Google performance tools - part deux

Thinking about my previous post about the Google performance tools, specifically about the alternative memory allocator, I was struck that it was odd that it would be a separate product.

When you think about it, being Google you have a boatload of machines (on the order of 500,000, and then some.) So it would make perfect sense to build your own linux distribution, putting in the stuff you wanted, and ripping the cruft out. Remember a couple of years ago when Google was hiring operating systems developers, the rumor was that they were going to be releasing a Google linux (lets call it GoogleOS). Well they did, for internal consumption only.