(Interview from 2020)

Dagmar Möbius

Dr. Michael Hohmuth learned to program as a child – by snail mail. He studied computer science – an unpopular subject at the time – out of interest, but also because he wanted to stay in his hometown of Dresden. Nowadays, he manages the software company Kernkonzept.

An article in the GDR crafting magazine "practic" fascinated young Michael Hohmuth so much that he looked for and found a pen pal who had their own home computer. From then on, someone from Halle taught him programming by mail. Later, Michael Hohmuth attended the Student Computing Center, now part of TU Dresden, and completed internships at the "Kombinat Robotron" state combine. "My path to computer science was mapped out from the start," he says. After graduating from Martin-Andersen-Nexö-Gymnasium high school in Dresden, he began studying at TUD in 1991. "It wasn't a popular subject at the time, but TUD had a good reputation for computer science even then," he says. But he admits, "staying in Dresden was even more important to me."

All the courses interested Michael Hohmuth. Rather than singling out particular classes, he stresses how he grew and matured through participation and experimentation in various research groups. As a research assistant, he learned about artificial intelligence, worked in the computing center, and maintained various computers. It was through IT administration that he ended up in his later field of work. "I had always been interested in operating systems, and worked on a free software operating system for Atari ST computers in my spare time. However, I had trouble with the operating systems lectures at the start of my degree – and didn't get good grades in the subject." Things changed with the new operating systems professor, Hermann Härtig. "In his group, I was able not only to explore small improvements here and there, but also to develop my own operating system from scratch."

That was the subject of Michael Hohmuth's Diplom thesis in 1996. Microkernel-based Linux emulation was the topic, not the easiest for just anyone to grasp. Dr. Hohmuth explains it like this: "Standard operating systems such as Windows or Linux can do a lot, but because of that they are also prone to failure. To keep confidential information to yourself, you need a smaller, trustworthy operating system. Microkernel systems do only what they are supposed to do and delegate the rest to application programs." As the Linux system was "encapsulated" in a microkernel, the researchers referred to it as the Princess and the Pea (or "the princess on the pea" in German).

From 2006 onwards, Dr. Michael Hohmuth helped establish the Operating System Research Center at the processor manufacturing company AMD in Dresden. In 2012, the year the center closed, he founded Kernkonzept GmbH in Dresden with his former university colleagues Adam Lackorzynski and Alexander Warg. He is now sole director and responsible for nearly 30 employees. The software company develops "microkernel operating systems for applications with particular IT security, safety, and virtualization requirements." Kernkonzept works with L4Re technology, which can help to prevent hacker attacks and improve system security. This is of interest to automotive suppliers such as Elektrobit, the software subsidiary of Continental, as well as to many national and international companies that have particular security requirements for their operating systems.

Dr. Michael Hohmuth retains close ties to his university. Not only because of joint research projects, but also because of the need for skilled professionals in the industry. This last area represents the greatest challenge for him as a manager. "Of course we try to attract the best graduates who are interested in operating systems," says the Kernkonzept CEO. "This can be difficult in times when we often see a one-sided media portrayal of the city of Dresden." That is why, together with other operating system companies based here such as Amazon and Huawei, he is working to ensure that Dresden remains an attractive location for training, research, and industry. Kernkonzept offers a pleasant, family-friendly, and varied working and office environment. "Various benefits" include continuing professional development programs and profit sharing. "Work-life balance is important to all of our employees," he emphasizes, "regardless of gender." That is why Kernkonzept offers not only part-time contracts, parental leave, and flexible working options for everyone, but also a sabbatical program. "A typical IT environment," friends of Michael Hohmuth often say, "because things are just really nice at the company." He has already been able to convince some of his university friends and TUD students and colleagues who helped develop the technology and have gone on to careers at major companies around the world to return to Dresden and continue developing and marketing secure operating systems here.

And when the Alumni Relations Office put out a call last year asking if graduates could help recruit or support students, he promptly responded with a resounding yes.

Contact:
Kernkonzept GmbH
Director: Dr. Michael Hohmuth
Buchenstr. 16b
01097 Dresden
Tel.: +49 351 41 888 611
Email
Website

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