Programming an OS

[Denthúl]

Me and 2 friends have just started programming our operating system. It looks like DOS at the moment but it has colour! It's called Fireball and it has a long way to go!

[root]

is it an actual opperating system, or dopesit sit ontop of windows or linux or something?

f it's an actual opperating system how about openeing up an account on sourceforge.net (it's free) and getting some more people to join in.

Whats it written in?

[Lord Kalthorn]

That sounds like so much fun; maybe one day when I have more time and a little more experience I shall try the same thing. Maybe when I have at least one friend who knows programming! :D

[Itsme]

have you created a filesystem? kernal? what is it programmed in? I'd like to know more...

Itsme

[Denthúl]

it's an actual operating system, it's written in BASIC at the moment but it'll be C++ soon.

[Lord Kalthorn]

Wow. Sounds like fun. You'll have to keep us updated as to the problems and successes.

I now know what I want to try before I finish University. :D

[Denthúl]

I'll send a few screenshots if I can. Problem 1: my mate started it the other week and asked me to add some things to it but won't give me the source code. I only have 1 .exe file, is there a way I can break it open to get the code?

[Denthúl]

If he doesn't give me the code then I'll just start my own OS and start using C++.

[Lord Kalthorn]

On Visual Studio.NET (I love it! I recommend it to anybody; infact - I'll sell it to anyone who wants it; just PM me) you can open .exe files and take them apart - the Strings, the Binary, the Icons, the Cursers (I have ripped apart the No One Lives Forever exe) and you can edit the code itself.

What Program are you using to do it?

[root]

LK- Thats quite cool, I didn't realise you could do that!

Are you sure this is an actual OS, I mean an EXE file implies that you are running it on a platform.

Are you talking about writting an OS or making a shell application to hide windows?

[Itsme]

yeah...root seems right.

and also, just get any decompiler for the language you wrote the exe in and theres the code, like L.K. said :)

Itsme

[Lord Kalthorn]

Unless this .exe is like the Explorer on Windows?

By God! I could try and unpick that on Visual Studio! :D

[Lord Kalthorn]

Ok - first thing. The know the bars saying 'Windows XP Home Edition' or 'Windows XP Embedded' on the Classic Start Menu? It has the pictures in Explorer for every Windows Version! Its the same Explorer .exe in every one of them! :D

Then:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
name="Microsoft.Windows.Shell.explorer"
processorArchitecture="x86"
version="5.1.0.0"
type="win32"/>
<description>Windows Shell</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="x86"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
language="*"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

This is the RT_MANIFEST in the .exe. How funny! :D How boring the people who make this must be.

This is seriously interesting! I have yet to work out how to view the base code of it on its own; but I will in all due time.

[Itsme]

thats pretty funny. but not a surprise really...those lazy M$ workers... lol ;)

Itsme

[Lord Kalthorn]

Lol! Hey! I want to be one of those Lazy Microsoft Workers! :D

[root]

not lazy, - clever, and surprisingly well thought out! A standard toolbar set like that will ensure seemless theme integration...

Since XP comes with several pre-installed themes (blue sliver and green) and it is posible to download signed themes that don't require a third party program such as samurize or styleXP.

[Itsme]

actually, thats from XP, right? well theres the option in properties to view it in the "classic" view too, so maybe those ARE used when you change views ;)

Itsme

[Lord Kalthorn]

not lazy, - clever, and surprisingly well thought out! A standard toolbar set like that will ensure seemless theme integration...

Since XP comes with several pre-installed themes (blue sliver and green) and it is posible to download signed themes that don't require a third party program such as samurize or styleXP.
Yeah; if they are .mstheme files then you can just double click them and they'll be installed into the Windows/Resources Folder and work from the Themes Menu in Display.

It is a clever way of doing it - but not at all easy to figure out. I think I'll wait for my book to come through before I do too much (although I will some) thinking about Programming and make my brain melt.

[Denthúl]

The exe file isn't my doing, it's his! I need quite a lot of information about operating systems. How would I break open (or attempt to break open) Windows? Is there a way to do that?

[Lord Kalthorn]

Haha. You'd need to have the time to break open, using a version of Visual Studio (don't think any of the programming specific Visuals do it) every file in the Windows System and work out how they are connected to each other. :cool: I can't imagine it being too easy.

[root]

The exe file isn't my doing, it's his! I need quite a lot of information about operating systems. How would I break open (or attempt to break open) Windows? Is there a way to do that?
You'd do better trying to search for the leaked source!

good luck. (and don't get caught)

[Lord Kalthorn]

Haha; I wouldn't recommend that at all.

[Denthúl]

Thanks. I got a copy of a C++ compiler and have started designing the GUI.

