Microsandbox offers a new approach to sandboxing, combining the security of virtual machines (VMs) with the speed and efficiency of containers. It achieves this by leveraging lightweight VMs based on Firecracker, coupled with a custom, high-performance VirtioFS filesystem. This architecture results in near-native performance, instant startup times, and low resource overhead, all while maintaining strong isolation between the sandboxed environment and the host. Microsandbox is designed to be easy to use, with a CLI and SDK providing simple APIs for managing and interacting with sandboxes. Its use cases range from secure code execution and remote procedure calls to continuous integration and web application deployment.
In February 2023, commercial fisherman Tim Shaddock and his dog, Bella, embarked on a voyage from Mexico to French Polynesia. Weeks into their journey, a storm crippled their vessel, leaving them adrift in the vast Pacific Ocean. Surviving on raw fish and rainwater, they endured for months, battling starvation, dehydration, and the relentless elements. Finally, in July, a tuna trawler spotted their small catamaran near the coast of Mexico, thousands of miles from their intended destination. Remarkably, both Shaddock and Bella survived their ordeal, though severely emaciated, and were rescued, a testament to human resilience and the bond between human and animal.
HN commenters largely praised the writing style of the Atlantic article, highlighting its immersive and detailed depiction of the fisherman's ordeal. Several noted the stark contrast between the vastness of the ocean and the fisherman's shrinking world as his resources dwindled. Some questioned the veracity of certain details, particularly the lack of EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) and the extended survival time without water, prompting discussions about survival techniques and the resilience of the human body. Others focused on the psychological aspects of solitary confinement and the potential for hallucination and mental breakdown in such extreme situations. A few commenters shared personal anecdotes of maritime experiences, adding further context to the discussion. The lack of an EPIRB was a recurring point of contention, with many expressing disbelief that a commercial fishing vessel wouldn't be equipped with such a vital safety device.
"The Alabama Landline That Keeps Ringing" tells the story of a mysterious, constantly ringing landline discovered by a family in an old Alabama house. Despite efforts to disconnect it, trace its source, and even involve the phone company, the ringing persists, seemingly tied to an unknown number that may not even exist. The incessant ringing becomes a source of fascination, frustration, and even a strange kind of comfort, woven into the fabric of family life and intertwined with the house's history. The unanswered calls take on a symbolic weight, representing unanswered questions, unresolved grief, and the persistent echoes of the past.
Hacker News users discuss the nostalgic and emotional impact of the story, appreciating the author's portrayal of a simpler time and the mystery surrounding the unanswered calls. Some commenters relate their own experiences with persistent unknown callers or the enduring presence of landlines. A few question the veracity of the story, suggesting it might be fabricated or embellished for narrative effect. Others express concern about potential privacy implications of publishing the number, despite it being disconnected. Technical explanations for the ringing are also offered, including the possibility of faulty equipment, crossed lines, or automated systems. Finally, the discussion touches on the declining use of landlines and the changing nature of communication.
Unikernel Linux (UKL) presents a novel approach to building unikernels by leveraging the Linux kernel as a library. Instead of requiring specialized build systems and limited library support common to other unikernel approaches, UKL allows developers to build applications using standard Linux development tools and a wide range of existing libraries. This approach compiles applications and the necessary Linux kernel components into a single, specialized bootable image, offering the benefits of unikernels – smaller size, faster boot times, and improved security – while retaining the familiarity and flexibility of Linux development. UKL demonstrates performance comparable to or exceeding existing unikernel systems and even some containerized deployments, suggesting a practical path to broader unikernel adoption.
Several commenters on Hacker News expressed skepticism about Unikernel Linux (UKL)'s practical benefits, questioning its performance advantages over existing containerization technologies and expressing concerns about the complexity introduced by its specialized build process. Some questioned the target audience, wondering if the niche use cases justified the development effort. A few commenters pointed out the potential security benefits of UKL due to its smaller attack surface. Others appreciated the technical innovation and saw its potential for specific applications like embedded systems or highly specialized microservices, though acknowledging it's not a general-purpose solution. Overall, the sentiment leaned towards cautious interest rather than outright enthusiasm.
The chroot technique in Linux changes a process's root directory, isolating it within a specified subdirectory tree. This creates a contained environment where the process can only access files and commands within that chroot "jail," enhancing security for tasks like running untrusted software, recovering broken systems, building software in controlled environments, and testing configurations. While powerful, chroot is not a foolproof security measure as sophisticated exploits can potentially break out. Proper configuration and awareness of its limitations are essential for effective utilization.
