Files
LithosAnanake/ROADMAP.md
T
Robert Allan JamesandClaude Sonnet 5 cbe7b49a59 Documentation debt sweep: 5 of 6 items resolved, 1 confirmed accurate
- docs/lithosananke/ROADMAP.md + M7.1.md: fixed stale "Branch: lithosananke"
  (no such branch post-split), M7.1's "Design Complete" status (shipped
  and live, redirected to FABRIC*.md), the M8/success-criteria
  self-contradiction (OBSOLETE marking vs. unqualified live criterion),
  and the stale AHCI/SATA claim for M9 (real implementation is
  virtio_blk.c) -- also corrected BLOCK/BUFFER/UPDATE/FLUSH and block
  device abstraction to [x] since both are confirmed live in
  src/word_source/block_words.c and block_subsystem.c.
- Top-level ROADMAP.md: marked OBSOLETE (Captain Bob's call -- more than
  "stale," the architecture/branch topology/terminology it describes no
  longer exist), pointing to docs/lithosananke/ROADMAP.md and
  FABRIC*.md for current status.
- docs/03-architecture/word-acl/DESIGN.md: fixed the ACL Phase 7
  contradiction -- Phase 7 (LithosAnanke kernel parity) is independently
  verified complete per .claude/CLAUDE.md, not "remaining"; removed the
  stale lithosananke-branch-parity framing.
- VM-FLEET-ATTRACTOR-DESIGN-20260705.md's doe-campaign.4th "broken" claim:
  investigated, ran SMOKE-CAMPAIGN live (completes clean, fleet heat
  conserved) -- initially read as contradicting the claim, corrected
  directly by Captain Bob: a clean execution trace doesn't disprove the
  doc's actual argument (no real controlled-experimental-factor
  mechanism). Confirmed accurate, left untouched.
- Isabelle/HOL pipeline-metrics model/C-struct mismatch: confirmed a real
  proof-modeling gap (pm_last_accuracy_num/den has no analogue in the
  real PipelineGlobalMetrics struct), not stale prose -- tracked here
  rather than fixed, matching the .thy file's own scope boundary and
  this project's standing caution that each Isabelle gap needs its own
  subsystem model.

ACL-RWT DoE overhead re-measurement (the 6th item) intentionally not
started -- a full multi-architecture DoE campaign, not a doc-text fix,
holding for explicit confirmation given the scale.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01CXjAPTEKrgY2Mrk25KoLDn
2026-08-26 06:30:36 -04:00

664 lines
26 KiB
Markdown
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters
This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
# StarForth Roadmap: VM → Kernel → OS → FPGA
> **OBSOLETE (flagged 2026-08-26, Captain Bob's call — this is more than "stale," the
> architecture, branch topology, and terminology it describes no longer exist).** This is a
> StarForth-era plan dated 2025-12-14, written before the repo split, before
> Tripod/Stadium/word-level ACL existed, and before "Phase 1 Starting (HAL)" had any of the
> meaning it has now. Kept for historical record only. For current status, see
> `docs/lithosananke/ROADMAP.md` (repo-specific, LithosAnanke roadmap) and
> `FABRIC.md`/`FABRIC-2.md`/`FABRIC-3.md` (design history and current work) — not this
> document.
**Version**: 1.0
**Date**: 2025-12-14
**Timeline**: 2025-2028 (3.5 years)
**Status**: Phase 0 Complete (VM), Phase 1 Starting (HAL)
---
## VISION
**From**: Adaptive FORTH VM running on hosted OS (Linux)
**To**: Self-hosting operating system running on custom FPGA hardware
```
2025 (NOW) 2026 2027 2028
│ │ │ │
V V V V
┌─────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌────────────┐ ┌──────────┐
