AethelOS

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Microkernel based hobby OS

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# AethelOS - A Symbiotic Operating System

![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-0.1.0--alpha-blue)
![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT%20OR%20Apache--2.0-green)
![Language](https://img.shields.io/badge/language-Rust-orange)

> *"The code does not command the silicon. The silicon does not serve the code. They dance together, and in that dance, life emerges."*

---

## Overview

AethelOS is a radical reimagining of what an operating system can be. It is not Linux, not Windows, not macOS - it is a self-contained digital realm built on the principles of **symbiotic computing**, where the OS, hardware, and user exist in harmonious equilibrium.

## Core Philosophy

### Symbiotic Computing

- **Harmony Over Force**: The system negotiates, not preempts
- **Memory Over Forgetting**: Every file carries the memory-rings of its history
- **Beauty as Necessity**: Aesthetics reveal intuitive system state
- **Security Through Nature**: Safety through natural capability boundaries

## Architecture

### The Heartwood (Kernel)

A hybrid microkernel containing only the most sacred responsibilities:

- **The Loom of Fate**: Harmony-based cooperative scheduler
  - Thread states: Weaving, Resting, Tangled, Fading
  - Resource negotiation based on system-wide harmony
  - Parasite detection and throttling (not killing)

- **The Mana Pool**: Two-tier memory management system
  - **Sanctuary Pool**: Persistent kernel allocations (stable, long-lived objects)
  - **Ephemeral Pool**: Temporary allocations (short-lived, frequently recycled)
  - Buddy allocator (64B to 64KB blocks, O(log n) allocation)
  - Interrupt-safe locking for thread safety
  - Real-time monitoring via `mana-flow` command
  - Object manager for capability tracking (in progress)

- **The Nexus**: High-speed asynchronous message passing (IPC)
  - Priority-aware message delivery
  - Capability-based addressing
  - Zero-copy where possible

- **Attunement Layer**: Hardware abstraction interface
  - CPU feature detection and management
  - Interrupt handling
  - Timer management

### The Groves (User-Space Services)

Isolated processes that grow from the Heartwood:

- **World-Tree Grove**: Relational database filesystem
  - Query-based file access (not path-based)
  - Built-in versioning (Chronurgy)
  - Rich metadata (Creator, Genesis Time, Essence, Connections)

- **The Weave Grove**: Vector-based scene graph compositor
  - Resolution-independent rendering
  - First-class shader support (Glyphs)
  - Fluid transformations and effects

- **Lanthir Grove**: Window management service
  - Harmonic window arrangement
  - Non-rectangular window shapes

- **Network Sprite**: Network daemon
  - Connection-oriented architecture
  - Natural data flow

### Ancient Runes (Core Libraries)

APIs for developers:

- **Corelib**: Standard data structures and utilities
- **Weaving API**: Toolkit for graphical applications
- **Eldarin Script**: Shell interaction library

## Project Structure

```
aethelos/                    # Project root
├── GENESIS.scroll           # Philosophical and architectural overview
├── DESIGN.md                # Design philosophy and principles
├── ARCHITECTURE.txt         # Technical architecture notes
├── CLAUDE.md                # AI assistant development guide
├── README.md                # This file
├── Cargo.toml               # Workspace configuration
├── rust-toolchain.toml      # Rust version specification
├── BOOT_AETHELOS.bat        # Windows boot script
│
├── awakening/               # Bootloader
│   ├── boot.asm             # First stage (assembly)
│   └── heartwood_loader/    # Second stage (Rust)
│
├── heartwood/               # The Kernel
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── main.rs          # Kernel entry point
│   │   ├── lib.rs           # Kernel library
│   │   ├── nexus/           # IPC system (module)
│   │   ├── loom_of_fate/    # Scheduler (module)
│   │   ├── mana_pool/       # Memory management (module)
│   │   ├── attunement/      # Hardware abstraction (module)
│   │   ├── boot/            # Boot code (Multiboot2)
│   │   ├── eldarin.rs       # Interactive shell
│   │   ├── vga_buffer.rs    # VGA text mode driver
│   │   └── irq_safe_mutex.rs # Interrupt-safe synchronization
│   ├── Cargo.toml           # Kernel package configuration
│   ├── x86_64-aethelos.json # Custom target specification
│   └── linker.ld            # Linker script
│
├── groves/                  # User-space services (skeletal)
│   ├── world-tree_grove/    # Filesystem service
│   ├── the-weave_grove/     # Compositor service
│   ├── lanthir_grove/       # Window manager service
│   └── network_sprite/      # Network daemon
│
├── ancient-runes/           # Core libraries (skeletal)
│   ├── corelib/             # Standard library
│   ├── weaving/             # GUI toolkit
│   └── script/              # Shell scripting API
│
├── docs/                    # Architecture and planning documents
│   ├── PREEMPTIVE_MULTITASKING_PLAN.md
│   ├── VGA_GRAPHICS_MODE_PLAN.md
│   ├── WORLD_TREE_PLAN.md
│   ├── GLIMMER_FORGE_PLAN.md
│   └── PRODUCTION_READINESS_PLAN.md
│
└── isodir/                  # ISO build directory
    └── boot/
        ├── grub/            # GRUB configuration
        │   └── grub.cfg
        └── aethelos/        # Kernel binary location
            └── heartwood.bin
```

