From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.4 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_00 autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,85034d1ac78a66eb X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-03-25 22:17:55 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!colt.net!newspeer.clara.net!news.clara.net!psiuk-p2!psiuk-p3!uknet!psiuk-n!news.pace.co.uk!nh.pace.co.uk!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Ada Operating System Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 14:27:53 -0500 Organization: Posted on a server owned by Pace Micro Technology plc Message-ID: References: <3C88E0D1.89161C16@despammed.com> <3C9514DD.9CF1F84A@san.rr.com> <99da9u0909rsblfdcc1ru7jd2r9q461qhk@4ax.com> <436o9uc7jg590rv5rb1l9v6be8vk49s278@4ax.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: dhcp-200-133.miami.pace.co.uk X-Trace: nh.pace.co.uk 1017084476 7729 136.170.200.133 (25 Mar 2002 19:27:56 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@news.cam.pace.co.uk NNTP-Posting-Date: 25 Mar 2002 19:27:56 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:21672 Date: 2002-03-25T19:27:56+00:00 List-Id: What about an OS that deliberately let you set up Foot Shooting Mode? Suppose it was ultra-secure in "Normal" processing, but if the Administrator were to boot it up with some secret-handshake, etc., it enabled a process to run with all capabilities? Your process could switch to Supervisor mode, read & write directly to physical memory & devices, etc? When you need a safe OS - it runs safe. When the OS gets in your way, move it aside. That might make for a distinct product that would satisfy a whole class of needs. And it would be within The Spirit Of Ada - normally we check to make sure everything is kosher, but if you really want to circumvent the checks you can. MDC -- Marin David Condic Senior Software Engineer Pace Micro Technology Americas www.pacemicro.com Enabling the digital revolution e-Mail: marin.condic@pacemicro.com "James Ross" wrote in message news:436o9uc7jg590rv5rb1l9v6be8vk49s278@4ax.com... > > I'll agree with that to a point. A very secure OS should have an > "unsafe" mode where all bets are off -- do whatever you want. However, > under normal conditions no foot wounding allowed. > > By the way, It is the OS's responsibility to provide the means for > doing what needs to be done in a safe and secure way. > > The more I think about a "theoretical OS written in Ada", the more I > think that the strongest argument for it, that makes sense to me, is > for security / stability. (Not that I think that because it is > written in Ada, magically this would be the case. It's just the > appropriate analogy in this case) > JR