io.md

IO

You cannot use any libraries, so how to do IO? Some ways that this can be done:

• BIOS functions: http://wiki.osdev.org/BIOS. Not well standardized like it's successor UEFI. Called through interrupts.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA-compatible_text_mode
• VBE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_Extensions

Showdown and restart can be managed with either:

• APM

• ACPI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface

  Newer and better.

  Now managed by the same group that manages UEFI.

  Spec:

  • current: http://uefi.org/specifications
  • old: http://www.uefi.org/acpi/specs

See also: http://wiki.osdev.org/Shutdown