my project?!

[jameshumphries47]

alright guys, im going to get a lot of stick for posting this, and I know it wont be great but anyway, my project is for the next 2-3 years is to create a very simple operating system a bit like XP I guess it does the basics of internet, a word processor. but I have a really original design here it is instead of a desktop and files, you choose a background, and you have "piles" not literally (no pun intended) piles or stacks not sure yet, of icons, and you have the icons you don't want in piles on the desktop, you can drag them around and place them were you want.????

a bit like a real desk!

what is your view on my idea.

thanks

~James

p.s I am learning lodes of programming languages now

[Cubit481]

ya we can do that in windows explorer...what is ur point...??

[jameshumphries47]

@Cubit481 ? what are you talking about, is it an okay idea, your comment does not help anybody

[PassionFruit]

Instead of doing that you could make an program that would do that. And if I understood your point then aren't you able to do that anyway?

[.:MARK:.]

What Languages do you know? have you experimented with Linux shells? Are you decent with interface design? If so then I would recommend you use a debian base and then create a shell for it an make your own paid distro or free one and also provide a standalone shell!

[Cubit481]

@Cubit481 ? what are you talking about, is it an okay idea, your comment does not help anybody

creating os dont only require programming, it requires handling threads and hardware and all the resources...what will u use as a backbone for ur os...??

[jameshumphries47]

to be honest I have just got into programming, and im learning a few languages, I don't want to make a program I just want to completely create a full os for it! I will start with the with the linux code and work from there! may I ask what language is Linux coded in

[jameshumphries47]

thanks @Dragan

[squirrl]

You need to learn machine code at least

[jameshumphries47]

my next step is to learn assembely @squirrl

[squirrl]

my next step is to learn assembely @squirrl

Yeah, that would probably be easier

But even so, unless you're a super genius, making an operating system is a huge job even for a professional, never mind someone who has just started learning high level languages like c++ (Have you tried c++ yet or just something like java?) if not, then that's probably your next task. It will introduce you to pointers and memory management. A lot of that stuff is passed down to the OS though, so as an OS programmer you will need to be able to handle all this stuff. And windows programs wont be able to run on your OS either, or any other one so it will be quite bare

A linux kernel would get you a bit further, but still it would be more useful to work on some smaller programs and get them to work first before doing one big blob of them that may or may not work and be a pain in the arse to test

[jameshumphries47]

@Squirrel I know the really basics of C++ lol, but im in no rush just something for me to plod along in my spare time, just something to keep me busy

[Xploda]

To be honest, building an OS from scratch is way too ambitious, especially considering you've only just started programming. Think about this: where will you start searching? Obviously there probably isn't any documentation which could get you started.

Perhaps it's a better idea to look at Linux code first, or maybe you could even download the source code of the Android OS and have a look at that.

 

Maybe you could build your own distribution of Linux, or you could get into Android custom ROM development. Maybe even this is too ambitious for now, but it's a more realistic goal once you have some programming experience.

 

I'm saying this because there's enough documentation about this on the internet. I'm 200% sure you won't get anywhere if you try developing an OS from scratch now, as you just don't have the required experience for that. It's not only the fact that you don't have enough programming experience, but you should also know a thing or two about software design. I have a feeling you are underestimating the things your OS has to do in the background, and all the design choices that have to be made. You're talking about a massive project which just can't be done by one person, probably not even by someone who has been programming for 20 years.

 

I'm not trying to destroy your dreams here, all I want to say is that you must learn to walk first before you can start running  .

[Stormsys]

to be honest I have just got into programming, and im learning a few languages, I don't want to make a program I just want to completely create a full os for it! I will start with the with the linux code and work from there! may I ask what language is Linux coded in

 

I have the feeling you misunderstand the complexity in even the basics that an operating system has to contend with to run on a machine with hardware and no abstraction layer(like your current operating system provides). way way way before you look at making anything that the user can see you have to contend with much lower level stuff like making a driver for each part of your hardware so that you can use your NIC, understand file systems and formats to store things on the disk ect... Linux is huge and has thousands of contributors no one person can keep on top of it all, i don't think its a good starting point for someone of your experience. 

 

Good luck but if you want my honest opinion your probably going to waste your time and learn no real programming from doing this, there much more complex obstacles you will need to overcome.

 

If you want to build a basic word processor, do this on top of windows or any existing OS, if you want to build a basic UI for managing files also feel free to do this is much more reasonable and achievable leveraging the functionality your operating system already provides.

 

After that said if your abitions are still to make a OS, why not try make a Pseudo-OS, one example and a pretty cool and more achievable(but still very complex) style would be a web-based operating system. one such example is synology's DSM http://www.synology.com/en-uk/products/dsm_livedemo it runs linux(or some variant of it i cant remember) under the hood but this web interface is a type of Pseudo-operating system, it does none of the real complex stuff it only leverages the existing operating system and provides an interesting interface to doing functionality on it .

[jameshumphries47]

thanks everyone, im going to have a look at the code of Linux and android, I am going to make a version of Linux, ill get the kernel and work up from there.

Thanks again!!

@Xploda

@Stormsys

[Squirrel]

@Squirrel I know the really basics of C++ lol, but im in no rush just something for me to plod along in my spare time, just something to keep me busy

you quoted the wrong squirrel buddy I have been coding aswell though not really my thing though tbh

[Satlen]

just make your own distro of linux