OSDev.org

Hi

Is DJGPP suitable for writing a 32-bit pmode operating system kernel?

The reason I'm asking this is that there seems to be a lot of stuff to do with it's ability to make pmode dos programs and the memory manegement to do with that.

Do these get in the way of writing an os Kernel?

Thanks
Steven Graham

I've found DJGPP to be quite effective for OS development. You need to use the -nostdlib option for ld (to disable the standard libraries) and use the COFF output format (instead of EXE). You will almost certainly want to use your own header files, too, and as I'm sure you've guessed, you'll be unable to use most of the DJGPP standard libraries.

There is a version of LCC ( a retargetable 32-bit C compiler) which is available for DOS/DOS-box. I have had some trouble with libraries, but if you will be writing your own, then this is a pretty good choice, especially if you have an interest in compiler construction/operation.

If interested, let me know.