http://www.unununium.org/ was an earlier attempt at this, and I think it was even self-hosting, but the site no longer even hosts their source code.
To contrast, Unununium was intended to use python to make rapid prototyping of novel userland functionality a reality. Pycorn looks like it's primarily a teaching tool. Both are cool conceptually.
does anyone know if there is one like this written in common lisp?
How available it is today I don't know but I suppose the old LISP-machines had OSes written in LISP.
do you know if its possible to find emulators? or even the machines themselves?
thanks!
There is an emulator available as a commercial product to those few folks who have a symbolics application still running. My coworker who used to work for symbolics has a lisp machine sitting in his den. And yes, it works.
I know one written in elisp... :)
Emacs is a good editor, but you can't seriously consider it an OS -- it doesn't even have threading.
I am living in one right now and it doesn't feel like it is not.