QEMU on macOS

QEMU on macOS

Purpose

This page defines the first engineering target for OSAI.

Contents

• Why QEMU First
• Target Shape
• Bring-Up Scope
• Success Criteria

Why QEMU First

QEMU on macOS is for correctness only. It gives a reproducible target for boot architecture, kernel basics, device model, userspace lifecycle, and AI Cell API shape. No performance claims count from QEMU.

Target Shape

Initial target:

arch: x86-64
firmware: UEFI OVMF
machine: q35
memory: 2 GiB
smp: 4 cores
storage: EFI FAT image, later VirtIO block
network: VirtIO net with host port forwarding
console: serial stdio

Bring-Up Scope

The QEMU milestone includes:

• UEFI boot;
• serial console;
• memory map parsing;
• physical memory manager;
• page tables;
• exceptions and interrupts;
• timers;
• VirtIO block;
• VirtIO net;
• minimal shell or control plane;
• first AI Cell lifecycle shape.

Success Criteria

The system boots in QEMU, prints deterministic serial logs, reaches kernel entry, loads a minimal init, discovers VirtIO block/network, and exposes a basic control path.

Related Pages

• Build System
• Driver Model
• Implementation Plan