RealXV6 vs KernelPath

【 Bring Lions' Commentary to Life 】 If you are studying operating systems, you know the legend: Lions' Commentary on UNIX 6th Edition. It is the "Red Book" that taught a generation of hackers how an OS kernel truly works. Now, you can bring that bible to life on your iOS device. 【 From Reading to Experiencing 】 The biggest challenge in understanding Unix v6 is that reading code is static, but an operating system is dynamic. We have solved this problem. We ported the classic Unix v6 to the Intel 8086 architecture (Real Mode) and built a powerful virtual machine around it. This isn't just an emulator—it is an interactive learning environment designed to help you verify the logic described in the book. 【 Key Features 】 The Ultimate Study Companion: Designed specifically to accompany your reading of the Lions' source code. Don't just imagine how the code runs—watch it happen. Source-Level Debugging: Say goodbye to raw assembly guesswork. Set breakpoints directly in the C source code to pause execution at critical moments. Precise Execution Control: Master the kernel's logic with full stepping capabilities. Step In: Dive into function calls to see how the kernel handles sub-routines. Step Over: Execute lines quickly to grasp the high-level flow. Step Out: Quickly return to the caller function to understand the call stack hierarchy. Deep Dive into the Kernel: Struggle to understand the complex flow of context switching or interrupts? Place a breakpoint on swtch() or trap() and trace the execution path line-by-line. Simplified 8086 Architecture: By running on 8086 Real Mode, the underlying hardware logic is easier to understand than the original PDP-11. Portable Lab: No complex setups, no QEMU configuration. Your pocket OS laboratory is ready whenever you are. 【 Why This App? 】 Don't just read the history of computing—trace it. Whether you are a CS student grappling with OS concepts or a veteran developer revisiting the classics, this app bridges the gap between theory and practice by letting you walk through the code live.

KernelPath is a comprehensive, interactive course on operating system kernels — built entirely for iPad and iPhone. GO FROM ZERO TO KERNEL FLUENT Work through 7 structured modules covering the full Linux kernel stack: architecture, processes, memory, file systems, networking, security, and device drivers. Each lesson combines clear explanations with real C code examples, diagrams, and practical command-line usage. LEARN BY DOING 14 interactive labs let you visualize concepts that textbooks struggle to explain: - Step through the boot sequence from BIOS to login - Watch the CFS scheduler assign CPU time to competing processes - Walk a page table translation from virtual to physical address - Trace a system call from user space into the kernel - Animate a TCP three-way handshake in real time - Build and test seccomp filters on system calls - Follow a read() call from application through the driver stack to hardware PRACTICE IN A REAL TERMINAL A built-in Linux terminal simulator gives you a virtual machine to explore. Navigate a realistic filesystem with /proc, /sys, /dev, and /etc. Run 50+ real commands — ls, ps aux, free -h, ip addr, cat /proc/cpuinfo, lsmod, and many more — all producing authentic Linux output. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE Each module ends with a quiz. Detailed explanations for every answer reinforce what you learned and fill in gaps. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS A personal dashboard shows completed lessons, quiz scores, and module-by-module progress so you always know where you left off. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Kernel architectures: monolithic, microkernel, and hybrid designs - Process lifecycle: fork(), exec(), scheduling, IPC, and signals - Virtual memory: page tables, the MMU, allocation, and swap - File systems: VFS, ext4 internals, inodes, and permissions - Networking: TCP/IP stack, packet encapsulation, sockets, and netfilter - Security: DAC, capabilities, SELinux, AppArmor, and seccomp - Device drivers: character and block devices, udev, and driver architecture BUILT FOR LEARNERS No prior kernel experience required. Start from "What is a Kernel?" and build up to writing device drivers and configuring seccomp filters. Perfect for computer science students, self-taught developers, SREs, and anyone who wants to understand what happens beneath the surface of every application.