This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by AMZYEI
charleX OS
Logo
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Description
CharleX OS is a minimal, open-source operating system kernel written primarily in C with assembly components. It provides a basic terminal interface in VGA text mode, supporting keyboard input for a simple command-line experience. This project serves as an educational platform for understanding low-level OS development, inspired by early Unix-like systems such as Linux and FreeBSD.
The kernel includes features like:
- VGA text mode initialization and output
- Keyboard input handling with support for basic keys (enter, backspace, arrows, etc.)
- A simple shell-like prompt for user interaction
- Bootloader integration with GRUB
Screenshots
Building and Running
Prerequisites
- GCC compiler
- NASM assembler
- GRUB tools
- xorriso for ISO creation
On Debian/Ubuntu
Install dependencies:
make deps
Build the ISO:
make mkiso
Run the OS using a virtual machine or boot from the generated charleX.iso.
On Windows 10
- Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) with Ubuntu 24.04 from the Microsoft Store: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nz3klhxdjp5?hl=en-us&gl=NL
- Follow the Linux build instructions above.
For WSL configuration, refer to WSL_WINDOWS.CONF.
Contributing
CharleX OS is an open-source project, and contributions are welcome! Feel free to:
- Report issues
- Submit pull requests for bug fixes or new features
- Improve documentation
- Star the repository to show support
License
This project is licensed under the terms specified in the LICENSE file.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by AMZYEI