Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#31

Post by urs2102 » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:50 PM UTC

This is incredible! At this point, it's definitely JS magic, because I'm struggling to fathom how this even exists.

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#32

Post by zerr » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:50 PM UTC

I know it is oversimplification, but in essence, isn't writing an emulator just mundane following and reading specs? a lot of specs...

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#33

Post by lxe » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:50 PM UTC

You should un-minify and open-source this.

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#34

Post by smackfu » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:54 PM UTC

zerr wrote: post #32

I know it is oversimplification, but in essence, isn't writing an emulator just mundane following and reading specs? a lot of specs...

Yes, following the specs will give you a correct emulator.

The trick is in writing a fast and accurate one.

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#35

Post by elwell » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:54 PM UTC

github link?

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#36

Post by Dylan16807 » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:54 PM UTC

javanix wrote: post #15

ghayes wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This really is extremely well done [and I'd like to see the unminified source]. The next feature I'd want to see is networking support. I love the idea to be able to run my entire dev setup in an emulated browser session [e.g. ruby, rails, redis]. That would be a game changer on how I'd develop.

At 2000 kIPS you may have a few generations of javascript engines to go before we get there. That's not meant to take away from this project - it truly is amazing what can be interpreted in the browser now.

Some things would do badly at that speed. But serving basic web queries would be fine, and give you a better feel for what is slow when milliseconds spent processing turn into actual seconds.

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#37

Post by Sheepshow » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:55 PM UTC

JoshTriplett wrote: post #25

Very impressive. Interesting bug: I can't seem to type '-', '=', '+', or '_' into the Linux image. Missing '-' in particular makes it hard to run commands with options. Elaborate workaround: /root% eval eq$(dmesg | grep 'e820 update' | sed 's/.*) $.$.*/\1\1/') /root% echo $eq = /root% eval dash$eq$(uname bad 2>&1 | grep Usage: | sed 's/.*\[$.$.*/\1/') /root% echo $dash - /root% uname ${dash}a Linux (none) 2.6.34.…

This is the most soul-crushing category of bug, the kind which keeps me up all night, drinking.

Build a skyscraper, and lock the keys inside for the ribbon cutting. Sorry pal you lost your funding

Land on Mars, see an alien, but your camera is out of batteries and everybody back on Earth thinks you're a quack.

Successfully perform open-heart surgery on a desert island, but muck up the stitches and cause a scar. Your patient will hold it against you the rest of his life (which you saved).

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#38

Post by scosman » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:55 PM UTC

wow

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#39

Post by bcoates » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:55 PM UTC

Anyone know what format the floppies are expecting? It won't accept a DOS 6.22 install disk from MSDN, maybe it doesn't like DMF?

Also, swapping disks during the install might be an issue, I don't see a button...

Re: Show HN: My x86 emulator written in JavaScript

#40

Post by swamy_g » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 9:56 PM UTC

Dude, this is Grade-A stuff.