- PostgreSQL and Databricks founders collaborate to create DBOS, a database-oriented operating system.
- DBOS introduces innovative architecture with services written in SQL on top of a high-performance database.
- DBOS transitions from research project to production-ready technology, positioned as the next generation operating system.
Founders of PostgreSQL and Databricks team up to create DBOS, a new database-oriented operating system that runs on top of a high-performance database, offering enhanced security and simpler system administration for organizations prioritizing security.
What to know: PostgreSQL and Databricks founders have come together to create a new type of operating system called DBOS, which stands for database-oriented operating system. This collaboration between Michael Stonebraker, the creator of PostgreSQL, and Matei Zaharia, the co-founder of Databricks, aims to address the challenges of managing the massive state of modern operating systems. DBOS recently announced $8.5 million in seed funding and the launch of its first product, DBOS Cloud, a cloud-native operating system for cloud application deployment.
Stronger together: In DBOS, the operating system runs on top of a high-performance database, taking a unique approach compared to traditional operating systems. Operating system services like messages, scheduling, and file operations are written in SQL on top of a high-performance OLTP DBMS. This innovative architecture offers enhanced security, simpler system administration, and the ability to recover from ransomware attacks in seconds, catering to organizations prioritizing security such as government agencies, financial services companies, and forward-thinking startups.
Deeper details: DBOS differentiates itself by managing both operating system state and application state transactionally within the same database, providing advantages like time travel debugging and security that are not available with separate technologies like etcd. By simplifying the environment significantly compared to running Kubernetes and etcd together, DBOS aims to potentially replace Linux. While currently not a 'bare-metal' operating system like Linux, DBOS runs on a virtual machine hypervisor, leveraging open-source Firecracker technology. Initially supporting Typescript, DBOS may expand language support in the future based on demand.
Looking ahead: DBOS has transitioned from a research project to a production-ready technology after almost a year of development. According to Stonebraker, this marks a significant shift, positioning DBOS as the next generation operating system. The technology is now robust, deployed on AWS with Firecracker and Typescript, signaling a revolutionary advancement in operating system design. This transformation underscores DBOS's readiness for mainstream adoption, moving beyond its origins as a science project to a practical solution for modern computing needs.
