guideXOS Wiki

guideXOS is the original guideXOS desktop operating-system project, written in C#/AOT. This wiki covers its boot process, Legacy BIOS and UEFI editions, debugging modes, managed-code OS experiments, and current development notes.

Legacy BIOS and UEFI editions

The Legacy BIOS and UEFI editions are nearly identical at the OS and project level. The major difference is the boot environment. The UEFI edition is currently unstable and should be treated as an experimental bring-up target.

Edition Boot path Stability Recommended use
Legacy BIOS BIOS / legacy boot More stable Demos, screenshots, general guideXOS testing
UEFI UEFI boot Unstable / bring-up Developer testing, firmware debugging, future boot work
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Getting Started

Download, install, and boot guideXOS in QEMU, VMware, or VirtualBox. Quick setup guide and first steps.

BeginnerUser Guide
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Architecture

Learn about guideXOS C#'s bare-metal architecture, NativeAOT compilation, and how C# runs without an OS.

Core SystemDevelopment
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Driver System

Deep dive into PCI discovery, IDE/SATA drivers, network drivers (Intel/Realtek), and how to add new drivers.

Core SystemDevelopment
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Memory Management

Custom page-based allocator, StringPool interning, owner tracking, memory tags, and why there's no garbage collection.

Core SystemDevelopment
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Network Stack

Full IPv4 implementation: Ethernet, ARP, IPv4, ICMP, UDP, TCP, DHCP, DNS, and HTTP client.

NetworkingCore System
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File System

Custom filesystem, directory structure, file operations, and ramdisk support.

Core SystemUser Guide
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File Write Testing

Test persistent storage with FAT filesystem writes, IDE/SATA disks, and troubleshooting guides.

Core SystemDevelopmentUser Guide
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GUI System

Window manager, desktop environment, taskbar, framebuffer rendering, and virtual workspaces.

Core SystemUser Guide
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Windowing System

Deep dive into windowing architecture, modern vs legacy systems, compositing, GPU acceleration, and future modernization.

Core SystemDevelopment
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Applications

Built-in apps (Notepad, Paint, Calculator, etc.) and GXM executable format for custom apps.

User GuideDevelopment
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Console Commands

Complete reference of all console commands: ls, cd, cat, ping, netinit, ipconfig, and more.

User GuideBeginner
👨‍💻

Development

Build from source, contribute to guideXOS C#, debug drivers, and development setup guide.

Development
❓

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about guideXOS C#, its capabilities, limitations, and future plans.

BeginnerUser Guide
⚙

CPU & Execution

Rings, GDT/TSS, IDT, paging, system calls, and user-mode roadmap.

Core SystemDevelopment
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String Drawing System

Bitmap font rendering, pixel-by-pixel drawing, StringPool optimization, and text performance.

Core SystemDevelopment
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Font System

Learn how to generate bitmap fonts, understand the 20px grid system, character sets, and use fonts in your applications.

Core SystemDevelopmentUser Guide
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Background Images & Thumbnails

Managing desktop backgrounds in Display Options: thumbnail system, file formats, caching, and adding custom wallpapers.

User GuideDevelopmentCore System
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SVG Icon Support

Native SVG rendering for scalable icons: elements, colors, paths, and resolution-independent graphics at any size.

Core SystemDevelopmentNew
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TrueType Font Support

Experimental TrueType/OpenType font loader: TTF parsing, glyph mapping, and scalable text rendering capabilities.

Core SystemDevelopmentExperimental
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GXM Packager

Tool for creating GXM executables with built-in script editor, templates, and both GUI and console versions.

DevelopmentUser Guide
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Live Mode

Understanding boot modes: Live Mode (USB/CD) vs Installed Mode (hard drive), settings persistence, and the HD Installer.

BeginnerUser GuideCore System
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GXM Format

Technical specification of the GXM executable format: header structure, binary format, and script marker.

Development
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GUI Scripts

Complete command reference for GUI scripts: WINDOW, LABEL, BUTTON, LIST, ONCLICK, and more with examples.

DevelopmentUser GuideBeginner
⚙️

App Development Approaches

Compare Built-in Apps, GXM Native Apps, and GXM Scripts: features, trade-offs, and when to use each approach.

DevelopmentCore SystemNew

Need Another Wiki Area?

The guideXOS umbrella wiki also includes a guideXOS Server area for the multi-architecture branch.

Back to Wiki Hub Open guideXOS Server Wiki