Hello all. My name is Rick C. Hodgin. I'm a software developer from Indianapolis, IN, USA. I began working on my own kernel back in the mid-90s, and worked extensively on it from 1998-2002. It boots, has full support for everything internally except paging (by design). I got married in 2002 and my priorities changed. However, I've always maintained plans to come back to it and complete it.
As of earlier this year I have resolved to do that with a full-throttle effort. My family is on board with the project, and in the mean-time I've developed a host of other applications which will now benefit me greatly in moving forward.
I wanted to outline some of my plans for my kernel:
Originally I had planned to create my own custom beast. I have a very solid mental image of what I want in a system design, and I will still in many ways target that end. However, in reviewing operating systems a few weeks ago I came back across OS/2. I had used OS/2 back in the 90s, but I was not aware of its amazing system design and robust capabilities until I came across some OS/2 videos (on OS/2 2.1 of all things). As soon as I saw those features, namely the object-oriented design of the worksplace shell and the ability to close and resume tasks exactly where they were when the system went down, I resolved to incorporate those fundamental abilities into my OS.
As such, my previous kernel (called Exodus) has now had its goals revamped somewhat and will be called ExoduS/2, or ES/2 for short. I also plan to port the kernel to ARM-based CPUs, and will call it ArmoduS/2, or AS/2 for short.
My goals for development are vast. I would like for other coders to come on board to help where they could once the system is to a particular level of development. I believe together we could create a really amazing alternative to OS/2, which is very much OS/2-like in its operation, including supporting most of its API, the presentation manager, file system format, and more.
Here are my goals. I will do my best to achieve them:
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Mar.01.2016 - Dec.31.2016
Complete low-level kernel development toolset, which includes a full edit-and-continue toolchain for real-time re-compilation and debugging while running in the kernel itself.
By Dec.31.2016 it should be booting in the new toolset, able to be debugged and developed in source-code form as we're going.
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Jan.01.2017 - Dec.31.2017
Support paging in the kernel, add necessary drivers, develop and complete the workplace shell clone, presentation manager clone, and port the kernel developer toolset to a full edit-and-continue developer suite occupying all of the kernel, driver, and user app spaces.
Work on the port of ES/2 to ArmoduS/2 should begin somewhere during this timeframe as well.
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Jan.01.2017 - Dec.31.2018
Port or re-write as many system utilities and applications as possible to the kernel design, expanding the kernel abilities as needed.
This brings us to sometime in 2018 to 2019 when the system should be in a stable and usable state, able to be expanded on by the full community effort as more and more apps are ported.
At this time I would like to the necessary support to allow other developers to port whatever toolsets they'd like to use to ES/2 and AS/2, and to be at the community's call for what large goals should be worked on next.
My primary goals are to get the kernel working, in an easy development state, stable, robust, and to be able to build everything atop that solid bedrock foundation.
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The current state of my kernel can be seen here in source code:
https://github.com/RickCHodgin/libsf/tree/master/exodus/sourceAnd here in a video outlining my monochrome graphical debugger, called Debi (for DEBug Intel, I plan to create a version called Debra for DEBug ARm):
http://www.visual-freepro.org/videos/2014_02_13__exodus_debi_debugger.ogvNote:
If you can't view the video, use VLC (
http://www.videolan.org).
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Please note also that I am a devout Christian. But, don't let that derail your support. It just means I have much love for you inside. :-) I'm good people, and while I am giving this offering back to the Lord using the skills, talents, and abilities He first gave me, I am also giving it to the people He's placed me around here in this world.
This type of giving, one-to-another, using the skills we've been blessed with, it's something that strengthens and binds us together as a common people group interested in our common, shared thing (in this case an OS/2 operating system). That binding together helps us grow with affinity toward one another because of the shared foundation. It builds a solid base from which all other things can proceed. In my experience, it's very rewarding.
If you'd like, you can reach me at my name below all squished together with periods (like.a.here) at gmail.
Best regards,
Rick C. Hodgin