│StarForth│ → │StarKernel│ → │ StarshipOS │ → │ FPGA │
│ VM │ │(Bare Metal) │(Self-hosting) │ Hardware │
└─────────┘ └──────────┘ └────────────┘ └──────────┘
COMPLETE 6-8 months 12-18 months 12-18 months
```
**Key Principle**: Each phase builds on the previous. No skipping steps.
---
## CURRENT STATE (Phase 0: COMPLETE ✅)
### What We Have
**StarForth VM** - Production-ready adaptive FORTH interpreter:
- ✅ FORTH-79 compliant (780+ tests passing)
- ✅ Adaptive runtime (7 feedback loops, 0% algorithmic variance)
- ✅ Platforms: Linux (HISTORICAL: also L4Re/Fiasco.OC through mid-2026; removed as an active target)
- ✅ Performance: 100M iterations/sec, profile-guided optimization
- ✅ Quality: 9.2/10 codebase rating, strict ANSI C99
- ✅ Validation: Peer-reviewed, 90-run statistical proof
- ✅ Patent pending: Adaptive runtime mechanisms
**Documentation**:
- ✅ 121-page academic paper
- ✅ Scientific defense documents (9 files)
- ✅ Ontology & formal definitions
- ✅ HAL architecture (documented, not implemented)
**Infrastructure**:
- ✅ Make-based build system (40+ targets)
- ✅ DoE (Design of Experiments) framework
- ✅ Reproducibility guarantees
- ✅ CI-ready test suite
### What's Missing
**See**: [docs/GAP_ANALYSIS.md](docs/GAP_ANALYSIS.md) for complete list (37 gaps identified)
**Critical Blockers**:
1. HAL abstraction layer (8 components) - **Blocks everything**
2. StarKernel implementation (13 components)
3. StarshipOS subsystems (12 components)
4. FPGA feasibility & design (19 components)
---
## PHASE 1: HAL IMPLEMENTATION (Months 1-2)
**Goal**: Make StarForth platform-agnostic via Hardware Abstraction Layer
**Why**: HAL is the foundation for all future work. Without HAL, cannot build kernel or port to FPGA.
### Deliverables
| # | Component | LOC | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----|----------|--------|
| 1.1 | Define HAL interfaces (6 headers) | 500 | 1 week | 📋 Planned |
| 1.2 | Implement Linux HAL | 1500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 1.3 | Migrate VM core to HAL | 800 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 1.4 | Migrate physics subsystems | 300 | 1 week | 📋 Planned |
| 1.5 | Validate determinism (DoE) | Testing | 2 days | 📋 Planned |
**Total**: ~3,100 LOC, 6-7 weeks
### Success Criteria
- ✅ All HAL interface headers exist (`hal_time.h`, `hal_interrupt.h`, etc.)
- ✅ Linux HAL implementation complete
- ✅ VM core has zero direct platform dependencies
- ✅ All 780+ tests pass on HAL
- ✅ 0% algorithmic variance maintained
- ✅ No measurable performance regression
### Milestones
**Week 2**: HAL headers defined, Linux implementation started
**Week 4**: Linux HAL complete, VM migration started
**Week 6**: All tests passing, determinism validated
**Blocker Risk**: Low (well-understood refactoring)
---
## PHASE 2: STARKERNEL (Months 3-5)
**Goal**: Boot StarForth on bare metal (UEFI → kernel → "ok" prompt)
**Why**: Kernel enables true OS development and demonstrates platform independence.
### Architecture
```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ UEFI Firmware │
│ • Memory map, ACPI, framebuffer │
└────────────────┬────────────────────────────┘
│ ExitBootServices()
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ StarKernel Boot (boot/uefi_loader.c) │
│ • Collect BootInfo │
│ • Jump to kernel_main() │
└────────────────┬────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ StarKernel HAL (platform/kernel/) │
│ • CPU init (GDT, IDT, interrupts) │
│ • Memory (PMM, VMM, heap) │
│ • Time (TSC, HPET, APIC timer) │
│ • Console (UART + framebuffer) │
└────────────────┬────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ StarForth VM │
│ • vm_create() │
│ • Physics subsystems │
│ • REPL → "ok" prompt │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
### Deliverables
| # | Component | LOC | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----|----------|--------|
| 2.1 | UEFI boot loader | 800 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 2.2 | Physical memory manager (PMM) | 1200 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 2.3 | Virtual memory manager (VMM) | 1500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 2.4 | Kernel heap (kmalloc) | 800 | 1 week | 📋 Planned |
| 2.5 | CPU initialization (GDT/IDT) | 1000 | 1 week | 📋 Planned |
| 2.6 | UART driver (serial console) | 600 | 1 week | 📋 Planned |
| 2.7 | Time subsystem (TSC/HPET) | 1000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 2.8 | APIC interrupt controller | 1200 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 2.9 | Framebuffer driver | 800 | 1 week | 📋 Planned |
| 2.10 | ACPI parsing | 600 | 1 week | 📋 Planned |
| 2.11 | HAL implementation (kernel) | 1000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 2.12 | Build system integration | 500 | 1 week | 📋 Planned |
**Total**: ~11,000 LOC, 12-14 weeks
### Success Criteria
- ✅ UEFI boots on QEMU + OVMF
- ✅ Serial console prints "StarKernel booting..."
