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    If you're writing code for an Arduino you don't need an OS.
    – stib
    Commented Jul 27, 2018 at 20:16
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    printf is not a great example. It's explicitly defined by the C spec as a function that's only available in "hosted" implementations (meaning running on a kernel, as opposed to "freestanding", which may not require one). And on most platforms, printf is a just a function provided by your libc that does a bunch of stuff on your behalf (which eventually includes a syscall to print to stdout). It's really no different from calling libvlc_media_list_add_media or PyObject_GetAttr, except that some printf implementation is guaranteed linkable without adding extra non-standard -ls.
    – abarnert
    Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 9:49
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    This exists! (not affiliated, just thought it was cool) erikyyy.de/invaders Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 15:28
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    This really depends on your precise definition of the terms "executable", "kernel", "run", "need", "talk to", and "go through". Without a precise definition of those terms, the question is un-answerable. Commented Jul 29, 2018 at 9:07
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    @JörgWMittag -- If you're going to be pedantic, then why are you only scrutinizing just those terms and only this question? The truly salient term that needs defining is "operating system", which is questionably applied to MS-DOS (and similar single-task runtime environments). If there's a few (misinformed) people that think that the PC BIOS is an OS, then is everything up for grabs? I think not. The OP uses those words in a context that seems either reasonable (esp. if non-native English speaker) or non-technical.
    – sawdust
    Commented Jul 30, 2018 at 4:16