https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=99900
Bug ID: 99900
Summary: feature request: 16-bit x86 C compiler / support
compilation of (VirtualBox) BIOS
Product: gcc
Version: unknown
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: normal
Priority: P3
Component: c
Assignee: unassigned at gcc dot gnu.org
Reporter: adrelanos at whonix dot org
Target Milestone: ---
"Oracle VM VirtualBox, the world's most popular open source, cross-platform,
virtualization software"
According to the VirtualBox developers it is not possible to build the
VirtualBox BIOS with gcc or any other Free Software compiler.
Quote VirtualBox developer https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/12011
"We would be glad to fix this, but we lack the resources to do so as our BIOS
code has simply outgrown what bcc (which we were using before and which was
always very limiting) can do. We have failed to find another free 16-bit x86 C
compiler up to the job,"
"generating 16-bit code is one thing, but supporting e.g. far/near pointers"
It is currently compiled using the Open Watcom compiler which is under the
Sybase Open Watcom Public License license. That license is not FSF approved.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sybase_Open_Watcom_Public_License
Even stated it being a nonfree license.
https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#Watcom
The VirtualBox BIOS source code can be found here:
* https://www.virtualbox.org/browser/vbox/trunk/src/VBox/Devices/PC/BIOS
* https://github.com/mirror/vbox/tree/master/src/VBox/Devices/PC/BIOS
feature request: Could you please develop a 16-bit x86 C compiler that supports
compilation of VirtualBox BIOS / any BIOS?
