Ask HN: If we could remake Linux in 2026, what would you change?
A developer considering writing a kernel from scratch to master C asks the HN community what they would change if Linux could be remade in 2026, noting that while they appreciate Linux, no one currently competes with it.
Background
- This is a discussion thread on Hacker News, a tech social news site. "Ask HN" posts solicit opinions from the community.
- The poster wants to write an operating system kernel from scratch as a way to master the C programming language. They note that Linux is too dominant to compete with, so their goal is purely educational.
- Linux is the free, open-source kernel created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. It runs most of the world's servers, Android devices, and supercomputers.
- The subtext of the post: many developers believe Linux's design decisions (monolithic kernel, C language, driver model, lack of built-in security features) show their age. The question invites speculation on a hypothetical redesign with today's knowledge — e.g., using Rust for memory safety, adopting a microkernel architecture, or adding first-class container support.