DOCS

docs/build/toolchain.md

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+# Build Toolchain
+
+BoredOS is built cross-compiled from a host system (such as macOS or Linux) to target the generic `x86_64-elf` platform.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+To build BoredOS, you need the following tools:
+
+1.  **x86_64 ELF GCC Cross-Compiler**:
+    -   `x86_64-elf-gcc`: The C compiler targeting the freestanding overarching ELF environment.
+    -   `x86_64-elf-ld`: The linker to combine object files into the final `boredos.elf` kernel binary and userland variables.
+
+2.  **NASM**:
+    -   Required to compile the `.asm` files in `src/arch/` and `src/userland/crt0.asm`. It formats the output as `elf64` objects to be linked alongside the C code.
+
+3.  **xorriso**:
+    -   A specialized tool to create ISO 9660 filesystem images.
+    -   *Why?* `xorriso` packages the compiled kernel, Limine bootloader, and asset files (fonts, images, userland binaries) into the final bootable `boredos.iso` CD-ROM image.
+
+4.  **QEMU** (Optional but highly recommended for testing):
+    -   `qemu-system-x86_64` is used for rapid emulation and testing.
+
+## Installation (macOS)
+
+You can easily install the complete toolchain using Homebrew:
+
+```sh
+brew install x86_64-elf-binutils x86_64-elf-gcc nasm xorriso qemu
+```
+
+## Installation (Linux)
+
+Depending on your distribution, the installation commands vary. Note that some distributions may require you to build the `x86_64-elf` cross-compiler from source if it isn't available in their default repositories.
+
+### Debian / Ubuntu
+```sh
+sudo apt update
+sudo apt install build-essential bison flex libgmp3-dev libmpc-dev libmpfr-dev texinfo nasm xorriso qemu-system-x86
+```
+*(Note: You will need to build the `x86_64-elf` cross-compiler from source or find a compatible PPA, as it is not in the default Debian/Ubuntu repositories.)*
+
+### Arch Linux
+Arch Linux provides the regular tools in its standard repositories and the cross-compiler via the AUR:
+```sh
+sudo pacman -S nasm xorriso qemu-full
+yay -S x86_64-elf-gcc x86_64-elf-binutils
+```
+
+### Fedora
+```sh
+sudo dnf install make gcc gcc-c++ bison flex gmp-devel mpfr-devel libmpc-devel texinfo nasm xorriso qemu
+```