Summary
SkendaOS is an experimental operating system developed using C# and .NET, built on top of the CosmosOS kernel — a framework that allows developers to create custom operating systems using managed code. The system features a command-line interface (CLI) with built-in utilities for managing users, files, and basic network settings.
SkendaOS currently runs on VMware, supporting FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32 file systems. It includes modules for multi-user authentication, DHCP/DNS configuration, and network utilities like PING and DNS lookup.
Problem
Many developers never get the chance to explore how operating systems work internally due to the steep learning curve of low-level programming languages like C or Assembly. The goal of SkendaOS was to bridge that gap — by demonstrating how a high-level language such as C# (through CosmosOS) could still be used to design and understand kernel operations, file systems, and user management.
Goal / Use Case
- Build an educational and experimental OS using CosmosOS as the base kernel.
- Provide a functional CLI interface with command parsing and user authentication.
- Implement file system operations supporting FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32.
- Develop network modules for DHCP client configuration and DNS resolution.
- Support multi-user login, language settings, and custom nameserver options.
- Serve as a learning platform for exploring how .NET code interacts with low-level system components.
Impact
- Demonstrated the capability of C# and .NET to operate at the system level using CosmosOS.
- Helped deepen understanding of kernel-layer communication, file systems, and network stack design.
- Provided a sandbox for experimenting with OS-level logic such as authentication, configuration management, and network connectivity.
- Inspired exploration into using managed code for embedded and experimental operating system projects.
Development Duration
Developed incrementally over several months as a personal research project. The latest version, SkendaOS 1.6, introduced major updates and improvements:
- [ADDED] 6 new CLI commands:
adduser,dhcp,dns,language,passwd,rmuser - [FIXED] Improved DHCP client reliability
- [ADDED] DHCP renew and release functionality
- [ADDED] Multi-user login system
- [ADDED] Indonesian language support
- [ADDED] Custom nameserver configuration
- [FIXED] Stability improvements for PING and DNS lookup
SkendaOS is designed to run on VMware using a FAT32-formatted virtual disk image, provided as a ready-to-use template.