The latest articles on DEV Community by Daniel Developer (@daniel_developer_8ea65b73). https://dev.to/daniel_developer_8ea65b73 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4035261%2Fbc9cab99-89f9-4d45-9f0a-a50991b57f35.png https://dev.to/daniel_developer_8ea65b73 en Daniel Developer Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:05:23 +0000 https://dev.to/daniel_developer_8ea65b73/building-novaos-a-16-bit-operating-system-from-scratch-in-assembly-and-c-db3 https://dev.to/daniel_developer_8ea65b73/building-novaos-a-16-bit-operating-system-from-scratch-in-assembly-and-c-db3 <h1> Building NovaOS: A 16-bit Operating System from Scratch (in Assembly and C) </h1> <h2> Introduction </h2> <p>Hi everyone! I'm Daniel, an 11-year-old developer from Iran. I've been working on a hobby project called <strong>NovaOS</strong> – a 16-bit operating system written in Assembly and C, inspired by MikeOS.</p> <p>In this post, I'll share my journey, the challenges I faced, and what I've learned so far.</p> <h2> What is NovaOS? </h2> <p>NovaOS is a 16-bit real-mode operating system that boots from a floppy disk image and runs in QEMU. It currently includes:</p> <ul> <li>A <strong>Command-Line Interface (CLI)</strong> with commands like <code>DIR</code>, <code>CAT</code>, <code>COPY</code>, <code>DEL</code>, <code>HELP</code>, and <code>SYSINFO</code> </li> <li>A <strong>BASIC interpreter</strong> for writing and running simple programs</li> <li>A <strong>simple text editor (NovaPad)</strong> </li> <li><strong>FAT12 filesystem support</strong></li> <li>A <strong>basic graphical launcher</strong> (still in development)</li> </ul> <h2> Why did I build this? </h2> <p>I've always been fascinated by how computers work at a low level. When I discovered MikeOS, I thought: "Why not build my own?" So I started reading the source code, learning Assembly, and slowly building my own kernel.</p> <p>It's been a long journey, but I've learned so much about CPU architecture, memory management, and system calls.</p> <h2> What I've Learned So Far </h2> <ul> <li> <strong>Assembly is hard, but rewarding.</strong> Writing in Assembly forces you to understand exactly what the CPU is doing.</li> <li> <strong>Debugging without a debugger is painful.</strong> Most of my debugging was done with <code>printf</code>-style logging and a lot of patience.</li> <li> <strong>The OSDev community is amazing.</strong> People on OSDev.org and Reddit have been incredibly helpful.</li> </ul> <h2> How to Run NovaOS </h2> <ol> <li>Download the ISO from <a href="https://github.com/danieldevir/NovaOS/releases" rel="noopener noreferrer">GitHub Releases</a> </li> <li>Run it in QEMU: qemu-system-x86_64 -cdrom NovaOS.iso</li> <li>Explore the CLI, try BASIC programs, and test the built-in tools.</li> </ol> <p>What's Next?</p> <p>· 32-bit Protected Mode: I want to move from 16-bit real mode to 32-bit protected mode to access more memory.<br> · Better GUI: A proper graphical interface with window management.<br> · More programs: A file manager, a chess game, or even a simple web browser.</p> <p>Contributing</p> <p>If you're interested in Assembly, OS development, or just want to help, I'd love your support! Even 1 hour per week can make a difference.</p> <p>The code is open and available on GitHub: github.com/danieldevir/NovaOS</p> <p>Final Thoughts</p> <p>Building an operating system from scratch is one of the most challenging and rewarding things I've ever done. If you're thinking about starting your own OS project, my advice is: just start. You'll learn more than you can imagine.</p> <p>Thanks for reading! Feedback and suggestions are always welcome.</p> <p>Daniel Baradaran (11 years old)</p> <p>· GitHub: github.com/danieldevir<br> · Blog: danialcodes.zya.me</p> coding programming showdev