Is a python os possible?

[samjh]

Would it be possible to build an operating system from python alone?

No.

At present, almost all operating systems use at least some Assembly. High-level interpreted or JIT-compiled languages have been used to write operating systems, but they inevitably require substantial portions to be implemented using Assembly or C.

There are not many programming languages that can be used to implement operating systems on their own. Ada, C, C++, Pascal, PL/1 are used for such purpose, but even they require some Assembly, or the operating system is highly specialised and limited in use (ie. for avionics, robots, etc., not general-purpose operating systems like Linux or Windows).

[dodle]

I guess I need to study up on Assembly, since I don't understand what that is.

[slavik]

yes it is possible, if you have a python machine code compiler.

[pmasiar]

I guess I need to study up on Assembly, since I don't understand what that is.

That would be the worst approach.

Of course depending what your goal is - you never bothered to mention that, so any advice is based on WAG.

Learning basic of Assembly is fine (try wikipedia as always), but trying to understand OS written in ASM will just slow you down. Is you want to understand how OS works, *much* better off you would be (after becoming decent C programmer) to start reading code of some simple OS designed to be understandable by students (taking OS design course), like Minix (btw that's what Linus did).

ASM is just way too low level. If you want to understand concepts of something, using efficient high-level language like Python makes you order of magnitude (or more) more productive. ASM makes you 2 orders of magnitude *less** productive than in C, trust me on that.

And despite what people above said, OS in Python could be possible in the future. Now of course is not - Python is fast enough, in the niche where it is used speed is mostly not a problem, and work to improve it is underway. Untill recently Python (a volunteer project) did not have huge resources as Java or C# had, so precious resources were invested in more urgent areas.

But OS written in 99% in Python (like Linux is 99% in C) certainly *is* possible. Read about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PyPy - reimplementation of Python which includes compiler (Psyco) and JIT optimizer. PyPy is written in RPython, a subset of Python (which many too dynamic parts removed foe speed).

Another approach could be to use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cython which generates C code.

Of course such OS in Python would be excellent learning tool (simpler to comprehend than Minix).

Another area where Python might in the future replace static languages like C is in programming desktop. Even now, and even on such weak CPU like OLPC has, a big part of it's desktop (Sugar) is written in Python:

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Python_Environment

[slavik]

another thing you could have is some ROM with a python interpreter in the same style as some computers in the 80s had BASIC.

While knowledge of assembly would be required, you are not at that point yet. You are at the point where you first need to understand basic os concepts (memory management, scheduling, etc.)

[jimi_hendrix]

It would be something interesting to attempt after Google releases Unladen Swallow.

African or European?

and you are my hero if you make a python compiler/interpreter in ASM thats built into your kernel

[Shin_Gouki2501]

my favorite C++ OS : haiku

[samjh]

another thing you could have is some ROM with a python interpreter in the same style as some computers in the 80s had BASIC.

There are processors like that for embedded Java: http://www.ajile.com/ and http://www.arm.com/products/multimed...a/jazelle.html

The same could be done for Python if there is demand. "Demand" being the key point.

[snova]

Hmm... Python operating system, or Python kernel?

If you wanted to do the former, with plain old CPython, you could probably reimplement everything past init (first transition out of kernel space, I believe) and pretty much have a Python OS. Maybe begin with LFS.

But the kernel is another thing. You would either need a C runtime with bits of assembly, or a really flexible Python compiler to the point where you could essentially write C with a Python-like syntax. But you have to get down to metal eventually, and Python on its own doesn't accomodate for that all too well (maybe the compiler could? Additional built-in types or something).

[pmasiar]

a really flexible Python compiler to the point where you could essentially write C with a Python-like syntax.

Like Cython mentioned above? Or RPython?

But you have to get down to metal eventually, and Python on its own doesn't accomodate for that all too well (maybe the compiler could? Additional built-in types or something).

Which types are in C and not in Python? You can model anything using byte arrays - the problem is efficiency, and you can get it via Cython.

So real problem is lack of effort - Linux is worth more than 1B USD of developer's time, even if redeveloping in Python/Cython will result in order of magnitude improved efficiency, it is still dozens of millions dollars worth of time. There is no need for such huge time investment in reinventing the wheel, so it is not **feasible**. But certainly it is **possible**, for a dedicated team of thousands of hackers with nothing better to do with their time