Most helpful references:
Intel Software Developer Manuals
for understanding x86 architecture
osdev.org wiki for the basics
(GDT, IDT, memory management)
Reading source code of other hobby
OS projects to understand different
approaches
James Molloy's kernel tutorial
helped me get started
Most memorable challenge:
Getting the window manager working
with proper overlapping windows and
mouse interaction. The z-ordering
and dirty rectangle system took me
a while to get right, windows kept
rendering behind each other or the
mouse would interact with the wrong
window. Debugging graphics issues
without a working debugger in your
own OS is... an experience haha.
Most surprising thing I learned:
How much modern OSes do that we
completely take for granted. Even
something simple like moving a
window smoothly requires double
buffering, proper
careful
memory management. Made me
appreciate every pixel on
my screen.
Most helpful references: Intel Software Developer Manuals for understanding x86 architecture osdev.org wiki for the basics (GDT, IDT, memory management) Reading source code of other hobby OS projects to understand different approaches James Molloy's kernel tutorial helped me get started
Most memorable challenge: Getting the window manager working with proper overlapping windows and mouse interaction. The z-ordering and dirty rectangle system took me a while to get right, windows kept rendering behind each other or the mouse would interact with the wrong window. Debugging graphics issues without a working debugger in your own OS is... an experience haha.
Most surprising thing I learned: How much modern OSes do that we completely take for granted. Even something simple like moving a window smoothly requires double buffering, proper
careful memory management. Made me appreciate every pixel on my screen.
What kind of OS project are you planning?