sortix-mirror/doc/user-guide

Sortix User Guide
=================

Thanks for your interest in Sortix! This document will describe how to use it
and what features are available. Sortix is a small self-compiling Unix-like
Operating System developed since 2011. The system is free software licensed
under the GNU General Public License and other licenses.

Introduction
------------

If you are using a Sortix live medium or a prebuilt harddisk image, you will
likely be met with a bootloader. Normally, GNU GRUB is used as the Sortix
bootloader. In that case, simply pick Sortix from the boot menu. If you have
installed Sortix manually, you will have to configure your bootloader to boot
Sortix.

The bootloader will then load the Sortix kernel and start the system. The
initialization process will spawn a shell shortly. The command line is similar
to those of Unix systems and many common Unix commands are available.

Keyboard Layout
---------------

Only the US Keyboard layout remains supported at this time. Adding new layouts
to the kernel is simple, but the system only supports ASCII text, making support
for international keyboard layouts pointless at this time. Eventually, a program
in user-space will be able to decode the keyboard scancodes, making it no longer
a kernel problem.

Changing the Video Mode
-----------------------

After boot, the screen resolution will be default be in VGA text mode. This only
allows 80 columns and 25 rows of 16 color ASCII text. Naturally, this is very
limited but works on most systems.

You can change the display resolution using the `chvideomode` program. However,
you need a suitable kernel driver to do the mode setting. The current release
only has a simple BGA driver, which works in virtual machines such as Qemu,
VirtualBox or Bochs. Note that some programs does not work outside of VGA Text
Mode because the dispd library doesn't yet have a VGA->framebuffer converter.

The BGA driver can support virtually any resolution, but since the interface
fails to report which resolutions are appropriate in the current context, I have
simply hard-coded whatever resolutions I found reasonable when I wrote it.

Powering Off
------------

Unless you are using a harddisk image or your initrd has been specially
configured to mount a permanent root filesystem, then this environment is
entirely temporary. You will loose all modifications when powering off the
current system.

The system automatically reboots when the initial shell exits. You can exit the
current shell by entering `exit`, which if entered from the initial shell will
reboot the entire system (losing any changes if the root filesystem is not
permanent). Additionally, you can press Control-D ('^D') to exit the current
shell, but the initial shell will require you to enter a literal `exit` before
it exits and the system reboots.

The init process will restart the shell in the event that it crashes or dies
from a signal. You can use the `kill $$` command to kill the current shell, and
if it is the initial shell, you will get a new shell.

More Documentation
------------------

The system documentation (at least what has been documented so far) is installed
in the /share/doc directory. You can view these documents (well, the ones that
are plain text, there is no `man` program yet) using the `editor` program, which
you exit by pressing Control-Q ('^Q'). It is probably a good idea to change
the resolution using the `chvideomode` program if drivers are available.

If your release contains third party software, then this directory may also
contain documentation for this software, which may or may not be easily
viewable using the editor.

Filesystem Structure
--------------------

This as an incomplete list of the common top level directories in Sortix.

* /boot - Kernel images, initrd images.
* /dev - Device filesystem.
* /etc - System-wide configuration.
* /home - User directories.
* /include - Header files.
* /root - Directory of the root user.
* /share - Architecture independent files.
* /share/doc - Documentation.
* /src - System source code.
* /tmp - Temporary files.
* /$cputype - Files for $cputype.
* /$cputype/bin - Programs for $cputype.
* /$cputype/lib - Shared libaries for $cputype.
* /$cputype/libexec - Shared libaries for $cputype.

Some of these directories not be present or empty on your installation.

Using the Shell
---------------

Sortix features a homemade shell, which at best can be described as hacky.
Despite that, it does have some key features. Here are the features that are
supported:

* Processes can be started in the usual Unix manner.
* Background tasks ('&').
* Standard output redirection ('>').
* Piping stdin from a task to stdin of another ('|').
* Stopping the currently running task (Control-C, '^C').
* Waiting for a task to complete and executing the next (';').
* Setting environmental variables ('FOO=bar').
* Using $FOO to insert an environmental variable.
* Listing all environmental variable ('env').
* Setting the hostname ('HOSTNAME=sortix-pc').
* Changing the current directory ('cd /home').
* Removing an environmental variable ('unset FOO').
* Clearing all enviromental variables ('clearenv').
* Executing shell scripts ('sh script param1 param2').
* Escaping some special characters ('\').
* Comments ('#').
* Exiting the shell ('exit') ('exit 42').
* Basic wildcards ('foo*.bar').
* Clearing the screen (Control-L, '^L').
* Deleting the last typed word (Control-W, '^W').

