OSDev.org

I Have An Idea !

May be we should develop a DEBUGER that is suitable to debug micro kernel operating systems at source-level ?

I mean debuger that be able to debug a Kernel and Servers at the same time.

Debuger that will know what processes and threads currently running in system and able to interrupt any of it.

What do you think ?

So how exactly would the debug program keep track of these things? Wouldn't it have to do different for every kernel?

Exabyte256 wrote: So how exactly would the debug program keep track of these things? Wouldn't it have to do different for every kernel?

You'd have to make it a hypervisor-ish thing then, a super-kernel that registers all things that happen below and that can take command.

I expect developing it to be like developing an OS, but harder. You can do it though, but I'd advise first creating a monolithic OS, then creating a debugger in there (without threads or anything, but with keyboard & monitor support, or serial cable, or whatever you like) and then creating a microkernel in that.

You do have to do with Heisenberg's uncertainty again, if you remove your tools, you change what you measure (also when you stick them in, but that doesn't matter). Do you introduce race conditions or errors?

So how exactly would the debug program keep track of these things? Wouldn't it have to do different for every kernel?

I think if some people agrees my idea, we'll decide later how to do it.

Case 1 : Develop a Standart on how kernels might be debugged.

Case 2 : Let the debuger has support for kernel debugging plug-in. And then any-one can write a plug-in for own kernel/os.

I think it'll be better if debugger be outside of the kernel and os,
it'll run as a standalone program in any other working OS (at
your option) and have a small part of it in debugged kernel.

e.g. a remote debugging with connection through serial or pipe (in case of Virtual PC or VMWare emulators).

Well, linux people have been using GDB (and probably DDD) to remotely debug linux kernel over e.g. serial lines for years now ...

Well, linux people have been using GDB (and probably DDD) to remotely debug linux kernel over e.g. serial lines for years now ...

To debug kernel ! Not a whole OS.

CopperMan wrote: To debug kernel ! Not a whole OS.

That's because you can do the rest with a local GDB.

Yes, to debug a kernel. You can debug your kernel using GDB.