a part of each subsequent FOSDEM (with slight variations of the name). The focus gradually widened to include component-based and other operating systems. It has now become somewhat of a tradition for the open-source operating systems community, a kind of "extended family meeting" and it is one of the very few places where microkernel and operating-system enthusiasts meet regularly. To date, over two dozen projects have participated in one way or another. Many of the projects face similar challenges but come up with partially different solutions. Therefore, the goal of the devroom is to bring the various projects together, let them exchange ideas, cross-pollinate and socialize. As in the past, the devroom will offer the stage both to established community members and to newcomers. Our goal is to select talks in an inclusive manner and to create a balanced and unbiased schedule, while keeping the quality of the devroom as high as in previous years. About FOSDEM FOSDEM is a two-day conference organized by volunteers to promote the widespread use of free and open-source software. FOSDEM is widely recognized as one of the largest and best such events worldwide. FOSDEM covers a wide spectrum of free and open-source software and hardware projects and offers a platform for people to collaborate. To this end, FOSDEM has set up developer rooms (devrooms) where teams can meet and showcase their projects. Devrooms are a place for teams to discuss, hack and publicly present new ideas, latest results, lightning talks, news and proposals. Besides developer rooms, FOSDEM also offers main tracks, lightning talks, certification exams and project stands. In recent years, FOSDEM has been hosting more than 5000 developers annually at the ULB Solbosch Campus in Brussels, Belgium. The participation in FOSDEM is totally free and requires no registration, although the organizers gratefully accept donations and sponsorship. Devroom Dinner Over the years, it has become a tradition that devroom speakers and enthusiasts meet for dinner somewhere in Brussels after the event to continue discussions, socialize and meet old and new friends. We plan to follow that tradition in some form as well in 2026 and will inform you about the exact arrangements later. Hope to see all of you in Brussels! -- Sebastian Sumpf Genode Labs http://www.genode-labs.com · http://genode.org Genode Labs GmbH · Amtsgericht Dresden · HRB 28424 · Sitz Dresden Geschäftsführer: Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske, Christian Helmuth

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No audio on T480s.
by hedj＠protonmail.com 03 Nov '25

03 Nov '25

Dear Genodefolk, Having long wanted to run genode on real hardware, I acquired a Lenovo Thinkpad T480s. Everything seems to work well except that no sound is produced through either speakers or headphones. In particular, I have tried both falkon and chocolatedoom after adding the mixer and audio options. The Fn keys don't seem to alter the situation. reports/log shows [runtime -> audio] azalia0 [8087:9d71] [runtime -> audio] : [runtime -> audio] : azalia0: codecs: Realtek ALC257 ... [runtime -> audio] : audio0 at azalia0 etc No errors are reported that I can see. Any suggestions as to what I might to do to investigate further? Thanks, John

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Announcement: Sculpt OS version 25.10 released
by Norman Feske 30 Oct '25

30 Oct '25

Hello everyone, I'm happy to announce today's release of Sculpt OS 25.10: https://genode.org/news/sculpt-os-release-25.10 You can find the new version offered by 'genodelabs' in the system-update dialog, or as ready-to-use system image for PCs, the PinePhone, and the MNT Reform laptop on the download page: https://genode.org/download/sculpt This time, the official release is accompanied by an experimental version that replaces XML by the user-friendlier alternative proposed roughly one year ago [1]. With the following guided tour, I'm inviting venturesome users to join the practical evaluation of the new way of sculpting: "Sculpting with less noise and more clarity" https://genodians.org/nfeske/2025-10-30-sculpt-human For feedback or discussion, please don't hesitate to drop by at our forum: https://genode.discourse.group/ Happy sculpting! Norman [1] https://genodians.org/nfeske/2024-12-20-moving-on-from-xml -- Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske Genode Labs https://www.genode-labs.com · https://genode.org Genode Labs GmbH · Amtsgericht Dresden · HRB 28424 · Sitz Dresden Geschäftsführer: Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske, Christian Helmuth

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Sculpt 25.10 Release Candidate
by Sebastian Sumpf 27 Oct '25

27 Oct '25

Hello, the first image for the PinePhone is available: https://depot.genode.org/ssumpf/image/sculpt-pinephone-2025-10-10.tar.xz https://depot.genode.org/ssumpf/image/sculpt-pinephone-2025-10-10.zip SD-card installation works as follows: ! sudo dd if=sculpt-pinephone-2025-10-10.img of=/dev/mmcblkX bs=1M conv=fsync In case you want to update/test from an already running Sculpt on the PinePhone: 1. Go to the "Software" tab 2. Choose "Update" 3. Touch the link "http://depot.genode.org ..." 4. Choose https://depot.genode.org/ssumpf 5. Hit "Check for Updates" 6. "2025-10-10" should appear below -> Download -> Install 7. Reboot Note that not everything is working at the moment. For the current status please refer to the "Sculpt OS 25.10 - PinePhone" [1] issue. [1] https://github.com/genodelabs/genode/issues/5714 Cheers, Sebastian -- Sebastian Sumpf Genode Labs http://www.genode-labs.com · http://genode.org Genode Labs GmbH · Amtsgericht Dresden · HRB 28424 · Sitz Dresden Geschäftsführer: Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske, Christian Helmuth

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Is Block-Persistence Possible on non-Linux base?
by Rumen Mitov 26 Oct '25

26 Oct '25

Hi, Is there a way to achieve functionality similar to lx_fs on non-base-linux? My best guess is something like: ```xml <start name="ahci"> <resource name="RAM" quantum="1M" /> <provides><service name="Block" /></provides> <config atapi="no"> <report ports="yes"/> <policy label="isomem -> " device="0" writeable="yes" /> <policy label="vfs -> " device="1" writeable="yes" /> </config> <route> <service name="Report"> <child name="ahci_report_rom"/> </service> <any-service> <parent/> <any-child/> </any-service> </route> </start> <start name="vfs" ram="200M" caps="200"> <provides><service name="File_system"/></provides> <config> <vfs> <dir name="dev"> <block name="block" block_buffer_count="128"/> </dir> <dir name="snapper"> <rump fs="ext2fs" ram="64M" writeable="yes"/> </dir> </vfs> <policy label_prefix="snapper" root="/snapper" writeable="yes"/> </config> <route> <service name="Block"> <child name="ahci"/> </service> <any-service> <parent/> <any-child/> </any-service> </route> </start> ``` However, with this ACHI complains that device=1 is already taken. If I remove the following from the vfs_component: ```xml <dir name="dev"> <block name="block" block_buffer_count="128"/> </dir> ``` Then the error goes away, but I am unable to read and write to the file-system. From what I have read it's not possible to have persistent storage without lx_fs, necessitating the use of base-linux. Please let me know if I missed something in my research. Best, Rumen

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