Hacker News with Generative AI: x86 Architecture

Revisiting the DOS Memory Models (blogsystem5.substack.com)
At the beginning of the year, I wrote a bunch of articles on the various tricks DOS played to overcome the tight memory limits of x86’s real mode. There was one question that came up and remained unanswered: what were the various “models” that the compilers of the day offered?
x86 Early Kernel Boot Process with Microcode, ACPI Overrides, and Initrd (labcsmart.com)
In this third installment of our x86 Platforms series, following Part 2: UEFI Bootloader Management and Integration with Yocto, we’re going to explore the early kernel boot process in more depth. Specifically, we’ll cover how x86 systems handle microcode updates, ACPI table overrides, and the initrd (initial RAM disk). These elements are critical for configuring the CPU, hardware, and the system during the boot process.
Hardening C Against ROP: Getting CET Shadow Stacks Working (x86.lol)
This post shows you how to use CET user shadow stacks on Linux.
FEX: Fast x86 emulation front end (github.com/FEX-Emu)
More on x86 – The Chip Letter (thechipletter.substack.com)
The Paradox of x86 (thechipletter.substack.com)