GeckOS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| GeckOS | |
|---|---|
 GeckOS Shell | |
| Developer | André Fachat |
| OS family | Unix-like |
| Working state | Historic |
| Source model | Open source |
| Latest release | 2.1.1 / January 25, 2024 |
| Latest preview | 2.0.9 / October 6, 2013 |
| Repository | github |
| Instruction sets | MOS Technology 6502 |
| Kernel type | Microkernel |
| License | GPLv2 |
| Official website | 6502.org |
GeckOS is a multitasking operating system for MOS 6502, and compatible processors such as the MOS 6510.[1] The GeckOS operating system is one of the few successful attempts to implement a Unix-like operating system on the 6502 architecture.
The system offers some Unix-like functionality including pre-emptive multitasking, multithreading, semaphores, signals, binary relocation, TCP/IP networking via SLIP, and a 6502 standard library.[2][3][4]
GeckOS includes native support for the Commodore PET (32 KB and 96 KB models), Commodore 64 and the CS/A65 homebrew system.[5] Due to the platform independent nature of the kernel code, GeckOS is advertised as an extremely easy OS to port to alternative 6502 platforms.[citation needed]
Binary compatibility with the LUnix operating system can be attained when the lib6502 shared library is used.[6]
Due to the small fixed-location stack of the 6502, and because an external MMU is rarely provided, multitasking is somewhat limited.[7] The OS supports a maximum of four tasks when a shared stack space is used.[citation needed] This can be increased to sixteen tasks when stack snapshotting is enabled, although this is done at the expense of some system speed.[citation needed]
