Hi everyone! I'm eager to dive into low-level programming, specifically in areas like drivers, operating systems, microcontrollers, and firmware development. Can anyone share some solid resources—like courses, books, or other materials—that they found helpful for getting started?
5 Answers
Make sure to practice in a virtual environment first; it minimizes the risk of system crashes while you're learning.
Another useful tip is to find an open-source driver project to browse through. If you already have some coding skills, that kind of hands-on exploration can be way more enlightening than a course!
Check out 'Code' by Charles Petzold. It's a fantastic intro to low-level thinking covering binary logic, memory, and hardware concepts that really clicked for me. You might also want to try the nand2tetris course, which lets you build a simplified computer from scratch. Then there's Tanenbaum’s 'Operating Systems' for some deeper insights—don't feel pressured to memorize it, just focus on the key theories. Lastly, dive into some practical work by following a guide to write your own x86 OS. It's a great way to turn theory into practice!
When it comes to drivers, it’s really OS-specific. Which operating system are you looking at? Typically, any OS course or book will cover the basics, and then you can zero in on your area of interest from there.
Yeah, starting small with assembly on simpler CPUs is a good way to build up your understanding!
To really get a grip on low-level programming, start with the fundamentals of operating systems. Key areas like memory management, threads, processes, IPC, and file systems are crucial to understand, no matter where you go next.
I'm thinking about a normal multitasking PC OS. I know it can be complex, but are there simpler options, maybe starting with assembly on older CPUs?