Description

This course is the continuation of Part 2 Module 1, where we continued building the 32-bit PeachOS kernel, into a fully functioning 64-bit multitasking operating system. In Part 2 Module 2, we take the project to the next level by continuing the development from Module 1. By the end of this course you will have a fully functioning 64-bit operating system capable of GUI windows, task scheduling and more. Keep reading for the full details.

Part 2 - Module 2 (This Module)

Module 2 builds directly on the work from Module 1 and focuses on turning the kernel into a full graphical operating system with multitasking, drivers, and a rich user experience.

You will:

— Expose standard C library functions (fopen, fread, etc.) to userspace through isr80h.
— Build the complete windowing system, with support for fully interactive GUI elements.
— Implement an NVMe SSD driver, enabling high-speed reads from modern solid-state storage.
— Add full PCI/PCIe support, including bridges, making the kernel capable of scanning and interacting with a wide variety of devices.

— Building a disk streamer cache to speed up program loading by 10x to 20x.
— Access a GitHub repository of user programs that you can run directly on your OS. You’ll even be able to submit pull requests to share your own user-space programs with other students in the course.

By the end of this module, you’ll have created a multi-threaded, 64-bit, GUI operating system from scratch bootable on modern hardware and extensible enough to run real user applications.

Requirements

• A computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux) capable of running QEMU/VirtualBox/VMware

• Basic knowledge of C programming (pointers, structs, functions)

• Familiarity with x86 assembly language at a beginner level (recommended)

• Understanding of basic computer architecture concepts (CPU, RAM, stack, registers)

• A code editor or IDE of your choice (VS Code, CLion, Vim, etc.)

• Willingness to use the terminal/command line for building and testing the OS

• GCC or Clang toolchain installed (I’ll show you how to set it up)

• (Optional but recommended) Completion of Part 1: Developing a Multitasking Kernel From Scratch a.k.a Kernel Development For Beginners Tutorial

Who This Course is For

Programmers who want to understand operating systems at a low level

Developers interested in kernel and OS design from scratch

Students of computer science, systems programming, or embedded systems

Hobbyists who enjoy building their own OS or experimenting with bare-metal programming

Engineers who want to learn modern 64-bit, UEFI-based booting and kernel development

Anyone curious about memory management, paging, and heap design in kernels

Developers who want hands-on experience with graphics, terminals, and GUI systems

Programmers looking to implement file systems, disk drivers, and PCI/NVMe support

Learners who enjoyed Part 1 (PeachOS) and want to continue into 64-bit multi-threaded kernels

Advanced C programmers seeking a real-world project that pushes their skills