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Patrick Ester
Learn the inner workings of operating systems without installing anything!
Read more
Learn the inner workings of operating systems without installing anything!
Read more
Learn the inner workings of operating systems without installing anything!
This course is designed for learners who are looking to maximize performance by understanding how operating systems work at a fundamental level. The modules in this course cover the basics of the C language, processes, scheduling, and memory.
To allow for a truly hands-on, self-paced learning experience, this course is video-free. Assignments contain short explanations with images and runnable code examples with suggested edits to explore code examples further, building a deeper understanding by doing. You’ll benefit from instant feedback from a variety of assessment items along the way, gently progressing from quick understanding checks (multiple choice, fill in the blank, and un-scrambling code blocks) to slowly building features, resulting in large coding projects at the end of the course.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/5fb4q1/intro
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What's inside
Syllabus
Introduction
Processes and Execution
Scheduling
Read more
Syllabus
Introduction
Processes and Execution
Scheduling
Read more
Memory
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Ideal for non-programmers who want to understand operating systems
Covers core concepts like processes, scheduling, and memory
Focuses on building a strong foundation in operating systems for beginners
Utilizes a unique video-free approach with runnable code examples for hands-on learning
Emphasizes understanding concepts rather than relying solely on memorization
Save this course
Save Intro to Operating Systems 1: Virtualization to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save
Save
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Intro to Operating Systems 1: Virtualization with these
activities:
Read Modern Operating Systems by Andrew S. Tanenbaum
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive understanding of modern operating system concepts and architectures by reading this classic textbook.
View
Modern Operating Systems, Global Edition
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting important concepts.
-
Complete the exercises and review questions at the end of each chapter.
-
Discuss the book's concepts with classmates or online forums.
Participate in peer-led discussion groups on operating systems
Show steps
Engage with peers, share knowledge, and clarify concepts through active participation in discussion groups focused on operating systems.
Browse courses on
System Design
Show steps
-
Find or create a peer-led discussion group on operating systems.
-
Attend regular meetings and actively participate in discussions.
-
Present your understanding of specific topics to the group.
Trace operating system execution
Show steps
Develop a deeper understanding of how processes execute by manually tracing the flow of execution through the system.
Browse courses on
Processes
Show steps
-
Choose a simple program and compile it.
-
Start the program in a debugger.
-
Step through the code one instruction at a time, observing how the stack, registers, and memory are used.
-
Use print statements to output the values of key variables at different points in the execution.
-
Repeat the process with different programs of increasing complexity.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Follow tutorials on operating system internals
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of operating system internals by following guided tutorials and exploring source code.
Browse courses on
System Programming
Show steps
-
Find reputable tutorials on operating system internals.
-
Follow the tutorials step-by-step, experimenting with the provided code.
-
Read the source code of real-world operating systems, such as Linux or Windows.
-
Join online communities and forums dedicated to operating system development.
Design and implement a simple memory management scheme
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience with memory management concepts by designing and implementing a simple memory allocator.
Browse courses on
Memory Management
Show steps
-
Research different memory allocation algorithms and data structures.
-
Design your own memory management scheme.
-
Implement the scheme in C.
-
Test the scheme with a variety of programs.
-
Analyze the performance of the scheme and make improvements.
Write a blog post on a specific operating system topic
Show steps
Strengthen your understanding of operating system concepts by writing a blog post that explains a specific topic in detail.
Show steps
-
Choose a specific operating system topic that you are interested in.
-
Research the topic thoroughly, gathering information from various sources.
-
Organize your thoughts and structure your blog post logically.
-
Write the blog post in a clear and concise manner, using examples and illustrations to support your explanations.
-
Proofread your blog post carefully before publishing it.
Build a simple operating system kernel
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive understanding of operating system fundamentals by building a simple kernel from scratch.
Browse courses on
System Architecture
Show steps
-
Learn about the basic components of an operating system.
-
Design the architecture of your kernel.
-
Implement the core functionality of the kernel, such as process management, memory management, and I/O.
-
Test the kernel on a virtual machine or embedded system.
-
Optimize the kernel for performance and reliability.
Read Modern Operating Systems by Andrew S. Tanenbaum
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive understanding of modern operating system concepts and architectures by reading this classic textbook.
View
Modern Operating Systems, Global Edition
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting important concepts.
- Complete the exercises and review questions at the end of each chapter.
- Discuss the book's concepts with classmates or online forums.
Participate in peer-led discussion groups on operating systems
Show steps
Engage with peers, share knowledge, and clarify concepts through active participation in discussion groups focused on operating systems.
Browse courses on
System Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find or create a peer-led discussion group on operating systems.
- Attend regular meetings and actively participate in discussions.
- Present your understanding of specific topics to the group.
Trace operating system execution
Show steps
Develop a deeper understanding of how processes execute by manually tracing the flow of execution through the system.
Browse courses on
Processes
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a simple program and compile it.
- Start the program in a debugger.
- Step through the code one instruction at a time, observing how the stack, registers, and memory are used.
- Use print statements to output the values of key variables at different points in the execution.
- Repeat the process with different programs of increasing complexity.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Follow tutorials on operating system internals
Show steps
Deepen your understanding of operating system internals by following guided tutorials and exploring source code.
