Re: Ada Microkernel?

["chris.danx" <chris.danx@ntlworld.com>]

"Robert A Duff" <bobduff@world.std.com> wrote in message
news:wcck82i1u1v.fsf@world.std.com...
> "chris.danx" <chris.danx@ntlworld.com> writes:
>
> > The first is am i correct in assuming that GNAT for NT/9x generates output
in
> > the PE Windows format?  If not which format does it use?
>
> I don't know.

Jerry van Dijk was able to confirm this and i got my hands on a 16bit Turbo C
from the Borland Museum so i can get the work started soon.

> >...I need to know this so
> > i can test the compiler out by creating a bootloader for running the
modified
> > GNAT generated programs.
>
> If your goal is to write an OS, why start at the lowest level?  Why not
> write an OS that runs *under* some existing OS (Linux or NT, for
> example), and worry about boot loading and such low-level junk later?
>
> Shouldn't you be worrying more about making the OS portable at this
> point, rather than worrying about Intel-PC-specific issues?

The long term goal is to write an OS, the short term goal is to make
modifications to the GNAT compiler so it can run on a bare x386+ compatibles in
pmode.  Inorder to test it i may need to write a loader to load pe files and run
them.  Another possibility is to get the compiler to compile to exe and chop of
the first 512 bytes.  I'm not entirely sure about this (if it still works that
is).  So far i've got to modify exceptions and look at OO.  If anyone has any
other suggestions feel free to drop me an email or post here.

> > Second, (again) did i get the correct distribution (it is detailed in the
reply
> > text above)?  This is VERY IMPORTANT.
>
> I don't know, but last time I downloaded GNAT sources (a long time ago),
> there was only one source distribution (but many binaries specific to
> various targets).  The source included everything you need to build for
> any supported target (assuming you already have a GNAT binary for that
> target, for the same or one-previous version).

Thanks, i'll investigate the sources more.

> > Third, how much interest is there in this?
>
> Umm.  Well.  I hate to be a naysayer, but I'll bet not much.  Sorry.

Ahh well, it will be available in the future for ppl who need it once the
modifications are made.  Then Ada may become more popular in the OS for i386+
writers community, with support for OO -- if that's what tickles a developer.


Thanks all,
Chris Campbell