Questions tagged [kernel]
The kernel tag has no usage guidance.
31
questions
2
votes
0answers
77 views
Is it dangerous to link together -mno-red-zone and regular code?
I know that in x86_64, there exists a 128 byte red zone above (or below, address-wise) the stack pointer that functions can use without subtracting from rsp.
This sounds to me like the only things ...
1
vote
1answer
108 views
How does disk wiping software access my hard disk?
I'm an amateur programmer. I have a lot of interest in the inner workings of operating systems, a subject that I've been reading a lot about.
What I've understood about kernels is that on most ...
3
votes
2answers
201 views
What is a unikernel?
Today, I searched for includeOS and I found that it defines itself as a minimal unikernel.
I am wondering what is UniKernel. The wikipedia explanations are not clear enough to me.
Is unikernel an ...
1
vote
0answers
187 views
How does the BIOS detect the size of installed memory? [closed]
I'm writing a little toy operating system using a mix of C and Assembly (It's not meant to be good/fast, just meant to learn from). I know that I can issue an interrupt (I think it's INT 0x15) to ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Are some operation system (kernels) more efficient with hardware than others?
When comparing the Windows, macOS, and Linux kernel to each other, do some make better use of hardware in terms of cache efficiently, page lookups, or power consumption?
I noticed this after ...
-2
votes
1answer
120 views
Loading My Custom OS from USB flash drive
Suppose I want to create a portable OS, that needs a USB flash drive only to work. and i wrote my boatloader in the first sector to be loaded by the BIOS, from here on, what can I do to load my OS ...
3
votes
2answers
48 views
Executable verification in user mode
I am posting this here instead of on Stack Overflow because this is more conceptual. I am primarily thinking of this a Linux context, but this can be extended to other operating systems.
When I didn'...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
Are there system calls like posix in assembly level using int number for windows
I want to write assembly program using
windows syscall Interrupt number
, so in order to use system call in assembly level using int of sys call, In windows are there kernel calls like posix ...
3
votes
1answer
120 views
Kernel operation
I'm trying to grasp the concept of an operating system at the moment (on Unix-like machines)
The kernel is the process with PID 0. Of course the Kernel is not really "just another process" because a ...
0
votes
1answer
203 views
Kernel facilities needed for C++
I'm working on a kernel for a proprietary embeded system. I've had no issues but I'd like to expand its capabilities directly. I made it run C. I did so pretty much by giving my kernel a stack.
My ...
-3
votes
1answer
228 views
dma allocation in kernel 4g patch theory [closed]
I was reading about that that old patch.
The summary of that link is to create a 4Gb kernel space, instead of 1Gb by default.
Since many dma capable devices can only access 32 bit addresses or 4Gb, ...
41
votes
5answers
5k views
How is spinlock different from polling?
Is spinlock and polling the same thing?
Wikipedia:
a spinlock is a lock which causes a thread trying to acquire it to simply wait in a loop ("spin") while repeatedly checking if the lock is ...
0
votes
4answers
6k views
Relation between Kernel & BIOS routines [duplicate]
How does a Kernel provides different functionality to OS? Does it use the BIOS routines or use special device drivers for this, or something else? If uses BIOS how does it come to know which routine ...
2
votes
1answer
230 views
Support Vector Machines as Neural Nets?
This is more of a conceptual question.
I have learned about Neural Nets, and I have some clue as to how Support Vector Machines work. I read somewhere however that given the appropriate kernel (is ...
-1
votes
2answers
4k views
NT Kernel Source
Well, the first question would be: Is it legal to take hold of the NT Kernel Source? If so, proceed to the second paragraph; if not, proceed to the third.
The first thing you'd probably ask is "Why ...
-1
votes
2answers
885 views
Theoretical basis for (Linux) kernel development
KernelDevViewpoint (an apparently serious source) makes kernel development look like an accessible art. According to them:
Contrary to popular belief, kernel developers rarely need to know math
...
6
votes
1answer
600 views
Does change the license under which Linux is released need the permission of all the copyright holders?
As far as I know Linus holds the copyright to Linux.
While looking around in the kernel sources, I see that almost every file has it's own copyright holders. For example the file module.c in the ...
2
votes
2answers
727 views
Hardware running gpl code
Let's say I am selling hardware that uses the linux kernel. Do I have to state somewhere that it is running linux(or other gpl code)?
The reason I am asking this is because I bought a television, ...
4
votes
1answer
288 views
unseen/unknown function definition in linux source
Can any one please explain this piece of code I found in the linux kernel source. I see a lots of code like this in linux and minix kernel but dont seem to find what it does (even if C compilers ...
20
votes
13answers
8k views
Why do operating systems do low level stuff in C and C++? Why not just C++?
On the Wikipedia page for Windows, it states the Windows is written in Assembly for the bootloader and task switcher, and C and C++ for kernel routines.
IIRC, you can call C++ functions from an ...
0
votes
2answers
592 views
Are monolith and microkernel design patterns or strategies?
What's the difference between a design pattern and a strategy?
Is the monolith actually an anti-pattern?
168
votes
12answers
30k views
How do operating systems… run… without having an OS to run in?
I'm really curious right now. I'm a Python programmer, and this question just boggled me: You write an OS. How do you run it? It has to be run somehow, and that way is within another OS?
How can an ...
2
votes
2answers
705 views
Are there similarities between operating system kernels and programming language kernels?
I know very little about Smalltalk but I noticed that there's a frequent mention of the "kernel". Dan Ingalls prime maintainer of several implementations of Smalltalk also worked on a Javascript ...
7
votes
4answers
10k views
Why does ARM processors dominate Mobile platforms while x86 dominates Desktop/Server platforms
Almost all of the mobile phones, except the ones being produced by Intel, use ARM based processors while desktop/server industry is dominated x86 processors.
What features does one provide over the ...
235
votes
15answers
58k views
Why was Tanenbaum wrong in the Tanenbaum-Torvalds debates?
I was recently assigned reading from the Tanenbaum-Torvalds debates in my OS class. In the debates, Tanenbaum makes some predictions:
Microkernels are the future
x86 will die out and RISC ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Low Level vs High Level Development [closed]
I really want to start working in OS development, particularly kernel development, with the Open Source Darwin Project - building my own Mac-like operating system, however I am simply not experienced ...
18
votes
6answers
21k views
Is Assembly still relevant? [closed]
Are there major differences between assembly language and higher level languages when it comes to coding and/or managing projects? Obviously it takes more statements in assembly language to carry out ...
18
votes
5answers
19k views
Advice for an ambitious student on building your own kernel [closed]
I'm a very ambitious university student who wishes to learn pretty much everything there is to know about computers (bash me if you want, I love learning). Recently I thought it would be a fun project ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Other than the Linux kernel, which operating system kernels should you study? [closed]
The Linux kernel is often listed as a code base which you are recommended to read and, even if it is poorly commented (or the files I have looked at have all been), it does have some really good code ...
12
votes
5answers
40k views
How to understand Linux kernel source code for a beginner? [closed]
I am a student interested in working on Memory Management, particularly the page replacement component of the linux kernel.
What are the different guides that can help me to begin understanding the ...
13
votes
3answers
6k views
What are some interesting but not too difficult projects for a beginner kernel hacker?
Having taken a course in Operating Systems I'm interested in expanding my knowledge of the Linux kernel and practice working with a big system. What are some interesting but not overly difficult ...
