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blankos/README.md
2024-08-06 15:37:28 +02:00

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![showcase](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0e3208db-e585-4086-9346-c00414d98646)
# BlankOS
Rewritten monolithic version of Blank OS for the x86 processor architecture. The OS relies on an old, legacy version of GRUB as the bootloader (eltorito). This *should* be GRUB 2 compatible. Emulation was tested on Bochs and QEMU using Arch Linux 6.9.7-arch1-1, and on real hardware too.
The long-term goal of this OS is to be capable of running user programs and having its own complete kernel C library so that users can write their own C programs and expand the system!
## Features
- Serial port driver (output & debug)
- Framebuffer driver (output)
- PS/2 Keyboard and PIC driver (input)
- PIT (system clock/timer) driver
- Working IDT, GDT, ISRs, and IRQs
- Kernel panicking (exception handling)
- A kernel-space shell
- Cool color output!!
- Some small working kernel-space programs!!
## Usage
### Dependencies
For Debian-based distros:
```
sudo apt install gcc nasm make bochs
```
Then change `display-library` to `sdl2` in the `bochsrc.txt` file.
For Arch-based distros:
```
sudo pacman -S nasm gcc make
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/bochs.git
```
Then follow [these](https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=178479) instructions to compile Bochs with X support. Alternatively you can use Bochs with SDL but you'll have to change the `bochsrc.txt` file accordingly.
## Building and running
```
git clone https://github.com/xamidev/blankos
make
make run
```
This will start a new Bochs debugger instance. To proceed with the kernel execution, you will have to type `c` in the shell spawning Bochs. Serial output will be saved under the `com1.out` file, this way you can debug the kernel by viewing its log messages. To quit, type `q`. Feel free to open issues or pull requests.
## Running on real hardware
To run the OS on real hardware, you'll first need to have a BIOS-compatible computer. Some of the new laptops with graphical "BIOSes" only support UEFI now. So make sure to get a computer that can boot into BIOS mode, **not UEFI mode**. Then, switch the boot mode to "Legacy" in your BIOS utility.
Then, use the Makefile target `real` to build a "real"-capable ISO disk image. The image will have GRUB2 installed on it, using the `grub-mkrescue` utility (make sure to install it before) which is dependent on `xorriso` (install it too).
Once the ISO file is generated, you can write it on a disk using this command:
```
sudo dd bs=4M if=blankos.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress oflag=sync
```
Replace `sdX` with your USB drive name (you can find it by doing `sudo fdisk -l`).
Tada! You now have a working BlankOS USB stick. Go ahead and try it out!
## Post-install
Two documents are available to help you understand the project better. One is the User's Manual, labelled `USERS.md`, and the other one is the Developer's Manual, labelled `DEVELOPERS.md`. They are full of useful resources around Blank OS. You'll learn how to use the system and how to contribute to it.
### Next Steps?
Next steps for this project will be:
- User programs
- Completing the kernel libc
- Filesystem support
### Resources
- the [OSDev.org](https://wiki.osdev.org/Expanded_Main_Page) wiki and forums
- the [Nanobyte](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t-SPC7Tczc&list=PLFjM7v6KGMpiH2G-kT781ByCNC_0pKpPN) YouTube channel
- the [Daedalus Community](https://www.youtube.com/@DaedalusCommunity) YouTube channel
- a great book named *Operating Systems: From 0 to 1*, by Tu, Do Hoang
- the Intel [64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer Manuals](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/technical/intel-sdm.html)
- [Bran's Kernel Development Tutorial](http://www.osdever.net/bkerndev/index.php)
### ⚠️ Disclaimer
This is a hobbyist operating system kernel and it comes without any warranty whatsoever! It isn't capable of anything really. Feedback and contributions are highly appreciated!