Member Avatar for MasterHacker110

I am wondering that if you can make a C# program that is like C++. My meaning with that is that it doesnt require a "Runtime" to work.
I ask this becuase i want to write a operating system completely in C# (yes with very few assembly involved).

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Short answer: yes — you can produce a C# program that runs as a standalone Windows EXE without the user separately installing “the .NET runtime,” but that needs one of two approaches and some tradeoffs. By default C# compiles to Common Intermediate Language (IL) and runs on the Common Language Runtime (CLR), so ordinary builds expect a runtime present. (learn.microsoft.com)

Two practical paths for a standalone EXE today:

  • Bundle the runtime and dependencies into a single file (self-contained, single-file publish). This is simple to use for apps but still includes runtime components inside the binary.
  • Produce a native AOT binary (no JIT/runtime required) using .NET’s Native AOT; that yields a true native executable but is platform-specific and imposes limits (dynamic code, some reflection, runtime code generation features). Example CLI patterns: dotnet publish -r win-x64 -c Release -p:PublishSingleFile=true --self-contained true or set <PublishAot>true</PublishAot> in the project and publish for the target RID. See the single-file and Native AOT docs for details and constraints. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the goal is a C# operating system (as asked): it has been attempted (research OS work and community projects exist) but it’s not the same as writing normal C# apps. Projects like Cosmos let you build a bootable kernel from managed code by translating IL into low-level code, but you still need low-level boot, HAL and driver work (often in assembly or tightly constrained code) and to test in VMs. Read the Cosmos docs and a short OS-dev primer before diving in. (cosmosos.github.io)

Practical steps: start small — publish a console app self-contained so you understand deployment; try Native AOT for a true native EXE and inspect runtime limitations; if you want an OS, study Cosmos, use a VM, and be prepared to implement boot/HAL pieces (answering ’s kernel/HAL point). and pointed to the right examples; use those projects as learning platforms rather than expecting C# alone to hide all low-level complexity.

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Member Avatar for skatamatic

How do you plan on writing something as advanced as an OS with a language that you are not even sure can compile to executable files? Do you know what a kernel is? How about a HAL?

Member Avatar for Godfear1

Have you seen the open source Cosmos operating system kit ()

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