Operating Systems for Summer Class

[jktexas1]

Hello,

I'm wondering about other people's experience taking the fundamentals of operating systems class. I was thinking about taking it over an 8 week summer semester to catch up a bit taking only that class. I heard that socket programming was the topic of the programming assignments in this course but I haven't confirmed that. I have experience doing multiple user Socket programs in C and his syllabus says that we would be given access to a linux server just like we were in my networks class. Did you do a lot of this type of programming and do you think this is a good course choice for an 8 week summer course?

[Catfish666]

Operating system programming (create your own OS):
http://wiki.osdev.org/Main_Page
http://jamesmolloy.co.uk/tutorial_html/

System programming (very often POSIX is taught):
http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave/C/
http://beej.us/guide/bgnet/
http://www.advancedlinuxprogramming.com/

jktexas1 wrote:

do you think this is a good course choice for an 8 week summer course?

In comparison with what?

In theory, the more knowledge you gain the better (so go for it).
In practice, time and brain matter are limited resources, and we really can't choose for you.

[z0My6Up4]

I personally think that 8 weeks is too short a period for you to learn the fundamentals of operating systems. At minimum I would expect a good OS course to span two or perhaps three semesters. Have you thought about studying operating system design yourself?

Look at Minix3!
If you would like to study it yourself during your free time I would recommend you take a look at minix which is a small open source Unix like operating system that was originally designed for teaching OS students: http://www.minix3.org/
(This is what Linus Torvalds studied first before he created the Linux kernel)

Also, if you like the look of it there is a book written especially for teaching the minix operating system called "The minix book - Operating Systems Design & Implementation" 3rd Edition by Tanenbaum and Woodhull. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Operating-Systems-Implementation-Prentice-Software/dp/0131429388/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397057664&sr=8-1&keywords=operating+system+design+and+implementation (The book is a bit pricey now but you can get second hand copies much cheaper)

I personally think you will get more out of doing it yourself by reading the book at a realistic pace rather than cramming for an 8 week course.

Hope this helps

[ResidentBiscuit]

I would expect a good OS course to span two or perhaps three semesters

This is no longer a course, then. It has become a specialization. You can learn the fundamentals of operating systems in a semester.

[z0My6Up4]

This is no longer a course, then. It has become a specialization. You can learn the fundamentals of operating systems in a semester.

Well no. I would say it is not possible to learn and absorb the fundamentals of operating systems in 8 weeks. I took a module in Operating Systems as part of my computer science degree and it lasted for 9 months - not 8 weeks. I do not hold myself out to be a 'specialist' but I certainly understand the fundamentals of the subject matter. At best an 8 week course will be likely to expose students to only a small subset of the subject. It is a complex subject that takes time to absorb.

EDIT: I certainly do not want to put the original poster of his / her proposed course though. As catfish wrote above - the more knowledge you gain the better for you.

[z05DSL3A]

a "course" means different things in different parts of the world.

[ResidentBiscuit]

I was referring to 15 week course (standard in the US). 45 weeks of one subject (9 credit hours minimum) would be considered a specialization for a bachelor's. Doesn't mean you're a specialist, just means you emphasized that particular subject.