Hacker News users generally praised the article for its clear explanation of chroot, a fundamental Linux concept. Several commenters shared personal anecdotes of using chroot for various tasks like building software, recovering broken systems, and creating secure environments. Some highlighted its importance in containerization technologies like Docker. A few pointed out potential security risks if chroot isn't used carefully, especially regarding shared namespaces and capabilities. One commenter mentioned the usefulness of systemd-nspawn as a more modern and convenient alternative. Others discussed the history of chroot and its role in improving Linux security over time. The overall sentiment was positive, with many appreciating the refresher on this powerful tool.
mem-isolate is a Rust crate designed to execute potentially unsafe code within isolated memory compartments. It leverages Linux's memfd_create system call to create anonymous memory mappings, allowing developers to run untrusted code within these confined regions, limiting the potential damage from vulnerabilities or exploits. This sandboxing approach helps mitigate security risks by restricting access to the main process's memory, effectively preventing malicious code from affecting the wider system. The crate offers a simple API for setting up and managing these isolated execution environments, providing a more secure way to interact with external or potentially compromised code.
Hacker News users discussed the practicality and security implications of the mem-isolate crate. Several commenters expressed skepticism about its ability to truly isolate unsafe code, particularly in complex scenarios involving system calls and shared resources. Concerns were raised about the performance overhead and the potential for subtle bugs in the isolation mechanism itself. The discussion also touched on the challenges of securely managing memory in Rust and the trade-offs between safety and performance. Some users suggested alternative approaches, such as using WebAssembly or language-level sandboxing. Overall, the comments reflected a cautious optimism about the project but acknowledged the difficulty of achieving complete isolation in a practical and efficient manner.
Summary of Comments ( 169 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44135977
Hacker News users discussed Microsandbox's approach to lightweight virtualization, praising its speed and small footprint compared to traditional VMs. Several commenters expressed interest in its potential for security and malware analysis, highlighting the ability to quickly spin up and tear down disposable environments. Some questioned its maturity and the overhead compared to containers, while others pointed out the benefits of hardware-level isolation not offered by containers. The discussion also touched on the niche Microsandbox fills between full VMs and containers, with some suggesting potential use cases like running untrusted code or providing isolated development environments. A few users compared it to similar technologies like gVisor and Firecracker, discussing the trade-offs between security, performance, and complexity.
The Hacker News post about Microsandbox, titled "Microsandbox: Virtual Machines that feel and perform like containers," generated several comments discussing its merits, drawbacks, and potential use cases.
One commenter expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its potential to bridge the gap between containers and virtual machines, offering the security benefits of VMs with the performance closer to containers. They also pointed out the usefulness of its WebAssembly support for running sandboxed code.
Another commenter questioned the performance claims, specifically regarding the "near-native speeds." They acknowledged the potential of WebAssembly but expressed skepticism about achieving true near-native performance in a virtualized environment. They also wondered about the specific performance metrics used to justify the "near-native" claim.
A further comment focused on the project's licensing, specifically mentioning the GPLv3 license. They raised concerns about the implications of this license for commercial use and suggested that a more permissive license might encourage wider adoption.
Security was also a topic of discussion. One user brought up the potential attack surface introduced by the inclusion of a KVM hypervisor and wondered about the mitigation strategies employed to address these security risks.
Another commenter mentioned Firecracker, a similar microVM technology developed by AWS, and drew comparisons between the two projects, highlighting both similarities and differences in their approaches and target use cases. They also pointed to the potential for cross-pollination of ideas and technologies between these projects.
A practical question arose regarding the integration of Microsandbox with existing container orchestration systems like Kubernetes. This commenter wondered about the feasibility and challenges of deploying and managing Microsandbox VMs within a Kubernetes cluster.
Finally, a user brought up the potential benefits of Microsandbox for embedded systems and IoT devices, suggesting that its lightweight nature and security features could be particularly advantageous in resource-constrained environments.
These comments collectively represent a range of perspectives on the Microsandbox project, highlighting both its promise and potential challenges. They touch upon critical aspects such as performance, security, licensing, and integration with existing infrastructure, providing a valuable discussion around the practical implications of this technology.