--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing a portable OS is not much harder…" description: "\"Writing a portable OS is not much harder than a nonportable one, and all systems should be written with portability in mind these days.\" — Andrew S. Ta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/andrew-s-tanenbaum-24613_harder_writing-a-portable-os-is-not-much-harder_258686.jpg" --- # Writing a portable OS is not much harder than a… ![“Writing a portable OS is not much harder than a nonportable one, and all systems should be written with portability in mind these days.” quote by Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/andrew-s-tanenbaum-24613_harder_writing-a-portable-os-is-not-much-harder_258686.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/andrew-s-tanenbaum-24613_harder_writing-a-portable-os-is-not-much-harder_258686.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/andrew-s-tanenbaum-24613_harder_writing-a-portable-os-is-not-much-harder_258686.jpg) > “Writing a portable OS is not much harder than a nonportable one, and all systems should be written with portability in mind these days.” [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Portable OS design should prioritize hardware independence, making software adaptable across platforms. **In simple terms:** Design for portability. Key Takeaway Write code that runs everywhere. Themes software engineering portability systems design Mood analytical practical Type guideline technical When to use this quote - embedded devices - cloud services - cross‑platform apps Key Concepts abstraction modularity Questions to Reflect On - What trade‑offs are acceptable? - How to balance portability and optimization? A Different Perspective Portability may sacrifice performance on specialized hardware. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Portability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portability/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [But in all honesty, I would suggest that people who want a modern "free" OS look around for a microkernel-based, portable OS, like maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/but-in-all-honesty-i-would-suggest-that-people-who-want-a-modern-free/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [While most people can talk rationally about kernel design and portability, the issue of free-ness is 100% emotional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/while-most-people-can-talk-rationally-about-kernel-design-and/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [The main reason people want to pay for Spotify is really portability. People are saying, 'I want to have my music with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ek/the-main-reason-people-want-to-pay-for-spotify-is-really-portability/) [Daniel Ek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ek/) > [It seems certain that much of the success of Unix follows from the readability, modifiability, and portability of its software.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-ritchie/it-seems-certain-that-much-of-the-success-of-unix-follows-from-the/) [Dennis Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-ritchie/) > [Portability should be the default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/portability-should-be-the-default/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [It looks simple to come up with a tablet that works, but it is not, ... In order to have the power and portability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/it-looks-simple-to-come-up-with-a-tablet-that-works-but-it-is-not-in/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Consumers and businesses alike value their ability to keep a phone number when changing providers or relocating. This concept is called 'number portability.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/consumers-and-businesses-alike-value-their-ability-to-keep-a-phone/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [C was already implemented on several quite different machines and OSs, Unix was already being distributed on the PDP-11, but the portability of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-ritchie/c-was-already-implemented-on-several-quite-different-machines-and-oss/) [Dennis Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-ritchie/) > [... All the drivers that started the replace-tape-with-disk movement in the first place - reliability, performance, portability and off-site data movement - are now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-arthur-crump/all-the-drivers-that-started-the-replace-tape-with-disk-movement-in/) [George Arthur Crump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-arthur-crump/) > [Portability of lots of information should not be underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/portability-of-lots-of-information-should-not-be-underestimated/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Portability is for people who cannot write new programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/portability-is-for-people-who-cannot-write-new-programs/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [We should work toward a universal linked information system, in which generality and portability are more important than fancy graphics techniques and complex extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/we-should-work-toward-a-universal-linked-information-system-in-which/) [Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/) > [“Portability is for canoes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mccarthy/portability-is-for-canoes/) Jim McCarthy > [Much is to be gained by eBooks: ease, convenience, portability. But something is definitely lost: tradition, a sensual experience, the comfort of thingy-ness -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/much-is-to-be-gained-by-ebooks-ease-convenience-portability-but/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“The fear of database portability can lead to avoiding highly effective features just because they are not interchangeable across various database systems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlad-mihalcea/the-fear-of-database-portability-can-lead-to-avoiding-highly/) Vlad Mihalcea ## More by Andrew S. Tanenbaum > [The only way to make software secure, reliable, and fast is to make it small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/the-only-way-to-make-software-secure-reliable-and-fast-is-to-make-it/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [A couple of years ago this guy called Ken Brown wrote a book saying that Linus stole Linux from me It later came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/a-couple-of-years-ago-this-guy-called-ken-brown-wrote-a-book-saying/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [Sequential programming is really hard, and parallel programming is a step beyond that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/sequential-programming-is-really-hard-and-parallel-programming-is-a/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [Linux is a leprosy; … This statement is not grammatically or factually correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/linux-is-a-leprosy-this-statement-is-not-grammatically-or-factually/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [If anyone had realized that within 10 years this tiny system that was picked up almost by accident was going to be controlling 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/if-anyone-had-realized-that-within-10-years-this-tiny-system-that-was/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [The only real argument for monolithic systems was performance, and there is now enough evidence showing that microkernel systems can be just as fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/the-only-real-argument-for-monolithic-systems-was-performance-and/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [I had never engaged in remote multishrink psychoanalysis on this scale before, so it was a fascinating experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/i-had-never-engaged-in-remote-multishrink-psychoanalysis-on-this/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [Unfortunately, the current generation of mail programs do not have checkers to see if the sender knows what he is talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/unfortunately-the-current-generation-of-mail-programs-do-not-have/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [However, as every parent of a small child knows, converting a large object into small fragments is considerably easier than the reverse process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/however-as-every-parent-of-a-small-child-knows-converting-a-large/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [But in all honesty, I would suggest that people who want a modern "free" OS look around for a microkernel-based, portable OS, like maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/but-in-all-honesty-i-would-suggest-that-people-who-want-a-modern-free/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/never-underestimate-the-bandwidth-of-a-station-wagon-full-of-tapes/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [A refund for defective software might be nice, except it would bankrupt the entire software industry in the first year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/a-refund-for-defective-software-might-be-nice-except-it-would/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [Microkernels are not a pipe dream. They represent proven technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/microkernels-are-not-a-pipe-dream-they-represent-proven-technology/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [A multithreaded file system is only a performance hack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/a-multithreaded-file-system-is-only-a-performance-hack/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) > [I really am not angry with Linus. Honest. He's not angry with me either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/i-really-am-not-angry-with-linus-honest-he-s-not-angry-with-me-either/) [Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) [Explore all 24 Andrew S. Tanenbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/) ## More Harder quotes > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Politics only makes the difficult challenge of marriage even harder, with the demands of the job and the public spotlight it casts on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/politics-only-makes-the-difficult-challenge-of-marriage-even-harder/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives-seem-to-believe-that-the/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It is easy to take a photograph, but it is harder to make a masterpiece in photography than in any other art medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/it-is-easy-to-take-a-photograph-but-it-is-harder-to-make-a/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Indifference is harder to fight than hostility, and there is nothing that kills an agitation like having everybody admit that it is fundamentally right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-eastman/indifference-is-harder-to-fight-than-hostility-and-there-is-nothing/) [Crystal Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-eastman/) > [There's nothing harder than making a mellow, clean record. It's really scary. I can see why people would never want to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/there-s-nothing-harder-than-making-a-mellow-clean-record-it-s-really/) [Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [What is needed, however, isn't just that people working together be nice to each other. It is discipline. Discipline is hard--harder than trustworthiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/what-is-needed-however-isn-t-just-that-people-working-together-be/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) Browse all 3,695 Harder quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing a portable OS is not much harder than a nonportable one, and all systems should be written with portability in mind these days.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew S. 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