Test with Qemu:
- Unzip the archive 'PocketOSdist.zip' in a directory
- Run the testQE.bat batch file. This starts Pocket OS with the qemu emulator (included in the archive)
Installation on USB key (or other removable device) :
To install Pocket OS it is required:
- USB stick or memory card with size of at least 16 MB.
- Windows (in administrator mode).
- The archive 'PocketOSdist.zip' (include setup program and image of the kernel).
1/ First step:
The installer does install only on a removable disk type, with a single partition (type FAT or FAT32) and whose volume name is 'Pocket OS'. We must therefore prepare the usb key before installation by using Windows Explorer. (Right click on the volume, select Format, defines FAT, quick format, and name the volume 'POCKET OS')
All data on this key will be deleted.
2 / second step:
- Unzip the archive PocketOSdist.zip into a directory.
- Start the installation program 'installOS.exe' and follow the intructions.
Exemple:
Notes:
- After the installation is finished, the copied data on the drive are not visible immediately with Windows Explorer. We must remove and replace the key the first time (use 'remove the device safely')
- The installation creates a small partition of 16MB, the rest of the disk is unused. It is possible to create a second partition on the drive to use the remaining space (which will be visible as a D: under Pocket OS drive if the partition type is FAT). But this partition will not be visible under Windows because this one recognizes only the first partion on removable disks. However, this can be changed by changing the driver for the usb key. (Method explained on the web).
- Once the installation is complete, if the PC keyboard/mouse is USB, verify that the PS2 emulation is enabled in the bios. Reboot the PC and select the key as the boot device.
- To install on a fixed hard disks, you must connect the drive to a USB adapter and install as above. Then remove and reconnect the drive internally.
Once the PC or emulator booted Pocket OS, commands are:
- If your keyboard is not US you can change it with the
command 'keyb keymap/keyb_xxx.map' (xxx = language).
- To see available keymap use 'dir keymap\*.*'
- You can add the command in autoexec.sh to fix keymap at boot.
- help: displays the list of commands.
- To display the README.TXT file, type 'edit readme.txt'. edit.exe is a text editor, it works in windowed mode and requires a graphics video mode to be set.
- The list of graphics modes can be displayed with the command 'vesamodes'. To initialize a video mode from the list, use the 'vesaset' command. Example: vesaset 800 600 16 Initializes the graphics mode 800 x 600 in 16-bit (65k colors). The 15 and 24 bit modes are not supported.
- Special keys: CTRL + ALT + DEL => reset
- CTRL + PAUSE = > break the current program.
- ALT + F4 = > closes a window (under the window manager), useful to exit if the mouse is not active.
Development:
Application development for Pocket OS can be done with Windows visual C++ 6 or Express, or possibly with the integrated compiler (TCC). However, with TCC there are currently no debugger. GCC on Windows (mingw) can also be used but there is no debugger either.
To start, download the archive PocketOSdev.zip and decompress it into a directory (on Windows). Directory contains example programs with project files.
notes:
- Each sample program is located in a different directory. Each directory contains the project files for visual 6 and visual studio express. Attention to visual express, load the project file .vcproj and not the. dsw (automatic convertion of .dsw to vcproj does not set all the necessary options)
- See the Readme.txt in the archive PocketOSdev.zip for more informations.
Informations:
- Graphic modes : The kernel reserves memory at boot time for the frame buffer and the window manager. So 28 MB of memory is reserved to allow a graphic mode in 1920 * 1200 * 32 bits. If the machine has less memory, some graphics modes will be not availables. Currently there is no checks that the monitors can handle the graphics mode, so for those who are still using CRT monitors, take care to not set a mode that could damage the monitor (on very old monitors)
- Bios: Pocket
OS returns to 16-bits mode to perform BIOS interrupts in the following cases:
- Initialize a video mode using VESA bios.
- Access to the USB drive. This is not very fast but solves the drivers problems.
- Mouse/Keyboard : Pocket OS in current version support only PS2 keyboard/mouse. If the machine uses a USB keyboard or mouse, then PS2 mode can be emulated by activating this option in the bios of the PC. However, the BIOS generally do not emulate the whell mouse, and some do emulate only the keyboard. In the case the mouse is absent in windowed mode, it is possible to close a window with keys ALT + F4
What remains to be done on the Beta:
- Documentation.
- Additional example programs.
- Define the API for programming windowed applications. Add keyboard shortcuts for menu access.
- initialization of MTRR.
Future development:
- Access to the memory located above the 4GB. (May use 64 bits long mode)
- Enable some memory protection (configurable)
- Driver's (sound in first), then network, serial port (USB?).
- Port to ARM processor
Bugs report: Please email me, I will make a list and correction in future update.
Documentation:
- Shell
- Programming
- Other: coming soon..
Downloads:
- PocketOSdist1_0.zip (Install / test)
- PocketOSdev1_0.zip (Development)
- PocketOSsrc1_1.zip (sources)
