README.old

![logo](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/blob/master/Documentation/img/ELKS-Logo.png)


![cross](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/workflows/cross/badge.svg)
![main](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/workflows/main/badge.svg)


# What is ELKS?

ELKS is a project providing a Linux-like OS for systems based on the Intel
IA16 architecture (16-bit processors: 8086, 8088, 80188, 80186, 80286,
NEC V20, V30 and compatibles). Such systems are ancient computers (IBM-PC
XT / AT and clones) as well as more recent SBCs, SoCs, and FPGAs.

## Watch ELKS in action

- [ELKS, a 16-bit no-MMU Linux on Amstrad PC 2086](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eooviN1SdQ8) (thanks @pawoswm-arm)
- [Booting ELKS on an old 286 MB from 1,44MB floppy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rwlqmdebxk) (thanks @xrayer)
- [Epson PC Portable Q150A / Equity LT (Nec V30 8086 - 1989)](https://youtu.be/ZDffBj6zY-w?t=687) (thanks Alejandro)

## Screenshots

ELKS running on QEMU
![ss1](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/blob/master/Screenshots/ELKS_0.5.0.png)

Olivetti M24 8086 CPU
![ss2](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/blob/master/Screenshots/Olivetti_M24_8086_CPU.png)

ELKS Networking showing netstat and process list
![ss3](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/blob/master/Screenshots/ELKS_Networking.png)

Running ELKS Basic on PC-9801UV21 (NEC V30 CPU)
![ss4](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/blob/master/Screenshots/PC-9801UV21_V30_CPU.png)

## Downloads

A full set of disk images are available for download, for you to try out ELKS: [Downloads](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/releases).

## How to build

Full build instructions are [here](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/blob/master/BUILD.md).

## Wiki

Help on how to use ELKS, as well as technical tutorials, are available on our [Wiki](https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/wiki).

## Documentation

More information is in the Documentation folder: [Index of ELKS Documentation](https://htmlpreview.github.io/?https://github.com/jbruchon/elks/blob/master/Documentation/index.html).

## Resources

Other projects and resources interesting to ELKS and our programming community:

- [Size Optimization Tricks](https://justine.lol/sizetricks/) A great article from Justine Tunney's blog showing how big things can be done without bloat.
- [Blinkenlights](https://justine.lol/blinkenlights/) A visual debugger shows 8086 instruction execution starting from a PC boot sector.
- [gcc-ia16](https://github.com/tkchia/gcc-ia16) TK Chia's gcc compiler targeted for 8086, maintained and used for the ELKS kernel and all its applications.

## More information

Questions? Problems? Patches? Open an issue on the ELKS GitHub project!