OSDev.wiki

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This page covers the history of operatingOperating systemSystem developmentDevelopment (OSDev) as it applies to educational, amateur, educational and smaller operating systems. ForOther apages generalcover overviewdifferent aspects of the history of computer operating systems. A general history of mainstream OSes can be found on [[Wikipedia:History_of_operating_systems|Wikipedia]] may be consulted. ForA amore detailed time-linetimeline and hierarchy of UnixUNIX and similar OSes acan good source ofbe informationfound isat [http://www.levenez.com/unix/ http://www.levenez.com/unix/the UNIX history page]. ▼
{{In Progress}}
 
== Introduction ==
Informal operating system development has been a growing hobby over the last few years, and has become an enjoyable pass-time. Many of the developers that frequent [http://www.osdev.org osdev.org] are studying college (university) level computer science, but there are many also that have no formal background in computer science, and are self-taught.
 
Several factors have brought about the upswing in popularity of developing operating systems. The first is the availability of open documentation, and the access to this provided by the Internet. The second factor is the availability of cheap hardware that can be used personally for testing the systems on (since a computer must be restarted to test an operating system, this makes it hard to test on a system with multiple users).
▲This page covers the history of operating system development as it applies to educational, amateur, and smaller operating systems. For a general overview of the history of mainstream OSes [[Wikipedia:History_of_operating_systems]] may be consulted. For a detailed time-line and hierarchy of Unix and similar OSes a good source of information is [http://www.levenez.com/unix/ http://www.levenez.com/unix/].
 
Another possible factor is the recent popularity of GNU/Linux systems, and the [http://www.kernel.org Linux kernel] in particular. The Linux kernel was not the first kernel to open its sources to the world, but it is (and has been for the last decade at least) the most popular. Since many programmers are aware of Linux's open state, they may be more inclined to delve deeper into the kernel than they would be with a closed kernel. Today, Linux has become a mainstream kernel, with many companies investing in its development. It has become a good example of how a hobbyist kernel can become something big, given enough man-hours and the right chances.
Informal operating system development([[OS Development|OSDev]]) has become a growing hobby and past-time in the last several years. While many developer that frequent [http://www.osdev.org http://www.osdev.org]] are involved in a college level computer degree project more still seem consider osdev'ing a enjoyable past-time. The upswing in os development may be connected to the availability of hardware documentation that the Internet has helped provide. Also possibly a factor is the popularity of Linux. Linux was not the first operating system that provided it's source code but it is arguably the most popular. Since many people are aware that Linux is open source they are more inclined to look at how an OS functions. Linux itself was created after it's original author, Linus Torvalds, viewed the source code for Andrew Tannenbaum's Minix OS. Linux has become large enough that it is now a large commercial project with several companies providing large amounts of investment. While Linux can be considered commercial today it wasn't originally, to quote a 1991 newsgroup posting from Linus ''Hello everybody out there using Minix - I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones.''.
 
== About the word 'OSDev' ==
The use of osdevOSDev as an abbreviation for operatingOperating systemSystem developmentDevelopment seems to have already started whenwell os developmentbefore OSDev-related newsgroup traffic started in 1996. EarlierPrior usageto ofits osdevuse includeswith abbreviationshobbyist fordevelopment, onOSDev screenalso devicestood andfor other similarthings; meanings.mainly OSDevOn asScreen aDevice. termOSDev foris operatingnow system development isa common enough term that the [[wikipedia:Osdev|wikipediaWikipedia article]] on osdevOSdev is about operating system development.▼
 
== Timeline of the OSDev Community ==
Informal operating system development that didn't directly connect to an academic project started to take off in October of 1996. ▼
This is a timeline includes historical information related to websites and other communities devoted to operating system development.
 
* '''1995''': The [http://www.nondot.org/sabre/os/articles Operating System Resource Center] is launched. It is no longer online.
'''September/October 1996''': Malte Kroeger created a mailing list(os-list@aros.net) that grew to 30+ people in size.▼
 
▲* '''Early 1996''': Informal operating system development that didn't directly connect to an academic project started to take off in October of 1996.
'''September/October 1996''': The os-list mailing list discussions were moved over to the comp.os.misc newsgroup.▼
 
▲* '''SeptemberSept/OctoberOct 1996''': Malte Kroeger created a mailing list(os-list@aros.net) that grew to 30+ people in size.
'''September 10,1996''': Michael Hobbs posts a message on comp.os.misc that stated ''I'm beginning to believe that there exists at least 1 OS for each person who reads this group.'' This pattern holds true 10 years later.▼
 
▲* '''SeptemberSept/OctoberOct 1996''': The os-list mailing list discussions were moved over to the comp.os.misc newsgroup.
'''September 12, 1996''': It is suggested on comp.os.misc that a dedicated os development newsgroup be created. Some of the suggested names include: comp.os.design, comp.os.homebrew.develop, comp.os.development, and alt.hobby.osdev. Two names are agreeded on; comp.os.development and comp.os.assembly. Eventually the names would change to use alt instead of comp. [http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.asm.x86/browse_thread/thread/3bac948d6839ce04/92a8429f1d67e831?q=osdev#92a8429f1d67e831 original discussion]▼
 