These features are missing from the shell:

* Input redirection ('<') ('<<').
* Quotes (''') ('"').
* Proper shell wildcard support ('*/*.foo').
* Escaping newline characters.
* And much more; the shell remains hacky.

Included Programs
-----------------

Sortix comes with a number of home-made programs. Here is an overview:

* `asteroids` - remake of the classic asteroids game
* `basename` - strip directory from filenames
* `benchctxswitch` - useless benchmark
* `benchsyscall` - slightly less useless benchmark
* `calc` - reverse polish calculator
* `carray` -  convert a binary file to a C array
* `cat` - display file on terminal
* `chmod` - change file mode bits
* `chroot` - change the root directory
* `chvideomode` - change display resolution
* `clear` - clear terminal
* `colormake` - colorful version of make (if make is available)
* `column` - format lines nicely in columns
* `conway` - game of life simulator
* `cp` - copy file
* `date` - display current time and date
* `dirname` - strip last component from file name
* `dispd` - non-existent display server
* `du` - report file and directory disk usage
* `echo` - print command line arguments
* `editor` - text editor
* `env` - run a program in a modified environment
* `expr` - evaluate expressions
* `extfs` - ext2 filesystem server
* `false` - exit with an error status
* `find` - recursively list files
* `head` - display start of file
* `help` - show list of available programs
* `init` - system management deamon
* `initrdfs` - tool for examining initrds
* `install` - installs a program into a system directory
* `kernelinfo` - display kernel information
* `kill` - send signal to process
* `ln` - create filesystem links
* `ls` - list contents of directory
* `mbrfs` - create partitions for master boot record block device
* `memstat` - print memory information
* `mkdir` - create directory
* `mkinitrd` - create an initrd
* `mv` - move a file
* `pager` - display file page by page
* `pong` - remake of the classic pong game
* `pwd` - print current directory path
* `regress` - run system tests
* `rm` - remove file
* `rmdir` - remove empty directory
* `sh` - alias for the shell
* `snake` - remake of the classic snake game
* `sort` - sort lines of text files
* `tail` - display end of file
* `time` - measure program running time
* `tr` - translate, squeeze and/or delete characters
* `true` - exit with a success status
* `type` - type raw characters directly into the terminal
* `uname` - system information
* `uniq` - report or omit repeated lines
* `uptime` - time since initialization
* `wc` - count words and lines
* `which` - find path to command

Third Party Software
--------------------

In addition, a selection of third-party software has been ported and may be
present on your installation. In particular, the following software packages are
known to work at some level of stability:

* binutils
* bison
* bochs
* bzip2
* cairo
* dbus
* diffutils
* fontconfig
* freetype
* gcc
* gettext
* git
* grep
* groff
* groff
* gzip
* hello (GNU)
* libassuan
* libatk
* libav
* libcairo
* libdaala
* libexpat
* libffi
* libgcrypt
* libgdk-pixbuf
* libglib
* libGL (Mesa)
* libGLU (Mesa)
* libgmp
* libgnutls
* libgpg-error
* libgtk
* libharfbuzz
* libiconv
* libjpeg
* libksba
* libmpc
* libmpfr
* libogg
* libpango
* libpng
* libtheora
* libvorbis
* libwayland
* libxkbcommon
* m4
* make
* nettle
* openssl
* patch (GNU)
* pixman
* python
* quake
* sdl
* sed (GNU)
* tar (GNU)
* xz
* zlib
* (and more)

More software will be ported in the future as the system matures. Your release
may not contain all the ported software because of disk space constraints or
the stability/usefulness of the package or the difficulty to build.

Included Games
--------------

The system comes with a number of small casual games. Note that some games
require running in the correct display mode before they will function.

