Coffee Space

Aims

The following are the aims that I have currently achieved (or at least in my opinion):

• Run in a small amount of RAM
• Use little processing power
• Compatible with really old machines
• 16 bit monolithic kernel
• Resemble Linux in terms of command line
• Provide a selection of example programs

The following are aims yet to be completed (rather ambitious giving the above aims):

• Compression algorithm to bring down the size on disk (allows for programs to be more complex than the 512 bytes they are currently limited to)
• Serial support
• Very basic USB capability
• Simple TDP capability

Introduction

Please read the OS’s introduction document.

Limitations

Yes, when you have a kernel that is just 512 bytes in size there are some limitations.

• The file size is limited to 512 bytes. This is due to the custom file table it uses to store data, which both gives lots of file locations and is easy to implement in the kernel.
• The file name limit is 4 characters. This means that the entire file table can be loaded into RAM, actually making things slightly faster.
• There’s no protection. At all. You can wipe over the kernel and that’s OK.

Of course, another way too look at these are features. Because of the limits I have set, these have just become parts of the system I have come to accept for what they are. As long as you are aware of them, they tend not to hinder use.

For more information on using the system, please refer to the system document.

Use

Please read the user document for information about using the system.

Current command include:

• ls - Displays the root directory (there is only one directory)
• cat - Displays the contents of a file to screen
• mk - Creates a blank file with the given name
• edit - Edits a file with a given name, or just loads a blank one
• rm - Removes a file of a given name
• run - Runs a code file (see CODE for an example)
• spce - Is a mini space invaders games
• sys - Displays basic system information
• test - Is a simple hello world program
• gol - Is a simple implementation of Conway’s Game of Life

Typing -v or -h will give you version or help respectively. Only one command line parameter is currently supported per program and relies on the program’s implementation of that feature.

Programming

Please refer to the beautiful document that literally took days to write. If it’s incomplete, I ask you to tell me. I know there are issues that already require some attention but anything flagged is a job saved.

Thanks

An ultra-special thanks to MikeOS, who without him and the developers involved in that project I would never have learned assembly or had any starting point for writing this code. I highly recommend you check out their project!