Loading Executables

[loopy]

Hi, everyone.

I got the idea in my head the other night that I was going to program an OS, and I haven't slept since.

I have succeeded in installing GRUB and using it to load my kernel from a floppy. I have found plenty of info on memory mangers, device drivers, etc, but one thing I can't find good info on...

I need to load and run applications! Please note that I do not mean physically reading them from disk. I would prefer to use any formats supported by DJGPP since that's what I'm using already.

I was able to find info about the executable formats, but nothing about getting them loaded and started from a kernel.

Can anyone help get me started on this?

Thanks in advance.

[Pype.Clicker]

Check the book section for "linker and loaders" (there is an online free version). BAsically, what you must do is creating the right environment in a new address space and set up a thread to the entry point ...

[loopy]

Thanks for the reply. I know that was a really general and difficult question to answer. I found out that when I can't figure something out I just need to read about it over and over and over until it sinks in.

I'm finally understanding the GDT and stuff, so progress is being made. Thank you, GRUB, for giving me protected mode!