### Pong ###

The program `pong` implements a simple pong clone that uses the VGA text mode
buffer. Player one controls using `W` and `S`, while player two controls using
the arrow keys. This program is only available in VGA mode.

### Snake ###

This is a simple snake clone that only works in VGA text mode. You control the
snake using the `W`, `S`, `A`, and `D` keys. To run, start the program `snake`.
This program is only available in VGA mode.

### Conway's Game of Life ###

You can do turing-complete calculations in the classic Game of Life in the VGA
text mode buffer. Simply start the program `conway` and use `W`, `A`, `S`, and
`D` to navigate the screen. `Space` toggles the current point between live and
dead. `C` clears the entire screen, and `R` starts and stops the simulation.
This program is only available in VGA mode.

### Asteroids ###

Mine for crystals in an asteroid field! Start the `asteroids` program and if you
have the needed driver support, you can explore space in a gloriously rendered
asteroid field of bitmap graphics. Use the arrow keys to navigate. Avoid the
white asteroids as they will destroy your space ship. Use the `space` key to
fire a laser beam that breaks the asteroid apart, but beware that the fragments
will accelerate. Alternatively, use the `Left Control` key to shoot a fireworks
of laser beams, but it doesn't reach as far and may split a big asteroid into
many small dangerous asteroids. Your goal is to collect as many blue crystals as
possible without dying. You can use the `B` key to spawn a bot that will
cluelessly follow you and shoot whatever asteroids it deems dangerous. You can
use the `A` key to spawn a black hole (or just a big attracting thing).

System Source Code
------------------

The entire system source code (except third party components) is installed into
the /src directory. You can use the `editor` program to view and edit the system
source code. If your release contains the GNU compiler collection (gcc), you can
even modify the system and compile custom programs.

Editing Files
-------------

You can use the `editor` program to edit files. The editor itself is fairly
simple to use. It currently supports these keyboard commands:

* `Ctrl-Q` - Exit
* `Ctrl-O` - Open a file
* `Ctrl-S` - Save a file
* `Ctrl-I` - Go to line
* `ESC tabsize <desired-tab-size>` - change tab size
* `ESC margin <column>` - add right margin at column
* `ESC popen <command>` - open command output
* `ESC language <c or c++>` - enable syntax highlighting

It is not currently possible to port third party editors because the terminal
implementation is not standards-compliant enough and is seriously lacking.

Partitions
----------

If the initialization code didn't automatically create block devices for your
partitions, but the harddisk block device itself is supported, you can use the
`mbrfs` program to create block devices for the partitions.

    mbrfs /dev/ata0

The program will output the names of the new block devices.

Mounting Filesystems
--------------------

The `extfs` filesystem server translates a block device formatted with the
second extended filesystem and mounts it at an empty directory. The filesystem
may need to be carefully configured as not all ext2 features are currently
supported. In particular, only the `large_file` and `filetype` features are
supported. There is no support for formatting or checking filesystems yet, this
will have to be done from an external system. You must take care to send the
filesystem server a SIGTERM signal to shut down when you are unfinished,
otherwise the data may not have been synced to disk. This will be done
automatically if the root filesystem was mounted by the initrd. If the device
/dev/ata0p1 contasins an ext2 filesystem, then it can be mounted using:

    mkdir /fs
    extfs /dev/ata0 /fs

You can then access the filesystem at /fs. There is no real unmount support and
if the file system server shuts down, the system may hang trying to communicate
with a server that isn't there.

Graphical User Interface
------------------------

The `dispd` display server is still under development. Sortix does not feature
any documented graphical user interface at the moment.

Network
-------

Network support is still under development and is not documented at this point.
Unix sockets are available.

Building Sortix under Sortix
----------------------------

You can build Sortix under itself and made modifications to it. It is not yet
possible to build all the the third party software used to build itself, but you
can use the system to improve it until it is possible to build third party
software under it.

You need a version of Sortix that ships its own source code in /src and contains
a copy of the GNU Compiler Collection (gcc). Additionally, you should be booting
from a harddisk so that the new kernel is used after a reboot, otherwise you
will have to be satisfied with only using a new user-land.

You can use the `colormake` program instead of regular `make` if you want
colored output, which eases spotting compile warnings and errors. This program
simply invokes the real `make` and colors its output.

