Re: [Oslib-devel] large memory model OS

[Luca A. <luc...@em...>]

Hi David,

On Fri, 2007-02-09 at 13:54 -0800, David Shifflett wrote:
> Hi,
> I am looking for a development and run-time environment
> for an experimental kernel.
> 
> I want to run large memory model
> (multiple code and data segments).
I do not know the large memory model, but if it is the one in which
pointers are touples composed by selector and offset, then oslib does
not support it (oslib uses gcc, in which pointers do not contain a
selector).

> Can OSLib support a segmented architecture?
Yes, it supports segmented architectures: for example, you can setup
tasks to have private segments. Or you can "manually" switch the values
in the selector registers... But you cannot automatically associate
selector values to the pointers.

> Can it support large memory model code?
> What file formats (ELF, COFF, LE/LX) does it support?
Supported formats are ELF, COFF, and probably PE (I had it working one
time, but I do not remember if I had to patch oslib or not).

> What compiler/linker might work? (I am looking at Open WATCOM)
It unfortunatelly only works with gcc/GNU binutils (when I started
working on oslib, gcc was the only usable free compiler - watcom C was
still a commercial product)


				Luca