ExectOS Operating System

August has been an intense and productive month for the ExectOS project. When many thought development had slowed down, we managed to push forward with progress - a clear sign that ExectOS is still actively evolving. Alongside implementing Dynamic Multi-Level Paging and adding experimental LA57 support, we also spent a considerable amount of time addressing a wide range of bugs, improving stability and compatibility across the entire system.

In one of our recent updates, we published a full list of bug fixes included in the latest builds. This time we wanted to share some of the more interesting technical findings that came out during the development process. While many fixes were straightforward, others required a deep dive into low-level kernel internals, bootloader behavior, and hardware-specific quirks. In this article, we have selected several cases that stood out due to their complexity or the insights they provided. Our goal is to give you a closer look behind the scenes and highlight the complex engineering challenges we encounter.

We have reached an important milestone in the development of ExectOS. While this is not a release announcement, we are excited to share significant progress on the virtual memory subsystem that lays the foundation for the future kernel memory manager.

Although the kernel does not yet have a fully functional memory manager, the latest work ensures that when we begin its implementation, it will seamlessly support all paging levels from the very start. With proper handling of PML2, PML3, PML4, and PML5 already integrated into the bootloader and partially into the kernel, we have created a highly flexible and future-proof paging framework.

Over the past month, since the release of XTbuild 3.0.1, development efforts on ExectOS have focused primarily on resolving critical bugs that were blocking further progress on the project. While feature development temporarily took a back seat, the work done during this period has been substantial - especially considering that it was carried out by a single developer.

These fixes were essential: as new features were being implemented, they frequently triggered unexpected Page Faults in regions of the system where memory behavior should have been stable. After extensive debugging, the root causes were traced to issues such as incorrect stack alignment and faulty memory mapping. Thankfully, many of these problems have now been resolved, paving the way for continued feature development.

Just days after the milestone release of XTchain 3.0.0, we have launched version 3.0.1, delivering targeted improvements and essential bug fixes to correct initial regressions and improve overall functionality across platforms.

XTchain 3.0.1 may appear as a minor version bump, but its release demonstrates the project’s commitment to rapid iteration and user-focused refinement. The update includes the latest versions of LLVM, Ninja and Wine tools (such as widl, wmc and wrc) - three essential tools in the modern compilation ecosystem. These updates were integrated specifically in response to the recent upstream releases, ensuring XTchain remains compatible with the most up-to-date and performant build infrastructure.

We are proud to announce the release of XTchain 3.0.0, marking a major milestone in the evolution of the XTOS build toolchain. This new version introduces a streamlined experience, improved platform support, and updated core components - further solidifying XTchain’s role as a reliable foundation for building the ExectOS operating system.

The new release is available now. Download XTchain 3.0.0 from the release page. We invite developers and power users to explore the updated XTchain, try out the new Windows support or Lite editions, and contribute to the growing ExectOS ecosystem.