I'll be revisiting the book "How do it know?" except this time I want to build an 8-bit cpu virtually without having to spend money on buying the components required. I plan on creating an assembler for this CPU and then once that's done I'll try to create a tiny compiler for a c like language in it then after that I'll try to rewrite the compiler in this new language itself. If all goes well then I'll proceed to writing a simple operating system.
- Phase 1: Creating the soft-hard-ware
Playground development Phase
Before I start creating anything, I'll need a virtual playground to build my CPU. I'll start with writing a simple GUI to show the processor's circuitry working in real-time, memory, registers, etc. For the sake of simplicity, I'll try not to create this emulator as general purpose rather it is meant to be just for this CPU only, any generality will be just a by-product. Once the emulator is finished the circuitry for the CPU can be finalized, also finalizing the instruction set.
- Phase 2: Talking to the computer
Language Development Phase
First we'll be creating an assembler, either in assembly itself or in python. Once the assembler is finished, I'll begin writing a very simple and tiny compiler for a new c like language for this CPU. Once it has enough features to make writing a kernel a bit easier, I'll rewrite the compiler in the language itself.
- Phase 3: I'd like to speak to the manager!
Operating System Phase
If I reach this phase, maybe I'll finally be satisfied with how my life is turning out in general. In this phase, I will write a tiny operating system for this CPU. I don't know how it'll display to the screen maybe this will require changes in the emulator later on.
- Phase 4: I see no god up here, other than me
The optional phase
Will try to implement more features in previous phases. For example, I might implement networking.