Operating Systems - How Were They Made?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the historical development of operating systems, focusing on the programming languages and methodologies used in their creation. Participants explore the evolution from assembly language to higher-level languages like C, as well as the transition from command-line interfaces to graphical user interfaces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that operating systems were originally made using assembly language, involving manipulation of hardware flags.
  • Another participant mentions that by 1973, the C language had become powerful enough to rewrite most of the UNIX kernel, which was initially in assembly language.
  • Some participants assert that early operating systems were primarily programmed in assembly before the advent of higher-level languages like C.
  • There is a discussion about whether the Mac was the first operating system to use a desktop and mouse interface, with references to the Xerox Alto as a precursor.
  • One participant expresses surprise at the timeline of UNIX and DOS, indicating that UNIX predates DOS and had features like networking and protected memory that DOS lacked.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the specifics of operating system development, particularly regarding the timelines and features of UNIX and DOS. There is no consensus on the exact progression of programming languages used in early operating systems.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on historical interpretations that may vary, and there are unresolved questions about the definitions of operating systems and their features during different eras.

JamesU
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I'm kinda curious on how operating systems were originally made. anyone have an answer?
 
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assembly? setting gates and bits to switch flags for specific hardware?

that would be my guess...that is assembly to DOS to graphics.h to
windows/unix.
 
what I meant was: what languages were used in the computer? I was too vague, sorry
 
yomamma said:
what I meant was: what languages were used in the computer? I was too vague, sorry
wikipedia said:
By 1973, the C language had become powerful enough that most of the UNIX kernel, originally written in PDP-11/20 assembly language, was rewritten in C.

That tells you what Unix was originally programmed with, and reprogrammed with.
 
A little assembly, but mostly C.
 
neurocomp2003 said:
assembly? setting gates and bits to switch flags for specific hardware?

that would be my guess...that is assembly to DOS to graphics.h to
windows/unix.


err.. no.

it was Human based manipulation of registers

to

assembly

to

UNIX

to

a billion other little OSs in the late 70's and 80's (yes, that includes Windows, DOS Mac OS, linux, freebsd, etc)
 
Was Mac the first OS with a desktop and a mouse, instead of a command line and a keyboard?
 
  • #10
really unix came before dos?
 
  • #11
neurocomp2003 said:
really unix came before dos?

Oh my gosh... are you serious?

yes, Unix came out years and years before DOS. DOS was a POS OS that did not even support networking or protected memory. Unix had both of those in the 70's.
 
  • #12
Before C, all operating system were programming in assembly
 

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