MikeOS 3.0 development update

[M-Saunders]

Hi all,

Just a quick status message for those interested. We're currently working on MikeOS 3.0, the next major release of our 16-bit real mode operating system. MikeOS is designed as a learning tool for people new to OS construction and those studying x86 assembly language. The OS and programs reside in a single 64K segment (so nobody has to mess around with segment registers) and it uses the BIOS for hardware access, so that the code doesn't need complicated drivers.

For MikeOS 3.0, the code is forking into two projects: MikeOS is focusing on simplicity, well-commented code and detailed documentation, while TomOS, from the author of the MikeOS 2.0 mouse driver, will take on experimental features and other stuff which changes the design substantially. I'm sure Tom will post an announcement here when he has the first TomOS release ready.

See this message and then this message on the mailing list for progress so far. If you'd like to get involved, this post contains a list of tasks for 3.0 (note that the Windows building guide has already been completed). If you want to help, join the mailing list or drop me a line!

The latest download (2.9.3), mailing list info and everything else can be found at the website:

http://mikeos.berlios.de

(And what announcement would be complete without a screenshot? I've been working on making the menu interface slightly cleaner.)

Cheers,
Mike

[Troy Martin]

So, expected release date for 3.0.0?

Man, 3.0 already.. I remember getting into OS dev'ing with testing MikeOS 1.2.0.. Jeez, the time has flown past..

What major features do you plan in 3.0? File handling is done, a simple shell is done, what else is there? I can enhance the shell for you with argument parsing, but it may be a little messy. Messy but thorough.

[M-Saunders]

So, expected release date for 3.0.0?

You know that I don't like to give a concrete date But ideally I'd like to get it finished before Christmas.

What major features do you plan in 3.0? File handling is done, a simple shell is done, what else is there? I can enhance the shell for you with argument parsing, but it may be a little messy. Messy but thorough.

Thanks, but I've already written a string parsing routine (os_string_parse) that can get a command and up to three arguments in 2.9.3. As for features, the biggest changes for 3.0 are in the code layout, comments and documentation. I'm going to split the Handbook into three docs: one for users (how to use the OS in an emulator or real PC); one for app programmers (explaining the API); and one for those working on the OS itself.

M

[Troy Martin]

Ah, so the docs need to be re-written.

My way of parsing arguments is calling my strncmp function (recursively if needed) so it can get a little messy at times. But obfuscated code contests are fun!

[PatrickV]

Hi, M-Saunders. That sounds great news. I can't wait to try out your major release 3.0.0. You said that tom will be working the mouse driver? Correct me if i am wrong. That is good because it does not work on microsoft virtual machine 2007 and my mouse fitting is ps2.

[M-Saunders]

Hi, M-Saunders. That sounds great news. I can't wait to try out your major release 3.0.0. You said that tom will be working the mouse driver? Correct me if i am wrong. That is good because it does not work on microsoft virtual machine 2007 and my mouse fitting is ps2.

Hi Patrick. Yes, Tom is continuing work on the mouse driver along with other features in his TomOS spin-off. We've tested on quite a bit of hardware, but there still seems to be a problem with MS Virtual PC! Thanks for testing; I'll pass that on.

M

[xyjamepa]

you guys,do a very good job with Mikeos,
keep the good work comming.