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Difference between revisions of "/aosg/ Alternative Operating System General"

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(Embedded OS: Add more about QNX)
(OS Written in Assembly: Add MikeOS and BaremetalOS)
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* http://dex-os.github.io/ DexOS is a x86 32-bit console like operating system, coded in 100% ASM
 
* http://dex-os.github.io/ DexOS is a x86 32-bit console like operating system, coded in 100% ASM
 
* http://sebastianmihai.com/snowdrop/ Snowdrop OS is a homebrew operating system project with bootloader and GUI.
 
* http://sebastianmihai.com/snowdrop/ Snowdrop OS is a homebrew operating system project with bootloader and GUI.
 +
* https://mikeos.sourceforge.net/ MikeOS is an operating system for x86 PCs, written in assembly language. It is a learning tool to show how simple 16-bit, real-mode OSes work, with well-commented code and extensive [https://mikeos.sourceforge.net/write-your-own-os.html documentation].
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* https://github.com/ReturnInfinity Baremetal OS, one of many that are inspired by MikeOS
  
 
=== Educational OS  ===
 
=== Educational OS  ===

Revision as of 00:12, 3 February 2023

Because it's fun to think about what could have been or what might be.

After a thread on /g/, one anon expressed an interest to turn this into a general, and here are some notes to keep to build up a FAQ.

Threads

OP has not yet mastered 4chan posting, so there is as yet no easy way to locate old threads. Manual list:

List of Notable Alternative Operating Systems

Embedded OS

  • https://blackberry.qnx.com/en QNX, a compact micro kernel based OS for embedded use. It used to have a GUI but that is gone, and Photon was replaced by Qt, a QNX engineer even made a desktop-like OS with QNX. While QNX not advertises there is a hobbyst/education program, just contact a QNX sales rep, they can provide you free license. tdelellis at blackberry dot com can probably help you. There are builds for x86/64, arm and even for riscv aswell.
  • https://github.com/MannyPeterson/HeliOS Helios

Operating Systems for Amiga

Plan 9 Family

OS Written in Assembly

Educational OS

Microkernels

The idea is to minimise the kernel and have all services running as services at lower privileges and in a way that the services can be restarted after a crash. Microkernels often work by message passing, and that can cause an overhead. Mach had major performance issues.

  • Exec (Amiga) - the Executive at the deepest level of Amiga OS is a microkernel
  • Minix is famously microkernel based and the author, Tanenbaum, slogged it out with Linux Torvalds and his decision to make Linux a monolithic kernel rather than a microkernel based OS
  • Magenta, based on Little Kernel and later renamed into Zircon - this powers Fuchsia
  • Mach, later GNU Mach - chosen to power HURD.
  • https://drewdevault.com/2022/06/13/helios.html Helios draws inspiration from seL4, and uses a capability-based design for isolation and security. It is used in The Ares Operating System (see above).
  • L4 is a family of microkernels

L4 Family of Microkernels

There are many members, the most important are:

  • L4 - can run Linux variants such as L4Linux
  • seL4 - high security microkernel

Emulators

A full install, or even a live CD, is not necessarily needed, sincfe there are emulators.

  • https://copy.sh/v86/ JS VM with lots of OS, including one for Serenity OS.
  • http://simh.trailing-edge.com/ SimH (History Simulator) is a collection of simulators for historically significant or just plain interesting computer hardware and software from the past. Of special note is VAX/VMS where a hobbyist license is provided by Hewlett-Packard Corporation.

Misc

Resources for OSDEV

/aosg/ Book Club