mu/linux/bootstrap/README.md

This tool is 2 things:

a) An emulator for SubX, the subset of the 32-bit x86 instruction set used by Mu.

b) A second translator for SubX programs that emits identical binaries to the self-hosting versions in the parent directory. Having two diverse compilers (one in a familiar language, one with minimal syscall surface area) that emit identical binaries should help gain confidence in Mu.

Running

bootstrap currently has the following sub-commands:

• bootstrap help: some helpful documentation to have at your fingertips.

• bootstrap test: runs all automated tests.

• bootstrap translate <input files> -o <output ELF binary>: translates .subx files into an executable ELF binary.

• bootstrap run <ELF binary> <args>: simulates running the ELF binaries emitted by bootstrap translate. Useful for testing and debugging.

  Remember, not all 32-bit Linux binaries are guaranteed to run. I'm not building general infrastructure here for all of the x86 instruction set. SubX is about programming with a small, regular subset of 32-bit x86.

Hacking

This directory is the only C++ code in the project, and has an unconventional organization.