What is KolibriOS?

KolibriOS is an open-source, ultra-lightweight operating system written almost entirely in assembly language. With a size of less than 2 MB on disk and a remarkable set of features, it stands out as one of the smallest fully functional graphical operating systems available. It boots in seconds and provides a responsive, desktop-like environment that includes a window manager, file manager, text editor, games, development tools and multimedia support.

History

Origins

KolibriOS traces its roots to the MenuetOS project, which began in 2000. When MenuetOS moved towards closed development of version 1.0, a group of enthusiastic developers forked the project in 2004, creating KolibriOS as an independent community-driven effort. The name “Kolibri” refers to the hummingbird, symbolizing the OS’s small size and high speed.

Development Timeline

• 2004: First public release of KolibriOS, inheriting core components from MenuetOS.
• 2005–2007: Rapid additions of applications such as a file manager, text editor, and basic multimedia support.
• 2008–2010: Inclusion of network support, TCP/IP stack, and web browser.
• 2011–2015: Enhancement of graphics drivers, USB support and translation into multiple languages.
• 2016–Present: Continuous optimization, bug fixes, expansion of community-contributed applications, and porting to new hardware like Raspberry Pi.

Architecture and Design

KolibriOS boasts a simple but efficient architecture optimized for speed and minimal resource consumption.

Microkernel

KolibriOS employs a monolithic microkernel design loaded entirely into memory. This approach allows direct hardware access by drivers and applications without heavy abstraction layers, resulting in extremely fast system calls and minimal latency.

File System Support

FAT Variants

• FAT12
• FAT16
• FAT32

Others

• ISO9660 (CD-ROM)
• EXT2 (read-only experimental support)

How KolibriOS Works

KolibriOS runs directly on the hardware without an intervening abstraction layer like BIOS extensions or UEFI services, though it can boot via both. Once the bootstrap loader transfers control, the system initializes drivers for video, keyboard, mouse and storage. The kernel then launches essential system services, including the window manager, filesystem handlers and network stack. Applications are loaded as raw binary modules, minimizing overhead. Memory management is implemented through a simple first-fit allocation scheme that emphasizes speed over complex heuristics.

Features and Components

KolibriOS packs a broad set of features into its tiny footprint:

• Graphical User Interface: A custom, fast window manager supporting themes and transparent windows.
• File Manager: Displays directories and files with drag-and-drop, context menus and basic archive support.
• Text Editor and IDE: Includes syntax highlighting for several languages and an integrated assembler/compiler.
• Multimedia Applications: MP3 player, media converter and rudimentary video playback via codecs.
• Network Stack: TCP/IP over Ethernet, Wi-Fi support (drivers contributed by community), DNS, DHCP, basic HTTP functionalities.
• USB and Storage: USB mass storage, keyboard and mouse support, RAID 0/1 (experimental).
• Games: Chess, Tetris, Sudoku and other arcade-style applications.
• Development Tools: Integrated assembler, disassembler, resource compiler and debugger.

Target Audience and Use Cases

KolibriOS serves niches where minimalism, speed and direct hardware control are prized:

• Education: Teaching low-level programming and operating system concepts without complex toolchains.
• Embedded Systems: Deployment on legacy or resource-constrained hardware as a control interface.
• System Rescue: Booting from USB to recover data or fix disk issues on damaged systems.
• Hobbyists and Enthusiasts: Experimenting with assembly language, operating system internals and custom drivers.
• Retro Computing: Reviving old PCs and laptops with a modern, fast interface that fits on floppy disks or small flash drives.

Performance and Requirements

Despite its minimal codebase, KolibriOS delivers a surprisingly rich experience:

Curiosities and Trivia

• Assembly Only: Over 95% of KolibriOS is written in pure assembly language, making it unique among general-purpose OS projects.
• Floppy Disk Mode: A fully functional GUI can run from a single floppy disk, demonstrating extreme compactness.
• Portability: Community efforts have ported KolibriOS to devices such as Raspberry Pi and virtual machines like QEMU and Bochs.
• Record Holder: Recognized in the OSDev community for its minimalistic approach and impressive feature set in such a small size.
• Active Forum: Despite its size, KolibriOS has a lively development forum where coders share drivers, applications and optimizations.

Installation and Getting Started

• Download: Obtain the latest ISO or floppy image from the official site or mirror servers.
• Create Boot Media: Use tools like dd on Linux or Rufus on Windows to write the ISO to a USB stick or floppy disk.
• Boot: Configure BIOS/UEFI to boot from the chosen media. KolibriOS starts immediately with minimal configuration required.
• Explore: Navigate the start menu to launch applications, configure settings and test drivers.
• Develop: Use the built-in assembler and debugger to write and compile your own applications directly on KolibriOS.

Community and Development

Contributors

KolibriOS thrives on volunteer contributions. Developers, translators and testers collaborate via mail lists, IRC channels and forums. Newcomers often start by localizing strings, porting device drivers or optimizing existing code.

Resources

• Source code repository accessible via Git and SVN.
• Official forum and wiki for documentation and tutorials.
• Community-driven package collection known as “Kolibri Apps.”

Conclusion

KolibriOS exemplifies the power of minimalism in operating system design. Its blend of speed, compactness and a surprisingly complete feature set makes it a remarkable platform for learning, experimentation and specialized applications. While it may never replace mainstream operating systems on desktop or server hardware, KolibriOS shines as a testament to what can be achieved with disciplined coding, assembly language mastery and a dedicated community.

• KolibriOS Official Website: www.kolibrios.org
• KolibriOS Git repository: github.com/kolibrikos
• OSDev Wiki – KolibriOS: wiki.osdev.org/KolibriOS