Are we answering the right research questions for commercial operating systems?

There was an underlying question during both panel sessions at OSDI ´94 (Operating Systems Design and Implementation Conference, November 14-17, 1994) which was never discussed: “Is the operating systems research community neglecting some major technical problems for commercial operating systems?” Operating systems are complex, costly and constantly growing more chaotic. Companies are trying to create a feasible commercial operating system for the future. This paper raises questions which must be addressed in order to allow operating systems to evolve