Hi all,

I have released a new version of Solar_OS
(full source code is included)

http://www.oby.ro/os/files/sol_os_2006_06_11_src.zip
http://www.oby.ro/os/files/sol_os_2006_06_11_bin.zip

New things in this release:
* Network drivers for DEC 21140A 10/100 (by Eugen)
* API_File_Open() / Close()
* Registering Applications as Shell extension handlers
* Bresenham Circle and Line demo application
* "WatchDog" on/off option and cooldown Tk2 option
* CD-ROM ISO 9660 filesystem and browse
* ATAPI drivers
* HDD Smart and Power management
* TreeView control
* Alternative Skin and font
* Better text viewer
* Bitmap viewer
...many other minor things

This version is "intermediate" aka it was not tested as intensively as it should. However since the last release was getting old and rusty I have decided that i should go ahead and make a new one.

Enjoy

As always... any comments are wellcome...

Very nice release and thanks for the source also! I am sure I can learn from it

shell extensions... that's insane
nice job

Comrade:

Thanks for comments

Oh well, I am considering the looks of the OS Dialog that should pop up when no default handler is known for a certain type of file...

Something like: "Sol does not know with what application to start this file"... "Please choose one of the following registered applications...", with a checkbox: "Use this from now on"

Detection of file type beeing done by it's file extension but optionaly also by "a deep scan" of the file structure.

Not to mention that I am considering the right and simple interfaces to allow any applications to extend right click menus on HDD Explorer windows

Deep down there when you press Enter on a PE .EXE or .DLL file in HDD Explorer there is an unfinished PE Parser, Loader and Mapper that will soon allow Solar_OS to run or use DLL's compiled in any language and even DLL's designed for Windows to be used as Sol OS ... Resident System Extensions

Just imagine the consequences ....

Looks like fun and pretty simple in fact

@bogdanontanu: It's very nice that you are working in such a big project, but I am having trouble understanding the sources. I need a small source which includes the bootloader which loads the OS kernel which has for example only one window. It would be good if you could put some comments, like: "Load the OS kernel", "Handle window events" etc.. I just can't get that simple task done. If you or anyone could help, I'd appreciate it a lot.

I think you missed what I want :

1. A bootloader (512 byte floppy image) which executes OS kernel.
2. OS kernel which has one window

Thank you very very much! I appreciate any kind of help!
Regards, saigon

I am aware that SolarOS has become relatively big...

However it is not very complex... you just need to know how to read once every other line and do not stop on what you can not understand as startup. There are many left overs inside SolOS sources...and the trick is to know what to ignore and what not to...

Anyway the sources are overall well commented and organized.
Maybe next time you will read you will understand...

I was considering doing such very simple steep by steep OS devel tutorials...

However it would ruin exactly the joy an fun of understanding and creating something from nothing on your own.

And honestly having sources for SolarOS, Dex4u, MenuetOS32, V2OS and other samples available is not exactly "nothing".


IF doing OS devel THEN you do need to be able to understand very complex and not at all funny technological things alone on your own at 4:00 am in the morning with the internet connection severed ... just before falling in bed after not sleeping too days... testing bits on a device with printf's that is

Otherwise frustration is certain to strike... sooner or later; and IMHO later is the worst... aka after investing time, dedication and high hopes

A few boot loaders or even OSes compiled from here and there and a few collated tutorials do not improve your neuronal network (aka your inteligence)...not even a bit...quite otherwise.

But as I have said before:
IF I have the time and dedication THEN I do have plans for such simple examples

And older Solar_OS sources doing exactly what you ask are available for download if i recall corectly. I gues sthe first released version was doing just that a few windows and a button.

Besides you can always ask questions about SolarOS internals and I am well known for answering them in a strange mixture of technology, and filosofia

SolarOS code is one of the most readable, i have come across, helped me out, when coding Dex4u OS, many times.
Great job on new release bogdanontanu .

@bogdanontanu: I already studied the sources and now I fully understand them, perhaps I am able to do my floppy image soon without much hassle. Thanks again!

great news