The Computer Journal Advance Access published online on February 9, 2008
The Computer Journal, doi:10.1093/comjnl/bxm124
Password-Capabilities and the Walnut Kernel
Clayton School of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia
* Corresponding author: Ronald.Pose{at}infotech.monash.edu.au
The Walnut kernel is a capability-based operating system kernel that was developed in the Department of Computer Science at Monash University during the 1990s. This kernel is heir to many of the ideas that were implemented in the Password- Capability System. Focusing on the programmer's view, this paper describes the password-capability model and the features of the Walnut kernel and the design decisions taken in creating it. An ANSI compliant standard I/O library is used as an example of the expressive power of the system.
Key Words: Operating Systems Password-Capabilities