Porting Tailscale to Plan 9

In a detailed recount of an April Fools’ Day project, the author describes the unexpected reality of porting Tailscale to the Plan 9 operating system, humorously initiated as a joke but ultimately becoming a genuine technical endeavor. Despite initial setbacks due to outdated Go compiler support for Plan 9, collaboration with Russ Cox led to significant kernel improvements, enabling Tailscale to function on this niche platform. The process involved navigating unique challenges such as adapting networking through a simplified TUN implementation, addressing memory and routing issues, and even enhancing SSH capabilities by leveraging Plan 9's distinct system features. The effort underscored the educational value and unexpected benefits of tackling unconventional projects, resulting in improvements to Go's Plan 9 support and a newfound appreciation for the peculiarities of the Plan 9 ecosystem. The narrative closes with a tongue-in-cheek reflection on the project’s whimsical origins and a light-hearted acknowledgment of the teamwork and community engagement that made it possible.