25. 05. 2025 | Natalie Bezděková

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Terry Davis, a gifted programmer with a serious mental illness, created a completely unique operating system called TempleOS, which he programmed himself in his own language called HolyC – a combination of C and C++. His work gained the attention of the technology community and gradually built a small but loyal online fan base around it.

Davis began suffering from severe manic states in 1996, which led to frequent stays in psychiatric facilities. Initially, doctors diagnosed him with bipolar disorder, but his diagnosis was later changed to schizophrenia. During these episodes, he was often delusional, for example about aliens or secret agents. He also claimed to have communicated with God, who allegedly commanded him to create an operating system for the so-called Third Temple of God.

Based on this vision, Davis began development of TempleOS in 2003. He programmed the system himself, without a team or corporate support, and the result was more than 100,000 lines of code. The system features its own kernel, compiler, and even a simple flight simulator. The 640×480 resolution and limited 16-color palette were intentional – they were meant to make it easier for kids to create graphics for God, according to Davis.

TempleOS also includes unconventional elements, such as the “After Egypt” package, a game in which the player communicates with God using a “stopwatch oracle” that generates random text, resembling either a spiritualism tool or the language of the religious rapture.

Terry Davis, a gifted programmer with a serious mental illness, created a completely unique operating system called TempleOS, which he programmed himself in his own language called HolyC – a combination of C and C++. His work gained the attention of the technology. Terry Davis tragically died on August 11, 2018, when he was hit by a train. Fans today remember him as a complicated personality who managed to create something extraordinary despite mental illness.

Zdroj foto: www.pexels.com

Natalie Bezděková

I am a student of Master's degree in Political Science. I am interested in marketing, especially copywriting and social media. I also focus on political and social events at home and abroad and technological innovations. My free time is filled with sports, reading and a passion for travel.