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What next?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 10:52 am
by 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
Re:What next?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 10:57 am
by Tim
Re:What next?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 11:03 am
by 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
Re:What next?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 11:11 am
by 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.
Re:What next?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 11:40 am
by 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.
Re:What next?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 12:23 pm
by jrfritz
I think a IDT would be easier than a MM. So I made a IDT.
Re:What next?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 12:49 pm
by Whatever5k
But Dary is right, you shouldn't build interrupt handlers before having a proper memory manager...
Re:What next?
Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2002 2:43 pm
by 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?
Re:What next?
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2003 11:13 am
by 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....