INTRO(10)                                               INTRO(10)

     NAME
          intro - introduction to hosted and native implementation

     DESCRIPTION
          Inferno provides a collection of compiler suites, libraries
          and two closely-related kernels to span a range of host and
          native platforms.  Section 10 of this manual is divided into
          subsections numbered in the same way as the main manual:
          10.1 for commands, 10.2 for library and kernel routines, and
          10.6 for file formats.

          Section 10.1 describes the various compiler and utility
          commands provided to support compilation and cross-
          compilation of native kernels.  These are derived from
          similarly named programs of the system Plan 9 from Bell
          Labs, converted to ANSI C to provide a consistent, portable
          environment for cross-compiling any native kernel on any
          host platform.

          Section 10.2 describes the functions publicly available to
          the authors of kernel code, particularly device drivers
          (real and virtual).  This section will eventually be much
          expanded, but this makes a start.  See the description of
          the conventional header files below.

          Section 10.6 describes include the native object file
          formats, the Inferno (Plan 9) object library (archive)
          format, and system configuration files.

          Section 10.8 describes bootstrap programs and procedures for
          native Inferno systems.

        Native kernel declarations
          The SYNOPSIS subsections in section 10.2 do not show the
          header files needed for the standard kernel declarations.
          The primary combinations summarised below:

               #include "u.h"
               #include "../port/lib.h"
               #include "mem.h"
               #include "dat.h"
               #include "fns.h"
               #include "../port/error.h"

               furthermore, added in IP code:
               #include "../ip/ip.h"

               furthermore, in hardware device drivers:
               #include "io.h"
               #include "ureg.h"

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     INTRO(10)                                               INTRO(10)

               furthermore, in network interfaces or ether drivers:
               #include "../port/netif.h"

          There might also be specific include files needed by drivers
          on particular platforms or to use specialised kernel inter-
          faces.  The easiest method is to check the source of
          likely-looking drivers nearby.

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