x86 emulated in Browser by JavaScript boots Linux

[naw]

And boot up is really quick - actually useful too for testing shell script stuff

http://bellard.org/jslinux/

I wonder if the PB Compiler would be supported by this - docs say that this emulates something *like* an 80486 CPU. Unfortunately, there's no FTP available to xfer files

[jerico2day]

wget is available

[luis]

I wonder if the PB Compiler would be supported by this

The emulated hardware consists in the following devices:
* 32 bit x86 compatible CPU
* 8259 Programmble Interrupt Controller
* 8254 Programmble Interrupt Timer
* 16450 UART
* Real Time Clock.

Cannot do much with that, unless for "hacking" purposes.

"A more advanced version would allow to use old DOS PC software such as games"

would

Impressive nevertheless.

[naw]

wget is available

yep - but TCP doesn't seem to be working outside of the browser - ie I can ping localhost but nowhere else

from the website:

It is relatively easy to add a virtual network interface. The problem is to make it communicate with other hosts, so at this point it is not my priority. For example, due to security restrictions, it is only possible to communicate with the web site hosting the VM or with cooperating servers. Moreover, only specific types of network protocols can be handled because no raw TCP connection nor raw UDP packets can be sent due to API restrictions and security reasons.

[Thorium]

Looks like a more esoteric project, i don't see any practical use for it. With JavaScript it's just to slow.
However it's impressive, i have to agree.

[eesau]

That Bellard guy never ceases to amaze.

[naw]

What's the use for it?

Java gives you the ability to execute full applications within the browser across multiple HW platforms - but it's Java. This gives you the facility to do the same for legacy / business critical 'C' applications code. With the addition of TCP and perhaps NFS support, you could run complete apps delivered from a central server but executed on the users desktop. Cloud Computing is all about provisioning servers hosted from a DataCenter - this might just be Cloud2.0 where Server functionality is delivered without the need for a DataCenter to house all that compute power. I think it's revolutionary (but very, very early).

Remember, this is delivering a full OS, interpreted by JavaScript within a browser - made possible because the original CPU it is emulating ran at typically 25MHz - so on a 2.5GHz modern Pentium CPU performance is achieved through brute force. IBM is (today) playing with Graphene based transistors running at 100GHz http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/10 ... r_circuit/

[Thorium]

this might just be Cloud2.0 where Server functionality is delivered without the need for a DataCenter to house all that compute power. I think it's revolutionary (but very, very early).

Remember, this is delivering a full OS, interpreted by JavaScript within a browser - made possible because the original CPU it is emulating ran at typically 25MHz - so on a 2.5GHz modern Pentium CPU performance is achieved through brute force.

As i said i think it's more esoteric.
It's actualy a huge waste of calculation power. Also i am not a friend of the so called "clouds". It's actualy a very old concept which was been abandoned decades ago, because home computer developed into powerfull computers. That was the server/terminal system. Now it's back with a new name and it's used for all kinds of stuff no matter if it's realy usefull for it or not.

[naw]

true - there is nothing new in *cloud* - same old technologies, new marketing messages. But that is what I mean by Cloud2.0 - putting a transient server onto the client (PC/Mac/iPhone...) - after all (in the simplest terms possible) what is a server for: just a means for doing some transactions. What is a PC for: just an interface for a human user.
Traditionally, servers are housed in expensive Data-Centers with space/cooling/cabling problems. Software/OS/firmware gets out of date, machines get old things get more expensive & difficult to run and maintain and no business wants the pain of a Data-Center. So maybe (something like) this is the future - no servers, no Data-Centers, just SW streamed as needed to smart workstations. About 20 years ago Sun said "The network is the computer" but the technology wasn't really there to support it, maybe it is now.