cia-foundation/templeos

★ 4,515HolyCAudience · developerComplexity · 5/5LicenseSetup · hard

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((TempleOS))
    What It Is
      Custom operating system
      64-bit only
      Built by one person
    Requirements
      Boot from ISO
      512MB RAM minimum
      Virtual machine or hardware
    Source Code
      HolyC language
      Fully open source
      Compiled within TempleOS
    Unique Aspects
      Custom compiler
      No external dependencies
      Self-contained system

mindmap root((TempleOS)) What It Is Custom operating system 64-bit only Built by one person Requirements Boot from ISO 512MB RAM minimum Virtual machine or hardware Source Code HolyC language Fully open source Compiled within TempleOS Unique Aspects Custom compiler No external dependencies Self-contained system

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Boot TempleOS in a virtual machine to explore a from-scratch operating system

USE CASE 2

Study the source code to understand how one person built a complete OS including compiler, kernel, and filesystem

USE CASE 3

Compile and modify TempleOS code using its built-in HolyC compiler from within the running system

Tech stack

HolyC

Getting it running

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Must boot the ISO in a virtual machine or on 64-bit hardware with at least 512MB RAM, may require manual I/O port configuration.

Fully open source, all source code is included with no stated restrictions.

In plain English

TempleOS is a complete, self-contained operating system built entirely from scratch by a single programmer named Terry Davis. The README explains that TempleOS must be booted from a CD, DVD, or a virtual machine pointed at the ISO image, because the files inside are compressed and the source code can only be compiled by TempleOS's own built-in compiler. There is no installer that runs on another operating system. The system is 64-bit only and requires at least 512 megabytes of RAM. The README warns that on some hardware the user may need to manually enter I/O port addresses for the CD or DVD drive and the hard drive during setup. This level of manual configuration reflects the close-to-the-hardware design of the system, which deliberately avoids the abstraction layers found in mainstream operating systems. TempleOS has its own programming language called HolyC, a modified version of C. All source code for the operating system is included in the distribution and is entirely open source. The repository description refers to it as the final snapshot of the Third Temple. The system is not designed for everyday use or as a foundation for other projects. It is an unusual technical artifact: a fully working operating system written by one person in a custom language, complete with its own shell, graphics, file system, and compiler. The README does not provide instructions beyond getting the ISO booted, as everything else must be done from within the running TempleOS environment.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

How do I boot TempleOS in VirtualBox or QEMU from the ISO? What virtual machine settings do I need for storage and memory?

Prompt 2

Explain the HolyC language and how it differs from standard C. Show me a simple function example.

Prompt 3

I want to explore the TempleOS kernel source code. Where do I start and what are the key directories to read first?

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