PHASE 14: THE FORGE IS LIT
===========================
Implemented the Nexus Forge, a type-safe Nim-based build orchestrator that
replaces fragile shell scripts with a compiled, structured build system.
Core Components:
- src/nexus/forge.nim: Main CLI orchestrator (STC-1 'tinybox' implementation)
- src/nexus/builder/initrd.nim: Pure Nim TarFS writer with 512-byte alignment
- src/nexus/builder/kernel.nim: Kbuild wrapper (placeholder for Phase 16)
- blueprints/tinybox.kdl: First Standard Template Construct definition
InitRD Builder:
- Manual USTAR tar format implementation
- Strict 512-byte block alignment enforcement
- Correct checksum calculation and zero-padding
- Eliminates dependency on external 'tar' command
Build System Integration:
- Modified build.sh to invoke './nexus build' for InitRD packaging
- Forge-generated InitRD replaces legacy tar command
- Maintains backward compatibility during transition
PHASE 15: TARGET ALPHA - USERLAND UNIFICATION
==============================================
Transformed the Forge from a passive bridge into an active compiler driver
that fully controls NipBox (userland) compilation.
NipBox Compiler Driver (src/nexus/builder/nipbox.nim):
- 3-stage compilation pipeline: Nim → C → Object Files → Binary
- Exact ABI matching with kernel objects (RISC-V lp64d)
- Proper cross-compilation flags (-mcpu=sifive_u54 -mabi=lp64d)
- Structured configuration via NipBoxConfig type
Compilation Flow:
1. Nim transpilation with Sovereign Optimization flags
2. C compilation via zig cc with freestanding flags
3. Linking with membrane layer and userland entry point
Forge Activation:
- forge.nim now invokes build_nipbox() instead of using pre-built artifacts
- Single command './nexus build' compiles entire userland from source
- Eliminates dependency on build.sh for NipBox compilation
Verified Artifacts:
- core/rumpk/build/nipbox: 60KB RISC-V ELF with double-float ABI
- core/rumpk/build/initrd.tar: 62KB USTAR archive with 512-byte alignment
Status:
✅ Target Alpha Complete: Forge controls userland compilation
⏳ Target Bravo Pending: Kernel build still managed by build.sh
⏳ Target Charlie Pending: Registry integration deferred
- hal/virtio_block: Implemented global bounce buffers and Used Ring Polling for stable, synchronous I/O.
- core/fs/sfs: Implemented sfs_write_file to handle SFS file creation and data writing.
- core/ion: Added CMD_FS_WRITE syscall definition.
- core/kernel: Added CMD_FS_WRITE syscall handler and fs/sfs integration.
- npl/nipbox: Added nexus_file_write wrapper and updated Scribe (ed) to use it for saving files.
- Implemented 'virtio-block' driver (hal/virtio_block.zig) for raw sector I/O.
- Updated 'virtio_pci.zig' with dynamic I/O port allocation to resolve PCI conflicts.
- Integrated Block I/O commands (0x600/0x601) into Kernel and ION.
- Added 'dd' command to NipBox for testing read/write operations.
- Fixed input buffering bug in NipBox to support longer commands.
- Added documentation for Phase 10.
- Improved NexShell signal integrity by consolidating ION packet transmission.
- Added 'ls' and enhanced 'matrix' control to NipBox (Sovereign Coreutils).
- Added emergency matrix override to NexShell kernel mode.
- Fixed 'command not found' errors caused by IPC fragmentation.
Markus Maiwald