- ✅ PMM/VMM allocate memory correctly
- ✅ Kernel heap works (kmalloc/kfree)
- ✅ Interrupts and timers functional
- ✅ VM starts and prints "ok" prompt
- ✅ Can execute simple FORTH code (`1 2 + .``3`)
- ✅ Physics subsystems operational on bare metal
### Milestones
**Month 3**: UEFI boot + serial output working
**Month 4**: Memory managers complete, VM starts
**Month 5**: Full HAL working, "ok" prompt on QEMU
**Blocker Risk**: Medium (complex low-level code, but well-documented)
### Testing Strategy
**Development**: QEMU with OVMF (UEFI firmware)
**Validation**: Physical hardware (Intel NUC or similar)
**Automation**: QEMU headless testing in CI
---
## PHASE 3: STARSHIPOS (Months 6-18)
**Goal**: Self-hosting operating system (compiles itself, runs applications)
**Why**: Demonstrates complete independence from Linux/POSIX, enables FORTH-native ecosystem.
### Architecture
```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ StarshipOS Layers │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Userland │
│ • Shell, editors, compilers, tools │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ System Services │
│ • Filesystem (FAT32 or custom) │
│ • Networking (TCP/IP stack) │
│ • Process manager, scheduler │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Drivers │
│ • Storage (AHCI, NVMe) │
│ • Network (VirtIO, E1000) │
│ • Block/char device abstraction │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ StarKernel (from Phase 2) │
│ • CPU, memory, time, interrupts │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
### Deliverables (Staged)
#### Stage 3A: Storage (Months 6-9)
| # | Component | LOC | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----|----------|--------|
| 3.1 | AHCI driver | 2500 | 1 month | 📋 Planned |
| 3.2 | NVMe driver | 2000 | 1 month | 📋 Planned |
| 3.3 | Block device abstraction | 1500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 3.4 | FAT32 filesystem | 3000 | 1 month | 📋 Planned |
| 3.5 | VFS layer | 2000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
**Subtotal**: ~11,000 LOC, 3-4 months
**Success Criteria**:
- ✅ Read/write files to disk
- ✅ Boot from hard drive (not just RAM)
- ✅ Persistent FORTH definitions
---
#### Stage 3B: Networking (Months 10-12)
| # | Component | LOC | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----|----------|--------|
| 3.6 | VirtIO-net driver | 2000 | 1 month | 📋 Planned |
| 3.7 | E1000 driver | 1500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 3.8 | lwIP TCP/IP stack (port) | 8000 | 2 months | 📋 Planned |
| 3.9 | Socket API (FORTH-native) | 1500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
**Subtotal**: ~13,000 LOC, 3-4 months
**Success Criteria**:
- ✅ Send/receive packets
- ✅ TCP connections work
- ✅ Simple HTTP server in FORTH
---
#### Stage 3C: Process Model (Months 13-15)
| # | Component | LOC | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----|----------|--------|
| 3.10 | FORTH task abstraction | 2000 | 1 month | 📋 Planned |
| 3.11 | Scheduler (round-robin) | 1500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 3.12 | IPC mechanism | 2500 | 1 month | 📋 Planned |
| 3.13 | System call interface | 1000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
**Subtotal**: ~7,000 LOC, 2-3 months
**Success Criteria**:
- ✅ Multiple concurrent tasks
- ✅ Task switching works
- ✅ Tasks can communicate (send/receive)
---
#### Stage 3D: Self-Hosting (Months 16-18)
| # | Component | LOC | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----|----------|--------|
| 3.14 | FORTH compiler (meta-compilation) | 3000 | 1 month | 📋 Planned |
| 3.15 | Assembler (FORTH-hosted) | 2000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 3.16 | Linker/loader | 1500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
| 3.17 | Shell & core utilities | 2500 | 1 month | 📋 Planned |
| 3.18 | Build system (FORTH-based) | 1000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Planned |
