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Thread: Making my own OS - some questions

  1. #1
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    Making my own OS - some questions

    Hey, whatsup.
    I've decided I might do a side-project of making an OS. (Nothing too big, not like windows 7 or something but better than something with just a "command prompt" and that's it. [Aka it'll have a GUI])

    I haven't decided on even the basics, so I'm asking for your personal opinions on which would be the best and/or easiest way (I don't necessarily want to go the easiest direction, but if the easiest is more than good enough, then why not? Right?)

    So far I've been working with the Cosmos kernel (For those who don't know, it's C# Open Source Managed Operating System, but it lets you code (the entire OS!!) in either C# or VB.net), but it hasn't been working. It seems it's made to run only on a virtual machine..

    Should it be linux-based? Or is there any way I could code all/most of the OS in a language like VB.net, Ruby, PHP (This would be epic if I could do a whole php/html OS. But I doubt it.). Those are the 3 languages I'm most comfortable with (Never really ventured out to complex languages like C++ or anything. Just stuck with the lower level, but useful things)

    If you have any other info/ideas, let me know! I've already decided on a name (I think. I might change it) But any other ideas are welcome!

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    You will definitely need some knowledge of assembler (there are some things that simply cannot be done (on real hardware) in a high level language), so no, it's not possible to do it all in something like C# or PHP. Those languages themselves are very abstracted away from the hardware, and have their respective runtimes implemented in something lower level - so you will probably need to use C or C++ (it can be done with other languages, but not as easily).
    Additionally, if you cannot handle C (and I mean no disrespect by this), I don't think you're ready to embark on an OS project, as C is significantly more simple than writing an OS. Additionally, most of the available documentation and help online assumes you are using C.

    The osdev wiki is very good: http://wiki.osdev.org/Main_Page
    Website | Blog | The Arch Hurd Project

    If you want to ask about something I posted, send a PM, as I don't watch many threads

  3. #3
    psusi is offline Ubuntu addict and loving it
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    Wow... that is like announcing that you are going to build a lunar lander in your garage on the weekends, but you don't really know anything about jet propulsion other than what you picked up playing with model rockets.

    I think what you need to do is just play with linuxfromscratch.org.

  4. #4
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    Have you considered messing around with SuseStudio, I believe you still need an invitation, but you can still make a customized distribution.

  5. #5
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    I share similar desires, and though I have been with C/C++ for about 10 years now (as well as some assembler), I don't think I understand enough OS stuff to start.

    I was thinking of performing a Linux From Scratch install on a VM, which would hopefully get me down and dirty with GNU/Linux. I would suggest trying something similar before you embark on this noble venture?
    Be formless, shapeless... like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup; you put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; if you put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot... Now water can flow, or it can crash... Be water my friend

  6. #6
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    Quote Originally Posted by helblaze View Post
    Have you considered messing around with SuseStudio, I believe you still need an invitation, but you can still make a customized distribution.
    You do not need an invitation to SuseStudio, I signed up yesterday, but the only bad thing about SuseStudio, is it seems that your custom OS will be based on Suse... I want something like SuseStudio that is super easy just like SuseStudio that I can build a Debian system with.

  7. #7
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    Quote Originally Posted by galacticaboy View Post
    I want something like SuseStudio that is super easy just like SuseStudio that I can build a Debian system with.
    Sorry, such a thing doesn't exist. I think there's something akin to SuseStudio for Ubuntu, but it has a CLI, no GUI.

    Linux From Scratch (LFS) is the next best thing. You'll need quite a bit of resolve, though
    : The first time I went through it (I've done it multiple times ), it took me around 25hrs of PC time and a few GBs of HDD space to complete the book.

    Granted, LFS is easier than the alternative: I've been working on my C++ OS for a few years on and off, and I don't even have decent memory allocation yet (I DO have a colorful command-line though ).

    Don't worry, OS development just takes some time! If you want to do this, go for it!

    Quote Originally Posted by Barrucadu View Post
    You will definitely need some knowledge of assembler (there are some things that simply cannot be done (on real hardware) in a high level language), so no, it's not possible to do it all in something like C# or PHP. Those languages themselves are very abstracted away from the hardware, and have their respective runtimes implemented in something lower level - so you will probably need to use C or C++ (it can be done with other languages, but not as easily).
    Additionally, if you cannot handle C (and I mean no disrespect by this), I don't think you're ready to embark on an OS project, as C is significantly more simple than writing an OS. Additionally, most of the available documentation and help online assumes you are using C.

    The osdev wiki is very good: http://wiki.osdev.org/Main_Page
    +1. The OSDev wiki is my main source of information for "OSDeving", as it's called.
    Also, I've seen an OS (http://code.google.com/p/cleese/, albeit extremely minimal) written in Python, though the developers did have to port Python, but it's possible to write the bulk of an OS in a high-level language (my OS is written in C++, if you can call that high-level).

    All in all, though, Cleese is worth a look if you know Python, and aren't afraid of having to mess with someone else's unmaintained code.
    There are 10 different kinds of people:
    Those who understand binary numbers
    Those who don't
    Free/open-source game development kit: http://openblox.sourceforge.net

  8. #8
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    Quote Originally Posted by psusi View Post
    Wow... that is like announcing that you are going to build a lunar lander in your garage on the weekends, but you don't really know anything about jet propulsion other than what you picked up playing with model rockets.
    I was planning on doing that this weekend. Is it hard to do? Do I need to know anything about physics?

  9. #9
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    Quote Originally Posted by DangerOnTheRanger View Post
    Sorry, such a thing doesn't exist. I think there's something akin to SuseStudio for Ubuntu, but it has a CLI, no GUI.

    Linux From Scratch (LFS) is the next best thing. You'll need quite a bit of resolve, though
    : The first time I went through it (I've done it multiple times ), it took me around 25hrs of PC time and a few GBs of HDD space to complete the book.

    Granted, LFS is easier than the alternative: I've been working on my C++ OS for a few years on and off, and I don't even have decent memory allocation yet (I DO have a colorful command-line though ).

    Don't worry, OS development just takes some time! If you want to do this, go for it!



    +1. The OSDev wiki is my main source of information for "OSDeving", as it's called.
    Also, I've seen an OS (http://code.google.com/p/cleese/, albeit extremely minimal) written in Python, though the developers did have to port Python, but it's possible to write the bulk of an OS in a high-level language (my OS is written in C++, if you can call that high-level).

    All in all, though, Cleese is worth a look if you know Python, and aren't afraid of having to mess with someone else's unmaintained code.
    Very interesting stuff! I just got into full-blown Python about four months ago... This is a new level!
    Be formless, shapeless... like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup; you put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; if you put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot... Now water can flow, or it can crash... Be water my friend

  10. #10
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    Re: Making my own OS - some questions

    Quote Originally Posted by rg4w View Post
    I was planning on doing that this weekend. Is it hard to do? Do I need to know anything about physics?
    Nope, just the location of the ER

    Seriously though - some really good projects have come from deciding to code an OS as a hobby. I did one when I was younger, it was a blast (and I learned a lot).

    Here's some good examples to check out:
    http://www.kolibrios.org/
    http://www.menuetos.net/screens.htm
    http://etoileos.com/
    http://www.haiku-os.org/

    You'll learn a LOT if you're serious.

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