I don't think you'll ever encounter a language suitable for systems programming that both doesn't expose pointers and can handle data structures without ridiculous amounts of glue written by the programmer to transparently handle the pointers. Look at the ACPI tables -- the root table has to be manually searched for, and it's composed entirely of pointers to other data structures that are in turn full of pointers.
AlexHully wrote:
Now, if -like me, again- you need to have proper drivers working, doing low level stuff (machines), it becomes increasingly difficult to compete with established OSes.
Most people don't end up developing an OS anywhere near able to compete with even other "established" hobby OSes. Getting to the forefront of your peers in the OS development community is already a pretty impressive and difficult feat.
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So, I would like to know, how many of us can find a professional use for their OS in the real world.
The brutal truth is it's near zero. I know a couple here have had some of their work used in professional environments, though, so it's not impossible. I'm personally content with having someone use it for the sake of using it (or because they think it's a neat OS or whatever). Regardless of what a hobby OS is used for, in order for it to graduate from "hobby" to "project that people use", you need to have something either unique or promoting it.
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Can we get away from C? (you can answer in one word, I guess).
Sure. You can use all sorts of languages for systems development; check out Rust.
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The underlying: is all that work worth it, for business purposes (so, except for learning how things work)?
Jumping into OS dev for business purposes is a terrible idea. Doing it because you want to learn how to do it is much more realistic.
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Isn't just modifying an existing OS the only realistic thing to do ?
Depends on what you want to do with it. I wouldn't recommend writing a whole new kernel and TCP/IP stack for a firewall when you can just use pfSense (or pf on its native OpenBSD), for example.
AlexHully wrote:
And I will be able to come with a professional grade OS pretty quick (weeks).
Beginner Mistakes