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The Linux Boot Sequence, Visualised
Posted by Mark Wilson at 7:40 AM on November 13, 2008
Most of us don't appreciate all the processes involved with our OS's boot sequence; we're far more interested in watching that status bar fill. In this visualization of the Linux boot sequence, each function is a node, and each line connecting the nodes represents a call, direct branch, or indirect branch. The image itself was created via logarithm interpreting the process as electrical signal, so if we're reading this correctly, it's almost as if you're looking at the brain pathways that boot Linux (oh you computer science junkies will have a field day with that analogy). [Flickr via MAKE]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
m4ximusprim3
Posted 10:10 AM 13/11/08
@Bsjskier: It should look almost exactly the same. The same calls would be made, just slower and with more memory swapping due to less ram.
Really the only things that should change should be loading different device drivers for different hardware.
m4ximusprim3
PornoDaddy
Posted 10:10 AM 13/11/08
@BiZarRroBALlmeR: LMAO!! Classic.
PornoDaddy
BiZarRroBALlmeR
Posted 10:00 AM 13/11/08
Is that like a geek money shot?
BiZarRroBALlmeR
future-proof
Posted 9:57 AM 13/11/08
All your base are belong to logarithm.
future-proof
dwight-schrute
Posted 9:56 AM 13/11/08
I now want real time video of this as my boot up screen.
dwight-schrute
Lewis
Posted 9:53 AM 13/11/08
Cool. I was watching this special on Nova about fractals. Once you know what to look for, you see that they are everywhere in nature.
Lewis
four12
Posted 9:49 AM 13/11/08
The wobbly bit at the top right... the boot sequence was checking Giz feeds? :-)
four12
Bsjskier
Posted 9:48 AM 13/11/08
That's pretty awesome. Can we get one showing Windows booting on an ideal setup, and then on a much-less-than-spectacular (unoptimized; clunky) setup?
Bsjskier
maztec
Posted 10:35 AM 13/11/08
@dwight-schrute: Second, with variable coloring based on time! Then have it dump a screen shot of the final results on your desktop.
maztec
UofITom
Posted 10:23 AM 13/11/08
needs to be animated
UofITom
nutbastard
Posted 10:23 AM 13/11/08
oooh, looks like sector 10063192002 has the wrong number of blocks, better run fsck.
nutbastard
r0y
Posted 10:41 AM 13/11/08
Status bar? Huh? I'm more interested in watching the kernel boot messages and init scripts starting. What status bar? SLACKWARE 4 EVA!
r0y
tech-tard
Posted 11:24 AM 13/11/08
As slow as windows boots from absolute "off", I wouldn't be surprised if it looked like a long string that looped around itself at the end - some would call it a noose.
tech-tard
Cobol_Mongol
Posted 11:23 AM 13/11/08
@future-proof:
hilarious!! as if like an xkcd joke!
Cobol_Mongol
MagnoliaBoy
Posted 11:06 AM 13/11/08
Hey look! It's a Strange Attractor!! Git 'em boys!
MagnoliaBoy
jkr's bold comment
Posted 11:30 AM 13/11/08
The Windows one is all white, so meh. The Mac one is just a single point, because thats more beautiful, sure it take a long time for the point to form, but some think it's worth it. Or maybe it's just an infinite loop (see what I did there).
jkr's bold comment
Framewerk
Posted 12:13 PM 13/11/08
why doesn't my linux start up like that?
Framewerk
NaldoKlient
Posted 12:00 PM 13/11/08
I'm assuming the long line at around 2'oclock is checking the voltage between the computer and the electrical outlet and th smaller starburst at 7'oclock is the display.
NaldoKlient
enchantedgoose
Posted 1:17 PM 13/11/08
one of those for windwos would look so random. there would probably be like a smiley face...a random square....an apple logo.......
enchantedgoose
unspellable
Posted 5:09 PM 13/11/08
Hehe: it's erratic meanderings will be fodder for the *BSD phreaks (that includes the Mac fanboys and me, too).
Especially since it looks like Puffy gone angler.
unspellable
AlanIn4D
Posted 5:06 AM 14/11/08
@dwight-schrute: +1, this is FAR more attractive to watch as a computer turns on. artsy.
AlanIn4D
GiuseppeFalcon
Posted 10:27 AM 14/11/08
I wonder of that little cluster to the left are the kernel calls.
GiuseppeFalcon
Vega27
Posted 9:26 AM 20/11/08
This is awesome, but this would BE EVEN BETTER, if they could animate each step this so we can visually see the cornucopia of art here.
Vega27