▲* '''SeptemberSept 10, 1996''': Michael Hobbs posts a message on comp.os.misc that stated ''I'm beginning to believe that there exists at least 1 OS for each person who reads this group.'' This pattern holds true 10 years later.
'''1997''': A web based message board was created at www.effect.net.au/os-dev/wwwboard/wwwboard.htm to host osdev discussions.▼
 
▲* '''SeptemberSept 12, 1996''': It is suggested on comp.os.misc that a dedicated os development newsgroup be created. Some of the suggested names include: comp.os.design, comp.os.homebrew.develop, comp.os.development, and alt.hobby.osdev. Two names are agreededagreed on; comp.os.development and comp.os.assembly. Eventually, the names would change to use alt instead of comp. [http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.asm.x86/browse_thread/thread/3bac948d6839ce04/92a8429f1d67e831?q=osdev#92a8429f1d67e831 original discussion]
'''1997''': One of the first OS project lists is created that contains OSes built by single developers. There were 20 projects and Linux was listed as it was still considered a small OS. [http://web.archive.org/web/19970327091052/www.effect.net.au/os-dev/oslist.html Internet Archive mirror]▼
 
▲* '''1997''': A web based message board was created at www.effect.net.au/os-dev/wwwboard/wwwboard.htm to host osdev discussions.
'''September 11, 1997''': One year after being suggested the newsgroups alt.os.development and alt.os.assembly are created. NASM is recommended as the assembler of choice. [http://web.archive.org/web/19971009075251/http://www.net1.demon.co.uk/alt.os/ Archive of the original announcement and group descriptions]▼
 
▲* '''1997''': One of the first OS project lists is created that contains OSes built by single developers. There were 20 projects and Linux was listed as it was still considered a small OS. [http://web.archive.org/web/19970327091052/www.effect.net.au/os-dev/oslist.html Internet Archive mirror]
'''August 2000''': The [http://www.osdev.org http://www.osdev.org] is created as a place to contain os development information.▼
 
▲* '''SeptemberSept 11, 1997''': One year after being suggested the newsgroups alt.os.development and alt.os.assembly are created. [[NASM]] is recommended as the assembler of choice. [http://web.archive.org/web/19971009075251/http://www.net1.demon.co.uk/alt.os/ Archive of the original announcement and group descriptions]
'''October 18, 2006''': The two largest os development forums, Mega-Tokyo and OSDev.org, are merged in to one single forum creating the single largest community of operating system developers working on different OSes. The original os development newsgroups are eclipsed by several orders of magnitude in traffic.▼
 
* '''Dec 3 1998''': Stu George's OSFAQ is [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.os.development/browse_frm/thread/a511029156767157/43f0449f98fe5301?lnk=gst&rnum=107#43f0449f98fe5301 announced], hosted on a dialup account.
 
* '''Nov 14 1999''': Mega-tokyo.com is [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.os.development/browse_frm/thread/a6fa18b8d02f721d/c98172c2134ec840?lnk=gst&rnum=422#c98172c2134ec840 opened], with Stu George's OSFAQ hosted there.
▲The use of osdev as an abbreviation for operating system development seems to have already started when os development related newsgroup traffic started in 1996. Earlier usage of osdev includes abbreviations for on screen device and other similar meanings. OSDev as a term for operating system development is common enough that [[wikipedia:Osdev|wikipedia article]] on osdev is about operating system development.
 
* '''2000''': Forums are added to Mega-tokyo.com. For the next few years, these forums would grow to become the biggest OSDev forums. They would remain the biggest until the merger (this issue is currently under some debate in the [[topic:15219|forum]]. Certainly, there were more posts per day at mega-tokyo.com).
 
▲* '''AugustAug 2000''': The [http://www.osdev.org http://www.osdev.org] website is created as a place to contain os development information.
 
▲* '''OctoberOct 18, 2006''': The two largest os development forums, Mega-Tokyo.com and OSDev.org, are merged in to one single forum creating the single largest community of operating system developers working on different OSes. The original osOS development newsgroups are eclipsed by several orders of magnitude in traffic.
 
== Famous Quotes / Usenet Posts==
* '''Aug 25 1991''': Linus Torvalds announces the Linux kernel for the first time on comp.os.minix. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100815075326/http://www.linux.org:80/info/linus.html]
* '''Oct 6 1991''': Linus Torvalds announces v0.02 of the Linux kernel. [http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/browse_thread/thread/e3df794a2bce97da]
* '''Jan 30 1992''': The famous Microkernel vs. Monolithic kernel debate. [http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/browse_frm/thread/c25870d7a41696d2/f447530d082cd95d#f447530d082cd95d]
* Bill Gates: ''The best way to prepare [to be a programmer] is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written. In my case, I went to the garbage cans at the Computer Science Center and fished out listings of their operating system.''
* Brian Kernighan: ''First make it run, then make it run fast.''
* Dennis Ritchie: ''UNIX is basically a simple operating system, but you have to be a genius to understand the simplicity.''
 
[[Category:OS Development]]
[[Category:History]]
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