Building an Operating System from Scratch with AI
The author used the AI assistant Claude to build an entire x86-64 operating system called ASOS from scratch, including a UEFI bootloader, kernel, filesystem, process management, and desktop environment. The article discusses the author's workflow, architectural decisions, and lessons learned from pushing AI-assisted development to its limits.
Why it matters
This project demonstrates the potential and limitations of using AI assistants for building complex software systems from scratch, with insights that can apply to a wide range of AI-powered development workflows.
Key Points
- 1Leveraged both the Claude web app and Claude Code to architect and implement the OS
- 2Chose C and Assembly over Rust based on Claude's recommendation of better training data
- 3Spent significant time mapping out the full OS architecture before writing any code
- 4Encountered issues with Claude's proposed architectural decisions, leading to a more hands-on approach
- 5Broke the project into discrete milestones to better control the AI's execution
Details
The author, an experienced programmer, decided to build a full-fledged operating system from scratch using the AI assistant Claude. The resulting project, ASOS, is a 25,709-line x86-64 OS written in C and Assembly, booting from UEFI firmware to a desktop environment with various applications, including a port of the original DOOM game. The author's workflow involved using the Claude web app for architectural guidance and prompt engineering, while Claude Code executed the actual coding. Key decisions included choosing C/Assembly over Rust based on Claude's assessment of better training data, and thoroughly mapping out the OS architecture upfront. However, the author encountered issues with some of Claude's proposed architectural decisions, leading to a more hands-on approach to oversight and milestone-based development. The article discusses the lessons learned from pushing the boundaries of AI-assisted development on such a complex project.
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