Microsoft developing super reliable operating system

Called Singularity, the research project aims to build more dependable systems by improving systems, languages and tools. A prototype will extending programming languages, and developing new techniques and tools for specifying and verifying program behaviour.

A spokesVole said that advances in languages, compilers, and tools open the possibility of significantly improving software.

Singularity will use type-safe languages and an abstract instruction set to enable Software Isolated Processes (SIPs) which don't take up much of the kernel's address space.

Although some programmers think that Singularity might work slower than its Windows cousins it could be 'interesting' if they made it more reliable. No news about what Vole will do if it gets it all working.

More here. µ