Thread: Operating System

  1. #1
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    Operating System

    Hello all, I have been working with C/C++ for quite some time now, and I have decided to create an Operating System, of course, I know nothing on how to get started or how to actually make it, so I come to the place that helps me most, http://www.cprogramming.com

    Okay so I know this much about a computer, when it boots up.

    It turns on the BIOS
    The BIOS searches for anything wrong with the computer, if nothing is wrong it continues
    The BIOS then searches for an Operating System to start up your computer, it searches in any drive.

    Now I would just like to know the basics for now, I hate to rush through things, so I was just wondering, can anyone help me create an Operating System which is basically a computer that turns on and says "Hello, Welcome to the Operating System", in a command prompt, if anyone can help me, please do.

    - Houssen

  2. #2
    Woof, woof! zacs7's Avatar
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    You'll probably want to read up on a few manuals,

    * Intel interupt tutorial: http://www.beyondlogic.org/interrupts/interupt.htm
    * You'll probably want to target your OS for very specific hardware, or you'll have a rough time

    The Linux source will probably be a bit daunting to take ideas from, perhaps find a smaller project where you could source knowledge.

    And that's about where I stop

  3. #3
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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    Hmm, this is very interesting, I have found out alot, but still can't seem to get it to begin, is there any specific tutorial about this? I would love one were it goes through an easy step by step tutorial.

  5. #5
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    Sooner or later, you have to stand on your own.
    There won't always be a "nice simple tutorial" for whatever it is you're trying to do.

    Perhaps http://www.freedos.org/ is as simple as it gets whilst still having some semblance of usefulness about it as well.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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    Thank you, this should get me started, another bother though, if you can (this is for everyone reading), can you help me make some graphics for my programs? I am a very good programmer but have no idea on how to make graphics. If you could help it would be widely appreciated.

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    am a very good programmer but have no idea on how to make graphics. If you could help it would be widely appreciated.
    So what exactly is your idea of a good programmer ? Shouldn't a good programmer be able to understand something after reading up a few articles and/or books on the subject and be able to implement it him/her self ?
    Code:
    >+++++++++[<++++++++>-]<.>+++++++[<++++>-]<+.+++++++..+++.[-]>++++++++[<++++>-] <.>+++++++++++[<++++++++>-]<-.--------.+++.------.--------.[-]>++++++++[<++++>- ]<+.[-]++++++++++.

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    ?????? Is this a forum or somewhere to hurt people?

  9. #9
    Registered User Kudose's Avatar
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    Both.

  10. #10
    Beginner in C++
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    We aren't trying to hurt you, but it seems your reach far outweighs your grasp, meaning you say you're a good programmer but you don't seem to know what to do.
    Ubuntu Linux / Vista Home Premium (for games)
    SCiTE text editor, G++ compiler

  11. #11
    Ex scientia vera
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    www.osdever.net

    Anyone with basic knowledge of assembly and C can get a basic OS up and running.

  12. #12
    and the hat of sweating
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    Quote Originally Posted by IceDane View Post
    www.osdever.net

    Anyone with basic knowledge of assembly and C can get a basic OS up and running.
    I didn't know there was such a thing as a "basic" knowledge of assembly.

  13. #13
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Actually, just look for some source code online, since I know you are probably good at googling information I won't offend you by offering you a link (which is a polite way of saying I don't remember where I had seen it initially, but I found it doing a websearch).

    There was a person writing their own OS which basically had very little to it at the time (which was a couple years back). But it could boot up, and as far as I'm concerned, that is a good first step.

    Option #2, would be to download an old linux kernel just to get some ideas. Since its open source you will have an OS to use as reference.

    IceDane's observation is true, but I truly believe one needs a deeper understanding of assembler than "basic" and a solid grasp on what core components of your computer do as well.

    This is either a very good intermediate project for you to do, or the hardest undertaking you could even think up, depending on what you want your OS to do. If you are wanting to rival DOS, I bet you can do it with a little reading. If you want to take Microsoft out of the market, keep in mind tens of thousands of brilliant programmers with decades of experience have not been able to accomplish this task yet.

    Good luck

  14. #14
    Banned master5001's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cpjust View Post
    I didn't know there was such a thing as a "basic" knowledge of assembly.
    That made me laugh too. That and I read that as basic knowledge of C as well. "Ok class, tomorrow after I teach you about for loops we will write an operating system."

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    xD, Wow you guys sure did help, anyways, would anyone actually have a good knowledge on how to do graphics? Because I actually got it started! YAY ME, took me a while though, but I got it on with a gui, which by the way is very bad, and I only have 1 program on it, a web explorer which I have been working on and also finished, now all I need is some graphics for it and the rest is easy programming!

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