I wrote about a ZeroVM-on-Docker thing I was working[1] on in another thread just before this story showed up.
Note that ZeroVM isn't a conventional VM at all. All your software needs recompiling for it, and it is entirely deterministic (with all the positive and negative aspects of that).
For one set of use-cases this is very useful. I was looking at using it to run untrusted user-submitted, and potentially hostile code when a Docker container isn't sufficient on its own.
http://blog.docker.com/2014/07/new-dockercon-video-docker-se...
[1] https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/docker-user/SELin...
Previous submissions/discussions:
Two years ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3746222
About a year ago, acquisition by Rackspace: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6588566
(From January 2014): http://www.rackspace.com/blog/zerovm-design-summit-day-1-dig...
While I haven't played with Manta, the architecture really appeals to me -- it's nice to see more implementations along similar lines (but sadly, presumably, without zfs or equivalent ...).
It's also hard not to think of it as TechStars Rackspace when you're in a space sponsored by Rackspace, run by a former Rackspace exec, in a building named for the Rackspace chairman, and in a program administered by a former Rackspace exec. With Rackspace sponsoring, of course.
