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Linux JavaScript Architect

Description:
Nexedi is looking for a trainee interested in trying to port the Linux kernel to the Javascript architecture in addition to existing x86, ARM, MIPS, etc. architectures. If one considers that a web browser nowadays acts akin to virtual hardware, a Linux kernel and complete GNU/Linux distribution should be able to run on that environment or at least an embedded GNU/Linux system should be possible. Unlike jor1k , our goal here is not a emulate a CPU in Javascript and run a Linux kernel compiled for that CPU. Instead, our goal is to target asm.js/webassembly on an HTML5 browser as Linux architecture.

By achieving this goal, it would be possible to distribute all GNU tools to any user with a web browser (and not only Chrome). Every web browser would then become a POSIX web server that can run Debian, ArchLinux, Ubuntu, etc. with good performance.

Opportunities:

• Port Linux to JavaScript bringing GNU to virtually everyone.
• Help to decentralize the cloud.
• Work on low level kernel bootstrap.

Responsibilities:

• Learn how to work with emscriptem/webassembly.
• Learn the intricacies of the Linux kernel and find ways how reimplement the same architecture in JavaScript.

Requirements:

• Passionate, self-driven.
• Willingness to contribute to an open source ecosystem and the Free Software community.
• Very good programming skills in C.
• Very good programming skills in JavaScript.
• Basic skills in assembly code.
• Good skills in hardware architecture.
• Good software development skills (version control, testing, debugging).
• Good command of English.