#operating-systems
26 episodes
#5782: Unraid in a VM: When the License Is the Wall
Daniel wants Unraid's parity array without Synology's lock-in. The technology works. The licensing is the wall.
#5773: Declaring Environments: Compose, Nix, and the Agent Boundary
Docker Compose, Nix, devcontainers, microVMs — how automated provisioning works, and where the boundary moves when an agent needs a workspace.
#5705: Tape Isn't a Pool: How LTO Really Works on Linux
Tape on Linux needs no driver — but it also doesn't behave like ZFS. Here's how LTO really integrates, and why "pool" means something else.
#5405: Omarchy: The Linux Distro Built for AI Agents
Omarchy treats AI agents as users of the OS itself — every setting a command, every config a text file. Here's how it works and where it breaks.
#5380: Zero-Click: When Your OS Opens Files For You
Your file manager parses downloads before you touch them. Here's what that means for your security — and what you can actually do about it.
#4996: Memory Leaks: The Full Taxonomy
From C to Rust to Kubernetes OOM kills — the real taxonomy of memory leaks and how to hunt them.
#4664: The Trapdoor in Your CPU: How Hypervisors Actually Work
Inside the silicon trapdoor that makes virtualization possible — and why it's nothing like Docker.
#4585: Why `export` Fails But Files Work: Linux Process Secrets
Why does `wrangler login` work across shells but `export` doesn't? The answer reveals how Linux processes really share data.
#4498: The Smallest Windows for a Printer VM
Can you run a Windows VM so stripped down it only hosts printer drivers? We explore Server Core, IoT Enterprise, and Tiny11.
#3883: Inside OPNsense Tunables: Kernel Variables Explained
What OPNsense tunables actually do, how they work under the hood, and when to touch them.
#3790: Server Distro Showdown: BTRFS, ZFS & Pragmatic Picks
Why filesystem support often picks your distro — and what "support" actually means in practice.
#3789: What Virtualization Actually Costs on 2026 Hardware
Real benchmarks show 2-6% overhead for single-VM setups. Here's what's actually happening at the CPU level.
#3471: What OS Actually Runs Inside a Siemens PLC?
Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff — the OS choices inside modern PLCs are more varied than you'd expect.
#2699: Inside Android's Binder: No HTTP Here
Android's internal APIs don't use HTTP. They use Binder — a kernel-level IPC mechanism that's faster, tighter, and completely opaque.
#2497: Tracing One Python Print Through 6 Abstraction Layers
What actually happens when you print "Hello" in Python? Six layers, 562 system calls, and a hardware-enforced kernel boundary.
#2372: Choosing the Right Sandbox for Your Threat Model
Explore the tools and methods for creating secure, isolated environments to test malware, browse privately, and protect sensitive systems.
#2359: When the Sandbox Doesn't Fit: Sysadmins Using a Dev Tool
Discover why Claude Code excels as a sysadmin tool despite being designed for developers — and the challenges that come with it.
#2099: One Pi, Two Screens: The Isolation Playbook
Stop your dashboard and Kodi from fighting over the same screen. Here’s how to split one Pi into two reliable workspaces.
#2079: The Geopolitics of Grey Boxes
Why factories still run on ladder logic, VxWorks, and rugged grey boxes instead of cloud servers.
#1732: Why AI Agents Need an Operating System
AIOS aims to be the Linux for AI agents, managing memory, scheduling, and tools in one open-source kernel.
#1612: The End of Apps: Why Agents Are Replacing Your Desktop
Is the era of the app over? Explore how AI agents are transforming operating systems from static tools into proactive digital partners.
#1075: The Great Kernel Shift: Why Linux is Embracing Rust
Discover why the Linux kernel is adopting Rust and how this shift aims to eliminate 70% of the digital world's security vulnerabilities.
#730: The Hidden Language Barrier Between Your Phone and Laptop
Why can’t you just "copy and paste" software between devices? Explore the hidden language of CPU architectures like x86 and ARM.
#729: The Surprising Family Tree of Modern Operating Systems
Why does Linux rule servers while Windows dominates the desktop? Explore the architectural DNA and kernel designs of the world's most popular OSs.