any idea where i can find out about programming an operating system in c/c++

--

You sure you wouldn't want to try creating a working "Hello world" program
first? Are you, like, in a hurry?

Operating systems, along with compilers, are the most advanced kind of
programming around. You need to know everything -- plus a handful of unknown
things -- to succeed at it.

Maybe some intermediate goal would be a better starting point.

--

Paul Lutus
www.arachnoid.com

--

# any idea where i can find out about programming an operating system in c/c++

Well, if you drop the /c++ part, there are at least a handful of
systems out there where the source is available for everyone to read.

Try

        www.freebsd.org
        www.netbsd.org
        www.openbsd.org
        www.gnu.org (look for an OS called "The Hurd")

Yesterday someone told me about something called linux, I'm
pretty sure some search engine will dig up a site with source :-)

If you not only want to learn by looking at source code, there's
a book with an in-depth description of 4.4BSD (which is the basis
for the 3 BSDs mentioned above),

 Marshall Kirk McKusick, Keith Bostic, Michael J. Karels, John S.
 Quarterman, The Design and Implementation of the 4.4 BSD Operating
 System, Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-54979

Excellent book, not for {*filter*}y beginners, however.

Regards,

        Jens
--
Jens Schweikhardt   http://www.*-*-*.com/
SIGSIG -- signature too long (core dumped)
--

There are several sources for that purpose, for example source code
itself. Minix, NetBSD or Linux source code is freely available where
NetBSD and Linux are multi platform operating systems. As a book there is
"Operating systems" by A. S. Tannenbaum, or "The Linux Kernel" by David A
Rusling.

Regards,
Richard
--

did you mean a specific OS, or writing one from scratch?  For the latter
try reading 'Developing Your Own 32-Bit Operating System' by Richard
Burgess

Francis Glassborow      Journal Editor, Association of C & C++ Users
64 Southfield Rd
Oxford OX4 1PA          +44(0)1865 246490
All opinions are mine and do not represent those of any organisation
--