[Lord Kalthorn]

Cool, and good luck! :D

[Denthúl]

Thanks. Sould I program my own office suite or not?

[root]

I guess if you are truly making your own OS, and not just a new shell for windows then you'll hae to program all your own apps to run nativly on your OS.

If you are just making a new shell to go over windows then I'd stick with either MS Office or Open Office.

[Lord Kalthorn]

Lol; maybe you should concentrate on getting it working first?

[Denthúl]

Yeah I think I should but it's difficult!

[Lord Kalthorn]

I imagine it is!

You have got me all junked up on the idea now too! I'm going to write a compiler as soon as I can now; both to learn C++ while I'm writing it and to have a language for an OS I may program at a later date.

However, whatever toil I have to go through to do it I will blame on you! :D

[Denthúl]

Well, I guess I'll add that to the list! :D

It's progressed a bit further, he wants it to be open source but he wants to sell it too.

If he sells it with the source code, one person will buy it and then sell it at about ten times less but he won't believe that there are people who'll do this!

[root]

You can license software so that it can be open source, yet you are allowed to sell it, but rights are not transferable...

The law will be on your side here...

The only problem will be.
Finding people selling your OS for discount,
getting the law to act (adequatly) on your behalf once you'ce found the software pirates.

[Lord Kalthorn]

Well, I guess I'll add that to the list! :D

It's progressed a bit further, he wants it to be open source but he wants to sell it too.

If he sells it with the source code, one person will buy it and then sell it at about ten times less but he won't believe that there are people who'll do this!
It'll have to be Open Source while you build it; so wait until you've finished it to discuss it with him.

[Denthúl]

Oh, I'd like to see you discuss anything with him, always thinks he's right and when he's not, he has a mood and won't speak to you for a month.

Sad, sad individual he is.

[Lord Kalthorn]

Do you need him to do it? Could you not do it yourself; duck out of it and then he'll build his own and you can build your own. You may even be able to make it better through taking his ideas and then trying to beat them.

[Denthúl]

I suppose I could. By the way, I've also decided to help another friend design websites for people.

[Lord Kalthorn]

Lol.

I'm starting to like designing websites - quite satisfying isn't it? To see something that you have done that so many will see? It is fun for something so mentally draining.

Just wondering, but what have you written your Kernal in?

[Tulsileaf]

if that guy doesn't let you see the source code and he won't listen to your opinions, then what are you doing in that project?

[Tulsileaf]

if that guy doesn't let you see the source code and he won't listen to your opinions, then what are you doing in that project?

[Lord Kalthorn]

No; he does let him see the Source because he is doing the project with him - what Denthul isn't so interested in is making it Open-Source and Selling it at the same time.

[gelpogi]

Maybe if you want to rewrite that 'OS', you should write it using assembly language.

[Denthúl]

He's taken it a bit furhter, he's decided to create a new version called Ultimate 04, if anybody wants a copy then send me an email and i'll send it to you, he thinks he can beat Windows, Linux etc. with something that resembles a QBASIC program.

What a fool.

[Lord Kalthorn]

Lol; arrr! I think I'll pass on a Copy for now though. :D

[Denthúl]

Yeah, I would. I could do with some new programming software as well. I have left him to do it himself, I'm more interested in programming games, it's fun to test them afterwards and I don't have to do as much work (or, haven't had to yet) and it's all colourful too!

Anyone else tried making an operating system? If you haven't, my advice is get someone to help you but make sure they aren't idiots and won't hide source code from you! :D :D

[Lord Kalthorn]

Lol; I tried for about three weeks :p and gave up.

I am working on making a Forum; it is more fun as you said with Games mainly because its more colourful and results are quicker to view.

[Denthúl]

What's the forum about? What host are you using? I usually use invisionfree but that's because I haven't got enough money to pay for a professional one.

If you want any help then just ask me and I'll do as much as I can. Have you actually set it up yet or are you still designing it?

Also, I'm gonna give programming an OS one last attempt and if it fails then I'll just slowly dissapear from the OS world (if I was ever even a statistic) and become a games programmer but with that I will need help so I guess this is sort of a request for people to give me their ideas on what my first one should be about and what language I should use.

[rakedog]

Denthul, since you seem to be educated well in programming, I just wanna ask you, which laungages do you know. You seem like a nice guy.

[bestgamer07]

I'm looking to find Visual Basic.Net on the internet to download can you guys help me. I'm doing some projects using Visual Basic now but alot of ppl sa tat it's not as good as VB.Net. VB.Net has better apps to run btter graphcs

[Denthúl]

Not well educated in programming, just disassemble other programs, learn how they're put together and then assemble source code by using books. But, I am learning C++ at the moment.

No idea where you can get VB from, though you could try just typing in something like 'free visual basic downloads' on Google or Yahoo.