**Subtotal**: ~10,000 LOC, 2-3 months
**Success Criteria**:
- ✅ StarshipOS compiles itself
- ✅ No dependency on Linux toolchain
- ✅ Can build applications entirely in FORTH
---
**Phase 3 Total**: ~41,000 LOC, 12-15 months
### Milestones
**Month 9**: Persistent storage working, boot from disk
**Month 12**: Network stack operational, HTTP demo
**Month 15**: Multitasking working, IPC functional
**Month 18**: Self-hosting achieved, OS compiles itself
**Blocker Risk**: High (large scope, complex subsystems)
**De-risking Strategy**: Port existing code where possible (lwIP for TCP/IP, FAT32 reference)
---
## PHASE 4: FPGA FEASIBILITY (Months 6-7)
**Goal**: Determine if FPGA implementation is worth pursuing
**Why**: FPGA is a massive investment (12-18 months). Need go/no-go decision before committing.
### Feasibility Study
| # | Task | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|------|----------|-------------|
| 4.1 | Survey existing FORTH FPGA cores | 1 week | Comparison table |
| 4.2 | Estimate resource usage (LUTs, BRAMs) | 3 days | Resource budget |
| 4.3 | Select target FPGA | 3 days | FPGA selection rationale |
| 4.4 | Prototype stack machine (Verilog) | 2 weeks | Minimal stack machine |
| 4.5 | Synthesize & test on FPGA board | 1 week | Synthesis report |
| 4.6 | Performance analysis | 3 days | Speed vs. software |
| 4.7 | Cost/benefit analysis | 2 days | Go/no-go recommendation |
**Total**: 5-6 weeks
### Decision Criteria
**GO if**:
- ✅ Fits in affordable FPGA (~$200-500 board)
- ✅ Performance ≥ 50 MHz clock (faster than software?)
- ✅ Adaptive runtime feasible in hardware (critical!)
- ✅ Development time justified by benefits
**NO-GO if**:
- ❌ Too large for affordable FPGAs
- ❌ Slower than software implementation
- ❌ Adaptive runtime not synthesizable
- ❌ >18 months to implement (opportunity cost too high)
### Prototype Spec
**Minimal Stack Machine** (proof of concept):
- Data stack (16 entries × 64-bit)
- Return stack (16 entries × 64-bit)
- Basic operations: +, -, *, /, DUP, DROP, SWAP
- Dictionary ROM (256 entries)
- Simple UART I/O
**Target**: Prove concept works in hardware, get resource usage numbers
---
## PHASE 5: FPGA IMPLEMENTATION (Months 8-24)
**Status**: CONDITIONAL (only if Phase 4 says GO)
**Goal**: Hardware FORTH processor on FPGA
### Architecture
```
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FPGA Top Module │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │ Stack Machine│ │ Memory │ │
│ │ • Data stack│ │ Controller │ │
│ │ • Return stk│ │ • Dict ROM │ │
│ │ • ALU │ │ • RAM │ │
│ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │ UART │ │ Timers │ │
│ │ IP Core │ │ Counters │ │
│ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Adaptive Runtime (if feasible) │ │
│ │ • Execution counters │ │
│ │ • Hot-word cache │ │
│ │ • Hardware decay (?) │ │
│ └──────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
### Deliverables
#### Stage 5A: Core Implementation (Months 8-13)
| # | Component | LOC (HDL) | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----------|----------|--------|
| 5.1 | Data stack (16 deep) | 500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.2 | Return stack (16 deep) | 500 | 2 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.3 | ALU (arithmetic/logic ops) | 2000 | 1 month | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.4 | Dictionary memory (ROM) | 1000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.5 | RAM controller | 1500 | 3 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.6 | Instruction decoder | 2000 | 1 month | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.7 | Control FSM | 1500 | 3 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
**Subtotal**: ~9,000 lines Verilog, 4-5 months
---
#### Stage 5B: I/O & Peripherals (Months 14-16)
| # | Component | LOC (HDL) | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----------|----------|--------|
| 5.8 | UART transmitter/receiver | 800 | 2 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.9 | Timer/counter IP cores | 600 | 1 week | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.10 | Interrupt controller | 1000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.11 | Memory-mapped I/O bus | 1200 | 3 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
