History: Difference between revisions

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 availibilityavailability 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).

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.

The use of OSDev as an abbreviation for Operating System Development seems to have started well before osdevOSDev-related newsgroup traffic started in 1996. Prior to it'sits use with hobbyist development, OSDev also stood for other things; mainly On Screen Device. OSDev is now a common enough term that the [[wikipedia:Osdev|wikipediaWikipedia article]] on osdevOSdev is about operating system development.

* '''1995''': The [http://www.nondot.org/sabre/os/articles Operating System Resource Center] is launched. It is stillno onlinelonger todayonline.

* '''Sept 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]

* '''Sept 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]

* '''Aug 2000''': The [http://www.osdev.org http://www.osdev.org] website is created as a place to contain os development information.

* '''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]