AurionOS v1.0 Beta

The Horizon of Retro-Modern Computing

AurionOS A 32-bit x86 operating system built from scratch in C and x86 Assembly. Developed as a solo learning project by a 13-year-old over the course of 14 days

The Vision

AurionOS is built for the tinkerers who want to see every byte move. By stripping away modern abstractions, we reveal the elegant logic of the CPU and the hardware. Every line of code serves a purpose, offering a bloat-free environment for learning and development.

Gallery

Quick Start: Run the App

1. Ensure you have QEMU and NASM installed.
2. Run the following command:

   make run

Why does this work? The Makefile compiles the assembly bootloader and the C kernel, links them at 0x10000, and packages them into a bootable image. QEMU then loads this image, starting the execution at the BIOS handoff point.

Deep Dive: How It Works

1. The Bootloader (src/bootload.asm)

Starts in 16-bit Real Mode, enables the A20 gate, sets up the GDT, and transitions the CPU to 32-bit Protected Mode before jumping to the kernel.

2. The Kernel Entry (src/kernel.asm)

Initializes the stack and the Interrupt Descriptor Table (IDT), then calls the C kmain function to begin high-level initialization.

3. Memory Management (src/memory.asm)

Uses a Memory Control Block (MCB) heap manager starting at the 1MB mark, providing kmalloc and kfree for dynamic memory allocation.

4. VESA Graphics (src/vesa.asm & src/drivers/vbe_graphics.c)

Utilizes VBE (VESA BIOS Extensions) for high-resolution linear frame buffers. The window manager handles Z-order, clipping, and redrawing.

5. Networking (src/tcp_ip_stack.c)

Includes a custom implementation of Ethernet, ARP, IPv4, ICMP, and UDP, alongside a DHCP client for automatic IP configuration.

Installation Guide

Windows

Use WSL2 (Ubuntu) for the best experience:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential nasm gcc make binutils qemu-system-x86 genisoimage
make run

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential nasm gcc make binutils qemu-system-x86 genisoimage
make run

Linux (Arch)

sudo pacman -S base-devel nasm gcc make qemu-desktop cdrtools
make run

macOS

brew install nasm qemu cdrtools make
make run

Recommended

• Build via make all
• Run with VMware or VirtualBox instead of QEMU.

System Call Interface

AurionOS provides kernel services via INT 0x80.

Syscall ID	Name	Description
0x01	SYS_PRINT_STRING	Print a null-terminated string to console.
0x02	SYS_PRINT_CHAR	Print a single character.
0x04	SYS_READ_CHAR	Read a character from keyboard (blocking).
0x05	SYS_CLEAR_SCREEN	Clear the terminal.
0x08	SYS_SET_COLOR	Set terminal text attributes.
0x50	SYS_GET_TIME	Get current CMOS time.
0x51	SYS_GET_DATE	Get current CMOS date.
0x52	SYS_GET_TICKS	Get timer ticks since boot.
0x61	SYS_READ_SECTOR	Read raw disk sector.
0x71	SYS_SHUTDOWN	Power off the system.

The AurionFS Filesystem

AurionOS uses a custom sector-based filesystem (AurionFS) for persistent storage. It stores file metadata in reserved sectors (starting at LBA 500) and file contents in a dedicated data area (starting at LBA 700).

• In-Memory Cache: The kernel maintains an fs_table for quick access to file metadata.
• Persistence: Changes are flushed to disk using fs_save_to_disk().
• Legacy Support: A FAT12 driver (src/filesys.asm) is also available for reading external media.

The Command Shell (src/shell.c)

The shell is the primary CLI interface, supporting over 100 commands. Commands are dispatched via a central table in src/commands.c.

Key Commands:

• DIR: List files in the current directory.
• CAT <file>: View file contents.
• NANO <file>: Edit text files.
• NETSTART: Initialize networking and DHCP.
• GUIMODE: Switch to the graphical desktop.
• PYTHON: Launch the minimal Python interpreter.

Writing Your First AurionOS Command

To add a new command to the OS, you don't need a separate binary - simply register it in the kernel:

1. Implement the command in src/commands.c:

   static int cmd_demo(const char *args) {
       puts("Hello, AurionOS World!\n");
       return 0;
   }

2. Register it in the commands[] table at the end of src/commands.c:

   static const Command commands[] = {
       ...
       {"DEMO", cmd_demo},
       {NULL, NULL}
   };

3. Compile and Run: Run make run and type DEMO in the shell.

Project Roadmap

• NANO Text Editor: A built-in CLI text editor.
• Python Interpreter: Minimal support for scripts and expressions.
• Sound Driver: Support for PC Speaker and SB16.
• USB Stack: Drivers for HID devices.

Known Issues

• Real hardware boot is currently unstable (working on it!)
• Best experience: QEMU, VirtualBox, or VMware
• This is a beta release - bugs are expected and being fixed

License

AurionOS is licensed under the MIT License.

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AurionOS - Where Every Byte Matters Built with passion by Luka. March 2026.