Computer Dictionary of Information Technology

Kent Applicative Operating System

(KAOS) A functional operating system concept using dynamic process creation and inter-process communication. KAOS was described in 1989 by Dr. John Cupitt in his PhD thesis at the University of Kent. It was based on earlier work by Will R. Stoye.

KAOS allowed dynamic creation of "functional processes" - functions that transform an input stream to an output stream. Process scheduling is based on evaluation on demand. Inter-process communication is by message passing based on Stoye's sorting office concept.