Run Linux in your browser

Treehouse●JavaScript 7 Comments

Screenshot of a PC emulator running Linux

I came across this on Hacker News and it blew my mind. Fabrice Bellard just created a PC emulator that boots Linux, written in JavaScript. It even works on my iPad.

From the technical notes …

The PC emulator is written in Javascript. 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.

The code is written in pure Javascript using the W3C Typed Arrays. A slightly slower fallback mode is implemented for browsers missing this support. For the exact list of supported browsers, see the FAQ.

It’s officially supported by

  • Firefox 4.x
  • Chrome 11
  • Opera 11.11
  • Internet Explorer 9

Hot damn.

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Comments

  • Anonymous

    Oh my god! Its the beginning of the biggest infinite loop in the history of the web!

    Lets run a webserver on it that hosts a page with javascript linux.

    • http://carsonified.com Ryan Carson

      Now that would be fun :)

      • http://twitter.com/callmetwan Anthony Garritano

        And then let’s run a Windows virtualizer in that just for kicks. It would be the largest piece of irony ever. Windows in a window in a window in a…

  • Anonymous

    Oh my god! Its the beginning of the biggest infinite loop in the history of the web!

    Lets run a webserver on it that hosts a page with javascript linux.

  • Anonymous

     weird, it keeps loading forever for me and it gets stuck on `Freeing unused kernel memory: 124k freed` so I can’t use it… :(

  • http://www.ipad-ebooks.biz/ Jclairy

    It’s a little complex for me to undertand the article fully.

  • grandma

    I think its the coolest thing since Linux since I’m running it on a crappy Windows laptop (actually a great laptop with a crappy OS) – because I have to debug some windows and I sorely miss my Linux and that little JS Linux jewel Fabrice made just gave me a temporary “FIX” to cure my pangs.
    dang what a gem.

    And then there’s the unforgettable fact Fabrice was the same
    idiot who wrote TCC – another jewel I use as often as possible.

    Yes sir ree Bob, Fabrice is a complete idiot considering a million and one people have developed what he’s done…if he worked for me I’d have to fire him or
    he’d probably shove me aside and take my job…

    Based on his “works” I’d say he’s one of those idiots with more talent and imagination
    in his little finger (must be tiny too)
    … than a busload of developers have in their … ok … you get the idea …

    … I kinda think its neat.