Unikernels and the benefits of modularity

Talk presented at GlueCon 2016 on Towel Day.
See amirchaudhry.com/gluecon2016 for details

1. Unikernels and the benefits of modularity … on behalf of all the hoopy froods! GlueCon 25 May 2016 @amirmc Amir Chaudhry
2. Unikernels and the benefits of modularity @amirmc amirchaudhry.com/gluecon2016
3. About me @amirmc Work at Docker I have more hair on my face since this pic
4. Software today… @amirmc
5. …is an application … Software today… @amirmc
6. …is an application … … on top of an Operating System. Software today… @amirmc
7. Software today… @amirmc
8. Software today… @amirmc
9. Code you care about Code the OS insists you need @amirmc
10. Code you care about Code the OS insists you need @amirmc
11. Software today… … is built locally… @amirmc
12. Software today… … is built locally… … but deployed remotely… @amirmc
13. Software today… … is built locally… … but deployed remotely… @amirmc … very remotely.
14. Software today… …is complex! Even though most apps
 are single-purpose @amirmc
15. Complexity is the enemy… More pieces -> tricky config Duplication -> inefficiency Large sizes -> long boot times More stuff -> larger attack surface @amirmc
17. Things are getting easier
18. BUILD Developer Workflows SHIP Registry Services RUN Management Docker Toolbox Docker Trusted Registry Docker Universal Control Plane Docker Cloud Docker Engine Ecosystem Plugins and Integrations Docker Containers as a Service Platform
19. An extreme view? Disentangle applications from the OS Break up OS functionality into modular components Link only the system functionality your app needs Target alternative platforms from a single codebase @amirmc
20. An extreme view? Disentangle applications from the OS Break up OS functionality into modular components Link only the system functionality your app needs Target alternative platforms from a single codebase Unikernels! @amirmc
21. Unikernels Model is “Just enough OS” for your specific app. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unikernel @amirmc Using a modular stack, every application is compiled into its own specialised OS, targeted for the cloud or embedded devices
22. “Unikernels and Docker?”
23. Continuum Disentangle applications from the OS Break up OS functionality into modular components Link only the system functionality your app needs Target alternative platforms from a single codebase @amirmc
24. • LING • MirageOS • OSv • Rumprun • runtime.js • ClickOS • Clive • Drawbridge • HaLVM • IncludeOS @amirmc Unikernels
25. Two broad approaches Consider legacy @amirmc Clean Slate Unikernels
26. MirageOS
27. MirageOS unikernel } @amirmc
28. MirageOS @amirmc Target different environments
29. MirageOS @amirmc
30. unikernel } MirageOS Familiar development cycle Broad deployment scenarios @amirmc
31. unikernel } MirageOS Familiar development cycle Broad deployment scenarios Target different environments Your usual tools @amirmc
32. Demo:
 Build on a Mac
 Deploy to IoT @amirmc
33. • Build and run an app in a Linux container • Retarget app for ARM backend • Deploy artefact onto an ARM device @amirmc
34. Demo:
 2048 game
35. Demo
 Guide 1 2 3 4
36. • Built and ran an app in a Linux container! • Retargeted app for ARM backend! • Deployed artefact onto an ARM device! @amirmc
37. Unikernel Recap • Highly specialised • Continuum with containers • Deploy to ARM devices • Everything’s a library! @amirmc
38. Deployments
39. Deployments
40. Systems programming is difficult?
41. … is just programming! Systems programming is difficult?
42. unikernel.org Still early days!
43. unikernel.org Still early days!
44. Questions? Thanks for listening @amirmc