Develop a minimal operating system kernel that can boot (perhaps using GRUB), initialize basic hardware (like the console for text output), manage physical memory (a simple frame allocator), and potentially load and run a single user-space program or implement basic multitasking (cooperative or pre-emptive with timer interrupts). This is highly challenging and educational.
What you'll build
This project involves building a minimal educational Operating System Kernel from scratch using the C language, with necessary Assembly language components for bootstrapping and low-level hardware interaction. You will start by setting up a dedicated cross-compilation environment. The kernel will be designed to boot via the GRUB bootloader using the Multiboot standard. Core functionalities will include initializing essential hardware like the VGA text-mode console for output, setting up fundamental OS structures like the Global Descriptor Table (GDT) and Interrupt Descriptor Table (IDT), and handling basic hardware interrupts (keyboard, timer). You will implement a physical memory manager (frame allocator) to track available memory. The project roadmap includes optional but highly recommended steps for implementing basic paging (virtual memory) and a simple scheduler for cooperative or pre-emptive multitasking. Finally, you might explore loading and executing a very simple program from an initial RAM disk (initrd). This project provides a deep dive into low-level systems programming. Enhancements beyond the core scope could include developing a simple kernel heap allocator, implementing basic system calls, supporting a simple filesystem (like reading from an initrd), or adding more device drivers.
What you'll learn
Roadmap
12 steps · 126 tasks
