Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 30th Jan 2008 23:30 UTC, submitted by obsethryl
OSNews, Generic OSes "C# has been a language with a mixed history but precise goals. Although the C# language definition is for some time an ISO standard, only a part of the Base Class Library, which contains the fundamental functions that are used by all C# programs (IO, User Interface, Web services, etc) is also standardized. Parts of the BCL have been patented by Microsoft, but that has not deterred developers from attempts at implementing the components that are standardized, in various forms (Mono and affiliated projects). What happens when you go beyond that? What happens when outside the language, you start to implement not a mere application platform, but an entire operating system around it? Brace yourselves, because there is not only Microsoft Research who has done this with Singularity, but at least two other projects doing the same; and they are doing this under opensource terms. A system based around a C# Kernel. In this article, we are looking at one of the two, Cosmos by asking Scott Balmos and Chad Hower about the project they are involved in."
Thread beginning with comment 298566
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Interesting
by Almafeta on Thu 31st Jan 2008 00:41 UTC
Almafeta
Member since:
2007-02-22

* Modern language (C#)

* Modern, professional license (BSD)

* Using Microsoft's open-source programs, resources, and specifications to develop an OS (oh the irony!)

* Actual development team (and not a one-man ego trip!)

* Awesome design metaphor (C# to create an 'Operating system Lego set'?)

* Running on real hardware (thus one of the first C# OSs to get beyond the theoretical stage)

* Complete CIL support -- and because of this, you can (theoretically) write OSs in Basic, Python, et multiple al, and use this tool to develop it. (Edit: PHP? A PHP OS? @_@)

I didn't even know about this one... and it's something we can only hope goes further. ^_^

[i]Edited 2008-01-31 00:49 UTC

RE: Interesting
by fury on Sat 2nd Feb 2008 08:27 in reply to "Interesting"
fury Member since:
2005-09-23

Hrm there is also SharpOS (of which I am a developer) which has been running on real hardware for a long time now.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1