Mode - 2006/08/19 13:27Hi my name is Joe and I am planning on creating my own operating system to be like Microsoft Windows, but also completly different! But one problem what mode should I use? BITS 16 or BITS 32? Use Protected Mode? If it's protected mode, I'll have to work behind interupts!
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gaf
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Re:Mode - 2006/08/20 14:49Hello Joe, unless you want your "operating system to be like Microsoft Windows" 3.1 you should really use a 32bit Proteced Mode. Any modern system must today support 32bits as it's the only way to access all memory: DOS and other 16bit systems were always restricted to a single MB of memory and couldn't access higher memory even if more was installed.
The other big advantage of pmode is (-drums please-) that it provides protection. If you want your system to support multi-threading it's essential that applications can be kept from interfering with eachother. Malicious applications (f.ex a virus) could otherwise attack other task without any problems, and bugs in programs could easily lead to a system reset. Protected Mode is the only way to avoid such problems, as it make sure that applications are kept seperated from each other.
If it's protected mode, I'll have to work behind interupts! Hmm, I'm not quite sure what you mean. If you're talking about the BIOS interrupts: No, you can't access them from pmode. It's however often not that hard to write a driver for such basic devices as console or floppy. Most of them are standartized and a lot of documentation and tutorials can be found. It's unfortunately much harder +to write drivers for the more modern devices like video-cards. Those however also couldn't be accessed using the BIOS..
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joejoeiscool
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Re:Mode - 2006/08/21 02:00Thanks! But I'd like to know in protected mode how to: Operate the keyboard Draw GUI Clock (not timer!)
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gaf
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Re:Mode - 2006/08/21 08:25Operate the keyboard: There's a lot of tutorials about that topic: OS FAQ, Adam Chapweske, keyboard info. You can get keyboard input from port 0x60, they however have to get translated before you can really use them.
Draw GUI: Graphics is actually more of an advanced topic. If you really need it right now there are two possibilities: VESA (all 2D modes) or VGA (max 640x480x4). While VGA is quite limited, it can at least be programmed directly from pmode (although it's not trivial). VESA on the other hand unfortunatly only works in rmode or 16bit pmode. If you want to use VESA it I'd suggest to set a video-mode while still in pmode (ie: in your boot-loader) and then writing to the framebuffer from pmode.
For the moment I'd however really recomment not using any graphics at all. The console is much easier to program and can be used perfectly well to output debugging info (video.h).
Clock (not timer!): I've never done that, but from what I know the CMOS can be used to get data and time. Programming it should be quite easy and it works equally well from pmode and real-mode.
regards, gaf
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joejoeiscool
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Re:Mode - 2006/08/22 02:04If I had a medal it will go to:
gaf!
You are the best help!
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joejoeiscool
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Re:Mode - 2006/08/23 05:35I wounder which emulator (MS Virtual PC is hard to read stuff from!)
Post edited by: joejoeiscool, at: 2006/08/23 06:38
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gaf
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Re:Mode - 2006/08/23 07:25Most of the developers here use Bochs (source-forge, bochs) as it has some nice debugging support and in general prints more information about possible bugs in the OS. In addition you can use VirtualPC or Qemu. Both of them have a higher performance and might also emulate a more recent hardware than bochs.
At least for bochs the are some install instructions available at bonafide (windows, linux). Qemu doesn't require any setup and can be run directly after downloading the binaries.
cheers, gaf
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joejoeiscool
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Re:Mode - 2006/08/23 11:04I was woundering about a 'mascot' like linux, like what could be one? Do you have any ideas?
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gaf
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Re:Mode - 2006/08/23 13:23Just try to think of the decisive trait of your system that makes it different from all the other operating systems that are available. If your OS is supposed to be fast, you might choose a cheetah/hawk or something more abstract like a lightning. A secure and stable system could be symbolized by a powerful gorilla but also by a lighthouse/rock in the raging sea.
Most mascots that I know are either cute animals or comical figures. You might try to reverse that by choosing a mean spider sitting in its net as the symbol of your networking OS. In my opinio small animals have in general been neglected by most..
Another great source of inspiration can be mythology or even popular culture. Provided that you already have a name for the system you might also try to come up with some kind of pun.
One thing you should keep in mind is, that mascots have to simple to be remembered. Too many details just distract and won't be understood by most. What you need is an idealized view that still look good when reduced to the size of an icon.
regards, gaf
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joejoeiscool
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Re:Mode - 2006/12/03 04:40Hi, I've just decided to continue, here and what an improvement in the forums! I have FF Portable for my mam's laptop! I have decided on a fish but I am rubbish at fish! Could you help by sending in some images
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Operate the keyboard
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