## Building and Running

### Prerequisites

- **Rust nightly** (for unstable features)
- **GRUB** and **grub-mkrescue** (for creating bootable ISO)
- **QEMU** (for testing)
- **WSL** or Linux environment (for ISO creation)

### Build Commands

```bash
# Build the kernel (from project root)
cd heartwood
cargo build --target x86_64-aethelos.json

# Create bootable ISO (from project root, requires WSL/Linux)
cd ..
wsl bash -c "cp target/x86_64-aethelos/debug/heartwood isodir/boot/aethelos/heartwood.bin && grub-mkrescue -o aethelos.iso isodir"

# Run in QEMU (Windows)
"C:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64.exe" -cdrom aethelos.iso -serial file:serial.log -m 256M -display gtk -no-reboot -no-shutdown

# Run in QEMU (Linux/macOS)
qemu-system-x86_64 -cdrom aethelos.iso -serial file:serial.log -m 256M -display gtk -no-reboot -no-shutdown
```

### Windows Build Script

Use the provided `BOOT_AETHELOS.bat` script:

```cmd
@echo off
REM Build kernel
cd heartwood
cargo build --target x86_64-aethelos.json
cd ..

REM Create ISO
wsl bash -c "cp target/x86_64-aethelos/debug/heartwood isodir/boot/aethelos/heartwood.bin && grub-mkrescue -o aethelos.iso isodir"

REM Boot in QEMU
"C:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64.exe" -cdrom aethelos.iso -serial file:serial.log -m 256M -display gtk -no-reboot -no-shutdown
```

## Key Innovations

### 1. Harmony-Based Scheduling

Instead of preemptive scheduling with fixed time slices, the Loom of Fate:
- Analyzes system-wide harmony metrics
- Detects parasitic behavior through resource usage patterns
- Throttles (soothes) greedy processes instead of killing them
- Rewards cooperative yielding behavior

### 2. Two-Tier Memory Architecture

The Mana Pool uses purpose-driven allocation pools:

**Sanctuary Pool (Persistent):**
- Kernel data structures with long lifetimes
- Thread control blocks, scheduler state
- Stable, rarely deallocated

**Ephemeral Pool (Temporary):**
- Short-lived allocations
- I/O buffers, temporary calculations
- Frequently allocated and freed

**Buddy Allocator:**
- Block sizes: 64B, 128B, 256B, 512B, 1KB, 2KB, 4KB, 8KB, 16KB, 32KB, 64KB
- O(log n) allocation and deallocation
- Efficient splitting and coalescing to reduce fragmentation
- Real-time statistics: `mana-flow` command shows per-pool usage with progress bars

**Future:** Capability-based handles for userspace (preventing raw pointer access)

### 3. Query-Based Filesystem

Files are database objects, not paths:
```rust
// Instead of: /home/user/documents/poem.txt
// You query:
Seek {
    Essence: "Scroll",
    Creator: "Elara",
    Name: "Poem"
}
```

Built-in versioning means you can access any historical state:
```rust
// Read the file as it existed 3 days ago
Seek {
    Essence: "Scroll",
    Name: "Config",
    Timestamp: now() - days(3)
}
```

### 4. Vector-Based Graphics

The Weave renders everything mathematically:
- Windows defined as Bézier curves
- Infinite resolution independence
- Shaders (Glyphs) as first-class primitives
- Fluid animations through transform modifications

## Current Status

**Version 0.1.0-alpha** - "The First Awakening"

AethelOS now boots successfully with a working interactive shell! This milestone demonstrates core multitasking and I/O capabilities.

