Implementing Language Support in High-Level Languages

One of the requirements for building an operating system in a high-level operating system language, such as Ada, Concurrent Pascal, or Modula, is the construction of a language support system, or kernel. This paper presents a model that generalizes the concept of a kernel, and defines a kernel and the processes it supports to be at different levels of abstraction. A high-level language mechanism, the Execute statement, is then proposed as the basis of the interface between a kernel and the processes it supports. Software capabilities control access between levels and the Execute statement controls processor context switching between levels. The mechanisms rely on data typing for reliability and protection. They encourage systems that are well protected and exhibit an explicit hierarchical structure. Software capabilities and the Execute statement are illustrated with a pilot implementation on the Prime 650. An experimental operating system that encompasses their use is discussed. Extensions are presented which manage interrupts, timeslicing and preemption, and hardware protection mechanisms.