**Subtotal**: ~3,600 lines Verilog, 2-3 months
---
#### Stage 5C: Adaptive Runtime (Months 17-20)
**CRITICAL UNCERTAINTY**: Can we synthesize this?
| # | Component | LOC (HDL) | Duration | Status |
|---|-----------|-----------|----------|--------|
| 5.12 | Execution frequency counters | 1500 | 1 month | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.13 | Hot-word cache (top-K) | 2000 | 1 month | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.14 | Hardware decay logic | 1000 | 2 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
| 5.15 | Transition tracking | 1500 | 3 weeks | 📋 Conditional |
**Subtotal**: ~6,000 lines Verilog, 3-4 months
**Fallback**: If adaptive runtime doesn't synthesize well, implement in software on soft-core CPU (MicroBlaze/NIOS II) alongside FORTH core.
---
#### Stage 5D: Validation & Optimization (Months 21-24)
| # | Task | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|------|----------|-------------|
| 5.16 | Testbench (all modules) | 2 months | 100% coverage |
| 5.17 | Formal verification (critical paths) | 1 month | Proofs |
| 5.18 | Synthesis optimization | 1 month | Timing closure |
| 5.19 | Hardware-in-loop testing | 2 weeks | Physical validation |
| 5.20 | Performance tuning | 2 weeks | Final optimizations |
**Subtotal**: 4-5 months
---
**Phase 5 Total**: ~18,600 lines Verilog + testbenches, 15-18 months
### Target FPGAs (Options)
| FPGA | Cost | Resources | Speed | Notes |
|------|------|-----------|-------|-------|
| **Xilinx Zynq-7000** | $300 | 85K LUTs, ARM core | 200 MHz | **Recommended**: Hybrid ARM+FPGA |
| Intel Cyclone V | $250 | 77K LEs | 150 MHz | Good alternative |
| Lattice iCE40 UP5K | $50 | 5K LUTs | 50 MHz | Budget option, slower |
| Xilinx Artix-7 | $200 | 33K LUTs | 200 MHz | Pure FPGA, no ARM |
**Recommendation**: Zynq-7000 (ARM + FPGA fabric)
- Run StarshipOS on ARM
- Offload FORTH core to FPGA fabric
- Best of both worlds
### Success Criteria
- ✅ FPGA boots, prints "ok" via UART
- ✅ Can execute FORTH code
- ✅ Performance ≥ software on same workload
- ✅ Adaptive runtime functional (or gracefully degraded)
- ✅ 780+ tests pass on hardware
- ✅ 0% algorithmic variance maintained (if adaptive works)
### Milestones
**Month 13**: Core stack machine working in simulation
**Month 16**: I/O functional, boots on real FPGA
**Month 20**: Adaptive runtime implemented (or fallback decided)
**Month 24**: Full validation, production-ready FPGA core
**Blocker Risk**: VERY HIGH
- HDL expertise required
- Timing closure can be unpredictable
- Adaptive runtime may not be synthesizable
- Resource constraints on affordable FPGAs
---
## INTEGRATION TIMELINE
### Parallel Paths
**Months 1-5**: Sequential (HAL → Kernel)
**Months 6-18**: **Parallel** (OS + FPGA feasibility)
**Months 8-24**: **Conditional** (FPGA impl if feasible)
```
2025 2026 2027 2028
│ │ │ │
V V V V
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 5
HAL Kernel OS FPGA
(2m) (3m) ┌──────────────────(12m)────────────┐ (16m)
│ │ │ │
│ Phase 4: Feasibility (2m) │ │
│ └─────┬─────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
└────────────────┴──GO/NO-GO Decision───────────────┘
If NO-GO: Focus on OS only
If GO: Parallel OS + FPGA work
```
### Resource Allocation (Solo Development)
**Months 1-5** (HAL + Kernel): 100% focus
**Months 6-7** (Feasibility): 80% OS, 20% FPGA study
**Months 8-18** (Parallel): 70% OS, 30% FPGA (if GO)
**Months 19-24** (FPGA finish): 50% OS, 50% FPGA
**Community Contributions**: Welcomed at all stages (see CONTRIBUTING.md)
---
