read_me_first

Operating systems (OS) are the ultimate most deeply complex software that there is.

I think that there is a strong need for an OS that is simple small and easy to understand. Make an OS that one could take apart rebuild and put back together and make it their way. Find out what works and what dose not. There will always be a need for the understanding of the basic lower level hardware to software interface. No OS runs with out it! Keep those that want to know informed.

The project should be a series of program packages. With all program packages being progressive. Beginning from a simple starting point and progressing to a complete working Operating System. With each program package building from the previous package. Start with "system disk 1" and go to "system disk 50" or what ever. An attempt will be made to keep the system under 16k

I understand that very few people are interested in the workings of the Ford model "T", but maybe the ability to make changes easily will spark the interest in some. If so, Source Forge could be the place that would make this happen.

At the time of this writing I have code written for 30 or 40 system disks this mostly ready to go. The last few still need a little messing with. But I find the hardest part of this project is documenting the code so that people (that have an interest in it) can understand what the FRIG I am doing! System disk 01 is the simplest of the set. But because of the vast difference in assembles, the need for a special boot strap file, and a special way to port this system over to some kind of media, leaves a lot of my readers confused and hanging out in space. To fix this, I started this project with 3 start up packages, in hopes that this will bring most readers up to speed.

The 3 start up packages:
Do_me_first:
Although this code is only 27 bytes in size, the user gets a feel for the concept of assembling code and pasting it into a boot sector.
Do_me_second:
This code is 509 bytes size and still fits into a boot sector. The first 20 some bytes are startup code and are used as start up in all of the other projects. (System disk) A page or two is taken up for the explanation. Once out of the way, I won't go over it again in the rest of the packages. The resets of the code dose some very interesting but technical things. You are not required to learn this.
Do_me_third. The code is made into a universal boot file that fits and starts up all of the other projects. (System disk)