### ✅ Currently Working

**Boot & Initialization:**
- Multiboot2 bootloader integration with GRUB
- VGA text mode initialization (80x25, Code Page 437)
- Serial port debugging output
- IDT (Interrupt Descriptor Table) setup
- PIC (Programmable Interrupt Controller) initialization
- GDT (Global Descriptor Table) configuration

**Threading & Scheduling:**
- Thread creation and management (Loom of Fate)
- Cooperative multitasking (threads yield voluntarily)
- Context switching with proper stack alignment
- Three system threads running:
  - **Idle Thread**: Low-priority background thread
  - **Keyboard Thread**: Processes keyboard input
  - **Shell Thread**: Interactive command prompt (Eldarin)
- Thread-safe spinlocks with interrupt management

**I/O Systems:**
- Keyboard interrupt handler (scancode processing)
- VGA text output with cursor control
- Interactive shell prompt accepting input
- Serial port logging for debugging

**Memory Management (Mana Pool):**
- **Buddy Allocator**: 64B to 64KB blocks with O(log n) performance
- **Sanctuary Pool**: Persistent kernel allocations (~2MB default)
- **Ephemeral Pool**: Temporary allocations (~2MB default)
- **InterruptSafeLock**: Interrupt-safe synchronization for allocator access
- **Per-thread stacks**: 16KB stacks with proper 16-byte alignment
- **Object Manager**: Capability tracking infrastructure (foundation laid)
- **mana-flow command**: Real-time memory monitoring with:
  - Per-pool breakdown (Sanctuary vs Ephemeral)
  - Visual progress bars for memory usage
  - Total/used/free statistics for each pool

### 🚧 Partially Implemented

- Basic keyboard input (no full scancode translation yet)
- Shell framework (command parsing not yet implemented)
- Harmony-based scheduling metrics (calculated but not yet used)
- Thread priority system (defined but not affecting scheduling)

### ❌ Not Yet Implemented

- **Nexus (IPC)**: Message passing between threads/processes
- **Capability-based userspace memory**: Opaque handles instead of raw pointers
- **World-Tree Grove**: Query-based filesystem
- **The Weave**: Vector graphics compositor
- **Network Sprite**: Network stack
- User-space processes (currently only kernel threads)
- Virtual memory management (MMU/paging)
- Most device drivers (only keyboard, VGA, serial, timer currently)

### Recent Milestones

**January 2025:**
- ✅ **Code Quality**: Achieved zero compiler warnings (58 → 0)
  - Fixed all Rust 2024 static mut references (17 instances)
  - Eliminated undefined behavior and FFI safety issues
  - 100% compliance with modern Rust standards
- ✅ **Mana Pool Implementation**: Two-tier buddy allocator
  - Sanctuary and Ephemeral pools for purpose-driven allocation
  - Interrupt-safe locking with `InterruptSafeLock`
  - Enhanced `mana-flow` command with per-pool visualization
- ✅ **Shell Enhancements**: Interactive Eldarin shell working
  - Command history with up/down arrows
  - Backspace support and cursor positioning
  - Multiple thematic commands (`mana-flow`, `uptime`, `rest`)
- ✅ First successful boot with shell prompt
- ✅ Fixed critical timer interrupt deadlock (removed preemption)
- ✅ Implemented proper x86-64 stack alignment (16n-8)
- ✅ IRQ-safe mutex with proper lock release
- ✅ Cooperative multitasking working correctly

## Why AethelOS?

AethelOS is not meant to replace existing operating systems. It's an exploration of what's possible when we:

1. **Question Assumptions**: Why must files be paths? Why must scheduling be preemptive?
2. **Prioritize Beauty**: Can an OS be art as well as utility?
3. **Embrace Metaphor**: Can naming and design reflect a coherent philosophy?
4. **Value Longevity**: What if we designed for 100-year timescales?

## Contributing

This is currently an experimental, educational project. Contributions are welcome, especially for:

- Completing hardware initialization
- Implementing real device drivers
- Building out the graphics pipeline
- Creating example applications using Ancient Runes

## License

Licensed under either of:

- Apache License, Version 2.0 ([LICENSE-APACHE](LICENSE-APACHE))
- MIT license ([LICENSE-MIT](LICENSE-MIT))

at your option.

## Acknowledgments

Inspired by:
- The microkernel philosophy (Minix, L4, seL4)
- Capability-based security (KeyKOS, EROS)
- Plan 9's everything-is-a-file taken further
- The aesthetic vision of Elven computing

---

> *"This is not an OS for everyone. It is an OS for those who believe computing can be more than utility—that it can be art, philosophy, and symbiosis."*

*For more details, see [GENESIS.scroll](GENESIS.scroll)*

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