## RISK MITIGATION
### High-Risk Items
| Risk | Probability | Impact | Mitigation |
|------|-------------|--------|------------|
| **HAL breaks determinism** | Low | Critical | Extensive testing, DoE validation |
| **Kernel never boots** | Medium | Critical | Incremental dev, QEMU testing |
| **FPGA too slow** | Medium | High | Feasibility study gates investment |
| **Adaptive runtime unsynthesizable** | High | High | Software fallback on ARM core |
| **Project too large (solo)** | High | Medium | Community outreach, phased delivery |
| **FPGA cost too high** | Low | Medium | Target affordable boards ($200-500) |
### Fallback Plans
**If HAL migration fails**: Continue hosted-only, defer kernel
**If OS scope too large**: Deliver minimal components (storage + network only)
**If FPGA infeasible**: Software-only path is still valuable
---
## DELIVERABLES SUMMARY
### By End of 2025 (Months 1-2)
- ✅ HAL implementation complete
- ✅ StarForth platform-agnostic
- ✅ All tests passing on HAL
### By Mid-2026 (Months 3-5)
- ✅ StarKernel boots to "ok" on QEMU
- ✅ Physics subsystems work on bare metal
### By End of 2026 (Months 6-12)
- ✅ Storage subsystem operational
- ✅ Network stack functional
- ✅ FPGA feasibility determined (GO/NO-GO)
### By Mid-2027 (Months 13-18)
- ✅ Process model working
- ✅ StarshipOS self-hosting
- ✅ (If FPGA GO): Prototype FPGA core functional
### By End of 2027 (Months 19-24)
- ✅ StarshipOS production-ready
- ✅ (If FPGA GO): FPGA core validated
### By 2028 (Future)
- 🎯 Ecosystem growth (applications, libraries)
- 🎯 FPGA optimizations & variants
- 🎯 Community-driven features
---
## SUCCESS METRICS
### Technical Metrics
| Metric | Target | Measurement |
|--------|--------|-------------|
| **HAL overhead** | <5% | Benchmark comparison |
| **Kernel boot time** | <1 second | QEMU timing |
| **OS compile speed** | <10 min | Self-hosting build |
| **FPGA clock speed** | ≥50 MHz | Synthesis report |
| **Test pass rate** | 100% (780+) | All platforms |
| **Determinism** | 0% CV | DoE validation |
### Project Health Metrics
| Metric | Target | Current |
|--------|--------|---------|
| **Code quality** | ≥9.0/10 | 9.2/10 ✅ |
| **Test coverage** | ≥80% | ~90% ✅ |
| **Documentation** | Complete | Strong ✅ |
| **Community** | ≥10 contributors | 1 (solo) |
| **GitHub stars** | ≥500 | TBD |
---
## COMMUNITY & ECOSYSTEM
### How to Contribute
See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for guidelines.
**High-value contributions**:
1. HAL implementations (new platforms)
2. Kernel drivers (AHCI, NVMe, network)
3. FPGA expertise (Verilog, synthesis)
4. Testing & validation
5. Documentation improvements
### Seeking Collaborators
**Needed expertise**:
- Kernel development (UEFI, memory management)
- FPGA design (Verilog/VHDL)
- OS design (filesystems, networking)
- Formal verification (HDL proofs)
**Contact**: rajames440@gmail.com (Robert A. James)
---
## CONCLUSION
**This roadmap is ambitious but achievable.**
**Key Success Factors**:
1. ✅ Strong foundation (Phase 0 complete)
2. ✅ Clear milestones (phased delivery)
3. ✅ Risk mitigation (fallback plans)
4. ⚠️ Community growth (critical for timeline)
5. ⚠️ FPGA decision (feasibility gates investment)
**Realistic Timeline**:
- Solo: 3.5 years (42 months)
- With 3-5 contributors: 2 years (24 months)
- With 10+ contributors: 1.5 years (18 months)
**The vision is clear. The path is defined. Now we build.**
---
**Next Steps**:
1. Read [docs/GAP_ANALYSIS.md](docs/GAP_ANALYSIS.md) for detailed gaps
2. Start Phase 1: HAL implementation
3. Join the project (see CONTRIBUTING.md)
**License**: See ./LICENSE