Question

If I set up a Github project for a toy /prog/ OS, would that be a thing that people are actually interested in contributing to?

>>1
Does it run on MIPS?

it depends on what it runs on. if you think that people are going to install your OS on their x86 desktop then no

Sure. People love that kind of projects. Just look at the success of LoseThos and recall the countless contributions to Anonix project that were made in this very place.

Can it be written in Lisp?

>>3
If only someone would invent virtual machines. :(

>>6
A JVM OS would be wonderful.

Ok, an OS is a terrible idea. How about a full-featured, portable text editor?

>>8
I've always wanted to write a vim-a-like in Lua. So if you could do it, that'd be nice.

I'd prefer to contribute to existing and fairly mature projects that have a goal to be usable. Inferno OS, React OS and Haiku are the OS projects that I'm interested in.

Basically, what I think would be cool is a text editor that is both fully portable and contains some neat features that others are lacking.
The key notion, I think, is that it should be able to be carried around on a usb stick and installed on as many systems as possible.
It wouldn't have to be that complex - just have a solid editor with syntax that isn't shitty, and there will always be users who view it as a better option. If they're able to just compile it on whatever workstation they're using, it'll become a highly regarded tool for programmers.

YOU MENA EMACSAN

OS programmers are some of the most anally retentive people on Earth, especially when it comes to system design. That's why there are 10,000 OS projects rather than much contribution.

You notice that Linus Torvalds/Theo de Raadt are both major arseholes? Because that's the only way you get people to play nicely together.

>>11
Already exists. It's called vi.

>>13
No, it's because Linus tried to talk nicely and someone killed herself.