1 files changed, 117 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/src/header/boot.s b/src/header/boot.s
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2276e3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/header/boot.s
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/* multiboot header constants */
+.set ALIGN, 1<<0 /* Align loaded modules on page boundries */
+.set MEMINFO, 1<<1 /* Provide memory map*/
+.set FLAGS, ALIGN | MEMINFO /* Multiboot flag field*/
+.set MAGIC, 0x1BADB002 /*Lets bootloader find header*/
+.set CHECKSUM, -(MAGIC + FLAGS) /* Proves we are multiboot via checksum*/
+
+/*
+ * Declare a multiboot header that marks the program as a kernel.
+ * These are magic values that are docymented in the multiboot standard.
+ * The bootloader will search fot this signature in the first 8KiB of
+ * the kernel file, aligned at a 32-bit boundry.
+ * The signature is in its own section so the header can be forced to be
+ * within the first 8KiB of the kernel file.
+ */
+.section .multiboot 
+.align 4
+.long MAGIC 
+.long FLAGS 
+.long CHECKSUM 
+
+/*
+ * The multiboot standard doesn't define the value of the "stack pointer register,"
+ * or esp, as it is up to the kernel to provide a stack.
+ * This allocates room for a small stack through a few steps:
+    * 1. Create a symbol at the bottom of the stack
+    * 2. Allocate 16 KiB for the stack
+    * 3. Create a symbol at the top of the stack.
+ * The stack grows DOWN on x86.
+ * Since the stack is in its own section*, it can be marked "nobits"
+ * which means the kernel file is smaller since it doesn't contain
+ * an uninitialized stack.
+ * On x86, the stack must be 16-byte aligned** according to System V ABI standard
+ * and de-facto extentions.
+ * The compiler assumes the stack is properly aligned, so failure to align will
+ * result in UB.
+ */
+.section bss 
+.align 16 
+.stack_bottom:
+.skip 16384 
+stack_top: 
+
+/*
+ * Our linker script specifies _start as te entry point to the kernel.
+ * The bootloader will jump here once the kernel is loaded.
+ * We won't return, since the bootloader would be gone at that point
+ */
+.section .text
+.global _start
+.type _start, @function
+_start:
+  /*
+   * The bootloader loads us into 32-bit mode on x86 machines.
+   * Interrupts and paging are disabled.
+   * The multiboot standard defines our current processor state.
+   * The kernel has full control over the CPU
+   * The kernel can only use two things
+      * 1. hardware features
+      * 2. its own code
+   * No printing is available (Unless we make it).
+   * No security restrictions, safeguards, or debugging mechanisms.
+   * We only have what the kernel provides.
+   * ABSOLUTE POWER OVER THE MACHINE!!
+   */
+
+  /*
+   * To setup a stack, make the esp register point to the top of the stack.
+   * We have to do this in assembly since C wont even function without the stack.
+   */
+  mov $stack_top, %esp
+
+  /*
+   * This is a good point to initialize crucial processor state before our
+   * high level kernel is entered.
+   * It's best to minize early environment where crucial features are offline.
+   * The processor is not fully initialized yet, therefore
+   * features such as floating point instructions and instruction set extentions
+   * are ALSO not initialized.
+   * The GDT (global descriptor table) should be loaded here.
+   * Paging should be enabled here.
+   */
+
+  /*
+   * Enter our high level kernel.
+   * the ABI (?) requres the stack is 16-byte aligned at the time of
+   * the call instruction (which afterward will push the return pointer
+   * of size 4 bytes).
+   * The stack was 16-byte aligned above, and we have pushed a multiple of
+   * 16 bytes to the stack (we have pushed zero bytes so far), so 
+   * the alignment is preserved, and the call is well defined.
+   */
+  call kernel_main
+
+  /*
+   * If the system has nothing else to do, we will infinitely loop.
+   * To do this, we must:
+      * 1. Disable interrupts with `cli` 
+      * (clear interrupt enable in eflags.)
+      * They are already disabled by the bootloader, so we can skip this.
+      * Keep in mind, we may have to do this later AND return from main 
+      * (for some nonsensical reason)
+      * 2. wait for the next interrupt to arrive with `hlt` (halt instruction)
+      * Since interrupts are disabled, this locks up the computer (yay!)
+      * 3. jump to the `hlt` instruction if it ever wakes up due to a
+      * non-maskable interrupt occuring or due to a system management mode.
+   */
+    cli
+1:  hlt
+    jmp 1
+
+/*
+ * Set the size of _start to { current_location - (start of _start) }
+ * This is useful for debugging or for call tracing later on.
+ */
+.size _start, . - _start
+