ExectOS Operating System

Over the past week, across exactly 33 commits, the ExectOS kernel has reached a major architectural milestone: full support for Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP). The implementation encompasses the complete Application Processor (AP) bootstrap process, including the real-mode trampoline code, the standard INIT-SIPI-SIPI sequence, and the allocation and initialization of required per-CPU structures.

Since commit 64b5de98c8 from March 27, 2026, the ExectOS kernel has received a substantial update focused on interrupt handling, hardware timer infrastructure, system time management, RTC support, and early SMP-related functionality. The work completed during this development cycle establishes the first fully integrated timing subsystem within the kernel and expands the low-level x86 hardware support. This update lays the essential groundwork for true multi-tasking and multi-core execution in ExectOS.

The successful integration of the Memory Manager through PR #24 marks a pivotal moment in the development history of ExectOS, representing the culmination of several months of intensive low-level engineering and architectural refinement. As a project that aims to implement a brand-new XT architecture from scratch, the transition from a statically mapped environment to one with dynamic allocation capabilities is not merely a feature addition but a fundamental prerequisite for the maturation of all subsequent kernel services. The implementation of the Memory Manager provides the necessary infrastructure for the kernel to manage system resources with the fluidity required by modern general-purpose operating systems, moving beyond the limitations of pre-allocated buffers and fixed memory regions.

It has been several months since our last update. During this time, development of ExectOS has continued steadily, although much of the work has taken place deep within the kernel and boot process. While the original goal of delivering a fully functional memory manager has not yet been achieved, we believe this is a good moment to inform the community about the progress made and the challenges addressed along the way.

When we first started building ExectOS, we envisioned it as an operating system designed exclusively for UEFI-based systems. Over time, however, we realized that this requirement was an artificial limitation. Today, we are excited to announce that we have begun taking concrete steps toward supporting traditional PC/AT hardware with classic BIOS - broadening the reach of ExectOS to a much wider range of systems.