The /src/system directory contains a makefile that eases rebuilding the entire
system automatically. To rebuild the entire system simply run:

    cd /src/system
    make system

This will recompile the entire operating system and install it into the root
directory as it progresses. You will be running a new version of everything upon
completion, except the kernel and programs were previously started will still
be running the old version. If the root filesystem is permanent and the computer
has been configured to boot from it, then you can reboot the system by exiting
the initial shell. You will then be running an entirely new system.

In general, the projects that are part of the core system can be easily built
and installed with the provided makefiles. In general, they can be built with
this simple sequence:

    cd /src/package
    make
    make install

If you wish to install the package somewhere than the default location, you can
use the `PREFIX` (and, depending on your needs, `EXEC_PREFIX`, `BINDIR`,
`LIBDIR`, ...) environmental variable to specify where the program will be
installed:

    make PREFIX=/local
    make PREFIX=/local install

Additionally, should you require that the package should be installed into a
temporary location before it is fully installed, use the `DESTDIR` environmental
variable:

    make PREFIX=/local
    make PREFIX=/local DESTDIR=/temporary-location

This will effectively install the package into `/temporary-location/local`, but
the package will expect that it is installed into `/local` when it is run. This
is useful for package management purposes to capture a copy of all the installed
files before they are installed for real.

### Building the C library ###

The C library (libc) implements the common functions, data types and constants
required by the C programming language standard, POSIX, other standards, and
various Sortix-specific extensions. Most programs for Sortix directly or
indirectly rely on this core library for basic functionality and system calls.
The build process builds a regular user-space C library as well as a
freestanding C library designed for inclusion into the Sortix kernel. After
rebuilding the C library, you may wish to rebuild the entire user-land since
those programs have an older libc version statically linked into them.

    cd /src/libc
    make
    make install

### Building the Math Library ###

The Math Library (libm) provides useful mathematical functions for manipulating
floating-point numbers of various sizes. This implements the <math.h> header as
known from standard C. Like the C library, you will likely want to recompile
large parts of user-land if you update this library.

    cd /src/libm
    make
    make install

### Building the Pthread Library ###

The Pthread Library (libpthread) provides a threading implementation through the
standard header <pthread.h> as known from POSIX. Like the C library, you will
likely want to recompile large parts of user-land if you update this library.

    cd /src/libpthread
    make
    make install

### Building the Display Daemon ###

The dispd library allows processes to communicate with the dispd server that
handles window management and graphical output. Currently, there is no such
server and the library calls the kernel interface itself. This library allows
games such as asteroids and pong to detect the current resolution and request
whatever resolution they need to function.

    cd /src/dispd
    make
    make install

### Building the Utility Collection ###

The utility collection contains common programs such as `ls`, `cp`, `mkdir` and
more. These programs allow the basic operation from the command line.

    cd /src/utils
    make
    make install

### Building the Benchmarks ###

The system comes with some small and outdated benchmark programs. They don't
currently give any meaningful values, so you should not use them for anything.

    cd /src/bench
    make
    make install

### Building the Games ###

The games directory contains the source code for the above mentioned games.
These depend on libdispd.

    cd /src/games
    make
    make install

### Building mbrfs ###

The `mbrfs` program creates block devices for every partition in the master boot
record in a block device.

    cd /src/mbr
    make
    make install

### Building extfs ###

The `extfs` program translates a block device formatted with the second extended
filesystem and mounts it at an empty directory.

    cd /src/ext
    make
    make install

### Building mkinitrd ###

This program produces a Sortix compatible initrd, the file that contains the
initial filesystem used to bootstrap the real root filesystem.

    cd /src/mkinitrd
    make
    make install

### Building regress ###

This is a collection of operating system test cases run using the `regress`
driver program.

    cd /src/regress
    make
    make install

### Building carray ###

This program converts a binary file to an C array.

    cd /src/carray
    make
    make install

### Building the Sortix Kernel ###

The Sortix kernel is the core of the Sortix operating system. It provides all
the primitives libc needs to implement a Unix-like environment.

    cd /src/kernel
    make
    make install

Note that you need to reboot the system to use the new kernel and that you need
a permanent root filesystem or your local changes will be lost.