> Is async/await a good idea for an OS kernel, even a toy one? Cooperative multitasking tends to break down at scale,
> Embedding islands of cooperative multitasking in a sea of pre-emptive multitasking seems to make a lot more sense than the other way around.
In my reading of the post, the proposal is to do cooperative multitasking within the kernel, and preemptive multitasking between the kernel and the userspace. I think this is tenable, within the kernel, you pretty much need to play nice with the rest of the kernel anyway. Most kernels don't have effective protection for one part of the kernel causing problems with the rest; although, some do have limited protection against drivers that crash or loop.
> Embedding islands of cooperative multitasking in a sea of pre-emptive multitasking seems to make a lot more sense than the other way around.
In my reading of the post, the proposal is to do cooperative multitasking within the kernel, and preemptive multitasking between the kernel and the userspace. I think this is tenable, within the kernel, you pretty much need to play nice with the rest of the kernel anyway. Most kernels don't have effective protection for one part of the kernel causing problems with the rest; although, some do have limited protection against drivers that crash or loop.