Patricknet Beta 0.1 Released

[PatrickV]

Hi ya

Patricknet Beta 0.1 is release into public. I might say i spend 3 months to put somthing simple out for public to have a look at. You can vist my website http://www.pvcomputers.co.nz to have a look at the source code and make suggestions will be nice. You can do this by going to: http://www.server.pvcomputers.co.nz

If you like to report bug and give feedback you can report them here or you can send me a e-mail with the cirteria at this page: http://www.pvcomputers.co.nz/requestsupport.html

[lukem95]

Nice website

i can't test your OS right now (is there even a floppy image to test? most people can't be bothered to compile), but i may do later.

what are the features?

[JackScott]

I don't have MS-DOS on my computer (Vista x64). So I can't test your image (as Virtual PC won't accept non-standard sized files). Linux people are also out, as are people (AFAIK) without a floppy drive (also me).

Give me 1.44MB floppy image, and I will happily test.

[jnc100]

Code: Select all

times 348 db 0

should be

Code: Select all

times 510-($-$$) db 0

as currently you're producing a 510 byte file (which is why it won't load in bochs etc). Changing the value every time you make an alteration to the code is a pretty bad idea as you're bound to forget at some point.

Regards,
John.

[Zenith]

Sorry, but I think this must be one of the most rushed releases ever...

Is it just me, or is this 'OS' just a partial bootsector? And at this stage, you're calling it Beta 0.1 already...
And why do you terminate each line with a null value if you want to print the entire message? Do you even understand how that character printing loop works?
Also, it's spelled 'kernel', not 'kernal'.

His source can be found here: http://www.server.pvcomputers.co.nz/patricknetsource/

Since you're in NASM, I suggest you follow jnc100's advice so that you won't have to keep changing that value every time you compile the bootsector. And without fixing that issue, there's also a great possibility it won't load on some computers and most virtual machines/emulators.

Maybe once you actually have a kernel, you can show us that...

Good luck.

[inflater]

You said you've spent 3 months.... designing the site or designing the code?
If both, just a OT: how long did you take to create the bootsector...?

Anyways I wouldn't say "0.1 beta". It's more than "0.0.0.0.1 pre-alpha".

And as for the "volunteer developers", I highly doubt someone'll join your team without getting paid -plus- you need to show everybody else YOUR KERNEL. Not a hello world bootsector. Saying just - now go clean these toilets and I'm gonna watch TV - wouldn't help attracting volunteers. Just a remark.

[suthers]

Hey nice website
But I seriously hope you meant 3 months developing the website and not the boot sector....
By the way, theres little point in copyrighting a bootsector sub....
Jules

[froggey]

Small nitpick:

Code: Select all

db 'No Kernal.....',13,10,0
db 'Patricknet Kernal Developers Needed',13,10,0

"Kernel", not "Kernal".

[01000101]

I would wait to begin releasing your OS publically once you at least have either a P-Mode bootloader or a kernel. What you have announced is a ~20 line real-mode half-baked bootstrap that is unloadable by some common emulators due to its malformed bootsector padding. I would put more work into it and show it off once it has more functionality.

I'm not putting you down, I honestly would love to see you develop a great OS, but we don't need to see every micro-step along the way.

[PatrickV]

I notice you you asked me loads of questions regarding Patricknet.
Here is some of your answered questions:

Nice website
i can't test your OS right now (is there even a floppy image to test? most people can't be bothered to compile), but i may do later.

Answer: I don't have the tools to create such images. I happy if anyone who put's my os on to those images and send it to me i wouldn't mind at all. I understand that new computers don't have floppy drives. I was hoping to have patricknet on hard drive in the long run which is proven to be very hard with the MBR and partition table. I would like to make an iso but it very hard to find the right software. Can some one point that out to me it will be most great full.

Code: Select all

times 348 db 0

should be

Code: Select all

times 510-($-$$) db 0

as currently you're producing a 510 byte file (which is why it won't load in bochs etc). Changing the value every time you make an alteration to the code is a pretty bad idea as you're bound to forget at some point.

Answer: I didn't know that. I will fixed that in beta release 0.2. thanks for the input.

You said you've spent 3 months.... designing the site or designing the code?
Anyways I wouldn't say "0.1 beta". It's more than "0.0.0.0.1 pre-alpha".

Answer: I spent three months try to make my very own bootsector program. Within that 3months i've been searching on the internet and learning the language.

Is it just me, or is this 'OS' just a partial bootsector? And at this stage, you're calling it Beta 0.1 already...
And why do you terminate each line with a null value if you want to print the entire message? Do you even understand how that character printing loop works?

Answer: We yes i did. At the time i thought it will do that. That's why you see the kernel loading message in the source code which does not load on to the screen. But when i tested it had a bug in so i left it and did singular print strings until i get the bugs kicked out of it.

Thanks for your input and i won't disapoint you on the next beta version of patricknet. If you like request something else added to patricknet go to http://www.pvcomputers.co.nz/requestsupport.html

[inflater]

I don't have the tools to create such images.

Google for rawwritewin or WinImage.

I spent three months try to make my very own bootsector program.

NO COMMENT.

We yes i did.

And you know that your "bug" can be fixed when you omit the zeros in every line and print the string as whole, like this?

Code: Select all

BOOT db 'patricknet 0.1 beta',13,10
              db 'blah blah all rights and lefts reserved',13,10
              db 'copyright (C) 2008 patricknet and stuff',0
...
mov si,BOOT        ;load the offset of BOOT into SI
mov ah,0eh        ;bios fn number
stringloop:
lodsb                 ;ESI + 1 and put the current char from esi to AL
cmp al,00         ;is it zero ?
je endstring       ;finish writing
int 10h             ;or else write the character
jmp stringloop    ;and loop
endstring:
cli                   ;clear the interrupt flag
hlt                   ;halt the CPU

I will fixed that in beta release 0.2.

You're proud to mark your "OS", ahum, your boot sector, with a "version 0.2" stamp? No comment again.

If I would sum up this post, R.T.F.M. or else you're not going anywhere with your "OS", get over yourself.

Thanks for your input and i won't disapoint you on the next beta version of patricknet

I hope so...

[suthers]

You're proud to mark your "OS", ahum, your boot sector, with a "version 0.2" stamp? No comment again.

I have to say he has a good point, many people don't even release version 0.0.1 until it can read and execute simple binaries of the disk it loads of (Well that's my plan for virginix 0.0.1...) or even already has a format loader....
In personal opinion, In less your OS has a special task like 'e''s D.i.N.S, don't release until it can execute some basic binaries of the disk it's loaded on... (preferably formated...)
Jules

[PatrickV]

Thanks i will get that bug fixed. It doesn't matter how many os beta i send out. It matters if their was inprovement from the last version and the input form the user who uses the Patricknet. The more input you give me, the beter the final version of Patricknet will be. I am starting small and working my way to bigger things with my os. As i said that i am still learning. It took me 3 months to learn and play around with other people os and learning what does what and still get stumped sometimes. And no i will not have another bootsector that does nothing. In beta 0.2 i will try and load 1 sector to run the kernel. Give me some faith i am trying my best to learn and for fill my life long dream that started 5 years ago. I would like your feedback and suggestions to help make Patricknet better how you want it, and i will live to that bargin and try my best give you the os what people want