Tumble Forth – from assembly to OS with C compiler
Virgil Dupras, creator of Collapse OS and Dusk OS, launches 'Tumble Forth,' a new series aimed at guiding web developers into the intricate world of low-level programming. This deep dive begins with bare metal development, progressing through building a Forth interpreter and culminating in the creation of a partial C compiler from scratch. The project taps into Hacker News's appreciation for foundational computing knowledge and ambitious, from-first-principles technical endeavors.
The Lowdown
Virgil Dupras, known for his work on Collapse OS and Dusk OS, introduces 'Tumble Forth,' an ambitious new article series designed to hand-hold experienced web developers through the complexities of low-level programming. The primary goal is to expand readers' understanding of computing by taking them on a step-by-step journey into the inner workings of systems, all while promising a corny joke in each episode.
- The series targets programmers proficient in high-level languages but new to bare-metal development.
- The initial 'pilot' story arc tackles the perceived complexity of modern software by venturing into low-level development.
- It starts with programming directly on bare metal PC hardware.
- A significant part of the journey involves constructing a Forth interpreter from the ground up.
- The series then transitions to exploring Dusk OS, one of the author's previous projects.
- Ultimately, the arc culminates in building a partial C compiler capable of compiling example code.
- The series covers topics like bare metal liberation, single-sector boots, and the immediate compilation process.
'Tumble Forth' offers a comprehensive, educational narrative for those eager to strip away layers of abstraction and understand computing from its most fundamental level, providing practical experience in building core system components like operating systems and compilers.