[GitHub] [incubator-nuttx] hartmannathan commented on pull request #2488: libs/libc: correct the getrandom(2) prototype

[GitBox <gi...@apache.org>]

hartmannathan commented on pull request #2488:
URL: https://github.com/apache/incubator-nuttx/pull/2488#issuecomment-741800372


   > Recently, it seems that the objectives of the OS have shifted. Historically, for a dozen years, the objective has been to be a Unix-work alike and to conform strictly to the requirements of a Unix system as specified at OpenGroup.org. This is still stated pretty clearly in the INVIOLABLES.md:
   > 
   > ```
   > ## Strict POSIX compliance
   > 
   >   - Strict conformance to the portable standard OS interface as defined at
   >     OpenGroup.org.
   >   - A deeply embedded system requires some special support.  Special
   >     support must be minimized.
   >   - The portable interface must never be compromised only for the sake of
   >     expediency.
   >   - Expediency or even improved performance are not justifications for
   >     violation of the strict POSIX interface.
   > ```
   > 
   > Today, I think that objective has morphed; the OS is now treated like a Linux work-alike system. That is not necessarily bad, it is just a different objective. The only "bad" thing about this is that it happened with no conscious consent of the community.
   > 
   > As a standard, Unix-like OS, inclusion of non-standard Linux interfaces is inappropriate; as a Linux work-alike OS, it is almost mandatory to include these non-standard interfaces. Being another Linux clone is not a very lofty objective for an OS although it many be practical for businesses who want to host Linux applications on NuttX.
   
   Thinking out loud here: What about a compromise: by default NuttX is a Unix-like OS with POSIX interface as originally intended. In addition, if the user wants certain Linux-like APIs, the user could activate a new Kconfig option, say, CONFIG_LINUX_COMPAT. Likewise, if the user wants certain BSD-like APIs, a similar Kconfig option CONFIG_BSD_COMPAT could exist... The idea being to give people a way to add Linux/BSD APIs they need/want, but keeping them optional so that other users could exclude them.


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