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Darwin BSD

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The open source Darwin kernel, XNU, is part of the Core OS of Apple Computer's Mac OS X.

Darwin integrates a number of technologies, most importantly Mach 3.0, operating-system services based on 4.4BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution), high-performance networking facilities, and support for multiple integrated file systems.

Originally developed at Carnegie Mellon University, the Mach kernel manages all the tasks and processes the computer runs. Apple’s Head of Software Engineering, Dr Avie Tevanian, worked on the Mach kernel at Carnegie-Mellon. Mac OS X owes no small part of its existence to Avie Tevanian. The Mach kernel gives Mac OS X features such as protected memory and symmetric multiple processing.

The Darwin developers decided to take a mascot in 2000. Hexley the platypus was chosen over other contenders, such as an Aqua Darwin fish, Clarus the DogCow, and an Orca.

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