---
## Overview
**NeKernel** is a modern, multi-platform microkernel designed for security, modularity, and performance. It features a custom VFS, advanced memory management, a flexible DDK (Driver Development Kit), and robust userland tools. NeKernel is built for research, education, and next-generation OS development.
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## Features
- **Modular Microkernel Architecture**: Clean separation of kernel, drivers, userland, and frameworks.
- **Custom Filesystems**: (OpenHeFS), catalog/fork model (NeFS), and metadata handling.
- **Memory Management**: Custom heap manager, page manager, and safe memory utilities. Kernel heap allocations are protected with metadata and CRCs. Userland and kernel memory separation.
- **Device and Driver Model**: Abstracted device interfaces for storage, network, and more. DDK (Device Driver Kit) for writing drivers in C/C++ with kernel RPC and memory-safe APIs.
- **Userland Tooling**: CLI tools for formatting, checking, and managing filesystems, disk image utilities, and system utilities. All tools interact with kernel or disk images using well-defined APIs.
- **System Call Interface**: low-level syscall ABI, with a stable high-level SDK for user applications. System calls are routed through a syscall manager and abstracted by `libSystem`.
- **Security and Robustness**: kernel and tools (bounds checks, safe memory copy/set, error codes). Kernel panics and error reporting for critical failures. No dynamic code loading in kernel space.
- **Documentation and Specs**: Full LaTeX specifications for OpenHeFS and NeFS, with on-disk structure diagrams and API documentation. Markdown docs for tools and usage.
- **Cross-Platform Boot Support**: Bootloader and platform code for AMD64 and ARM64, with handover and hardware abstraction layers.
- **Testing and Debugging**: Logging, debug output, and kernel test framework headers. (Note: Fuzzing/sanitizer support is planned but not fully implemented.)
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## Getting Started
### **Requirements**
- [MinGW](https://www.mingw-w64.org/) (cross-compiling)
- [Clang](https://clang.llvm.org/)
- [NASM](https://nasm.us/)
- [NeBuild](https://github.com/nekernel-org/nebuild) (build system)
### **Build & Run**
```sh
git clone https://github.com/nekernel-org/nekernel.git
cd nekernel
./setup_x64.sh
./debug_ata_x64.sh # For generic ATA PIO target (QEMU)
```
- For ARM64 or other targets, see the scripts in `src/boot/`.
---
## Structure
- `src/kernel/` — Core kernel source (scheduling, memory, VFS, drivers)
- `src/boot/` — Bootloader, platform bring-up, and early system code
- `src/libDDK/` — Driver Development Kit (DDK) and sample drivers
- `src/libSystem/` — Userland system call interface and runtime
- `public/tools/` — CLI tools (mkfs, fsck, open, manual, etc.)
- `public/frameworks/` — Userland frameworks (CoreFoundation, DiskImage, etc.)
- `docs/` — Specifications, design docs, and diagrams
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## Security
- **Vulnerability Disclosure:**
Please report security issues privately via email or GitHub Security Advisories.
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## Documentation
- [OpenKnowledge](https://docs.nekernel.org/)
- [Filesystem Specifications](docs/tex/)
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## Contributing
- Please run `format.sh` before committing (uses `.clang-format`).
- All contributions (code, docs, fuzzing, security) are welcome!
---
## Authors & Credits
- **Amlal El Mahrouss** — Lead Developer and Kernel Architect.
- [Full contributor list](https://github.com/nekernel-org/nekernel/graphs/contributors)
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## License
This project is licensed under the [Apache-2.0 License](LICENSE).
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© 2024-2025 Amlal El Mahrouss & NeKernel contributors. Licensed under the Apache 2.0 license.
