What next?

[Jimferd]

I now am using GRUB to boot a small kernel with built in printf and clearscreen functions (somthing similar to the one at osdev.neopages.net) but I am unsure where I should go from here. Last time I checked GRUB enabled protected mode and A20, so I'm completly confused as to what my next action is. I have written a small keyboard driver, but I dont see how thats going to help me in the near future witout scanf. I know I eventually need an Interrupt Discriptor Table, but have NO idea how to write on. I wholeheartedly admit to my n00biness, and humbly request your advice.
Thanks,
Jimferd

[Tim]

Memory manager: http://osdev.neopages.net/tutorials/memory1.php and http://osdev.neopages.net/tutorials/memory2.php

[Jimferd]

Why do i need a memory manager first? I dont do anything with my memory at the moment. Wouldnt an IDT be a more ... er .... economic idea? I refer to you, the expert of course, but I just wanted to 'trust, yet verify'
Thanks

[Whatever5k]

Well, soon or later you'll have to write a memory manager since you will need malloc() and free().
Anyway, you may first write your IDT and afterwards go on with your memory manager.

[DarylD]

The first thing to write is undoubtedly the memory manager, interrupts can wait until later. Anyway you will probably need a new/malloc function to write your interrupt handler anyway (well I did)

And don't lose hope if it seems to be taking forever to get your memory manager working, its an important part and once its done it will be easy to move onto more interesting things!

Daryl.

[jrfritz]

I think a IDT would be easier than a MM. So I made a IDT.

[Whatever5k]

But Dary is right, you shouldn't build interrupt handlers before having a proper memory manager...

[Tim]

You could write your interrupt code before the memory manager, but the memory manager is a big piece of your kernel on which a lot of other stuff relies. How much code can you write without being able to allocate memory at run-time?

[Jimferd]

All right, It looks like I'm writing a memory manager... any good suggestions on learning the tricks of the trade - namely book or website. OS Design and Dev seems interesting enough and I will read the Memory Management sectrion of that....