Browse courses on
System Programming
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find reputable tutorials on operating system internals.
- Follow the tutorials step-by-step, experimenting with the provided code.
- Read the source code of real-world operating systems, such as Linux or Windows.
- Join online communities and forums dedicated to operating system development.
Design and implement a simple memory management scheme
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience with memory management concepts by designing and implementing a simple memory allocator.
Browse courses on
Memory Management
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research different memory allocation algorithms and data structures.
- Design your own memory management scheme.
- Implement the scheme in C.
- Test the scheme with a variety of programs.
- Analyze the performance of the scheme and make improvements.
Write a blog post on a specific operating system topic
Show steps
Strengthen your understanding of operating system concepts by writing a blog post that explains a specific topic in detail.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a specific operating system topic that you are interested in.
- Research the topic thoroughly, gathering information from various sources.
- Organize your thoughts and structure your blog post logically.
- Write the blog post in a clear and concise manner, using examples and illustrations to support your explanations.
- Proofread your blog post carefully before publishing it.
Build a simple operating system kernel
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive understanding of operating system fundamentals by building a simple kernel from scratch.
Browse courses on
System Architecture
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Learn about the basic components of an operating system.
- Design the architecture of your kernel.
- Implement the core functionality of the kernel, such as process management, memory management, and I/O.
- Test the kernel on a virtual machine or embedded system.
- Optimize the kernel for performance and reliability.
Career center
Learners who complete Intro to Operating Systems 1: Virtualization will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Software Developer
Software Developer
Software Developers are at the forefront of creating and maintaining computer software. They code, design, and test software applications. An understanding of operating systems is key to writing software that optimizes system resources, freeing them up for other applications. This course helps Software Developers build a foundation in how operating systems work, and allows them to maximize performance of their own software applications.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
Software Engineers implement and maintain software applications. For them, understanding how to optimize computer resources is crucial, since the software they develop is used in incredibly diverse and dynamic environments. This course helps Software Engineers to develop a foundation in how operating systems work, which helps them to write software that runs efficiently on different systems.
Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Systems Analysts are responsible for analyzing computer systems and designing ways to improve their performance. This role is crucial for optimizing system resources and ensuring that an organization's technology runs smoothly. This course may be useful for Computer Systems Analysts, since it helps them to build a foundation in how operating systems work. By understanding how operating systems allocate and manage resources, Computer Systems Analysts are better able to optimize system performance.
Database Administrator
Database Administrator
Database Administrators are responsible for maintaining and managing databases. They ensure that data is stored, organized, and retrieved efficiently. This course may be useful for Database Administrators, as it helps them understand how operating systems manage memory. Memory management is crucial for ensuring that databases are able to access and process data quickly and efficiently.
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analysts are responsible for protecting an organization's information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Understanding how operating systems work is key to securing these systems, as it allows analysts to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. This course may be useful for Information Security Analysts, as it provides a foundation in how operating systems manage processes and memory.
Network Administrator
Network Administrator
Network Administrators are responsible for maintaining and managing computer networks. They ensure that networks are running smoothly and securely. Understanding how operating systems work is key to managing networks, as it allows administrators to identify and resolve issues. This course may be useful for Network Administrators, as it helps them to understand how operating systems manage network resources.
Systems Administrator
Systems Administrator
Systems Administrators are responsible for maintaining and managing computer systems. They ensure that systems are running smoothly and securely. This course may be useful for Systems Administrators, as it helps them to understand how operating systems work. By understanding how operating systems allocate and manage resources, Systems Administrators are better able to optimize system performance.
Technical Support Specialist
Technical Support Specialist
Technical Support Specialists provide technical support to users of computer systems. They help users resolve issues with hardware, software, and networks. Understanding how operating systems work is key to providing effective support, as it allows support specialists to identify and resolve issues quickly. This course may be useful for Technical Support Specialists, as it helps them to build a foundation in how operating systems work.
Web Developer
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites. Understanding how operating systems work is key to developing websites that are efficient and performant. This course may be useful for Web Developers, as it helps them to understand how operating systems manage memory and processes. By understanding how operating systems allocate and manage resources, Web Developers are better able to optimize the performance of their websites.
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmers write, test, and maintain computer programs. Understanding how operating systems work is key to writing programs that are efficient and performant. This course may be useful for Computer Programmers, as it helps them to understand how operating systems manage memory and processes. By understanding how operating systems allocate and manage resources, Computer Programmers are better able to optimize the performance of their programs.
Computer Scientist
Computer Scientist
Computer Scientists research and develop new ways to use computers to solve problems. Understanding how operating systems work is key to developing new computer systems. This course may be useful for Computer Scientists, as it provides a foundation in how operating systems work. By understanding how operating systems allocate and manage resources, Computer Scientists are better able to develop new systems that are efficient and performant.
Data Analyst
Data Analyst
Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help organizations make informed decisions. Understanding how operating systems work is key to managing and analyzing large datasets. This course may be useful for Data Analysts, as it helps them to understand how operating systems manage memory and storage. By understanding how operating systems allocate and manage resources, Data Analysts are better able to manage and analyze data efficiently.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
Business Analysts analyze business processes and recommend ways to improve them. Understanding how operating systems work may be useful for Business Analysts, as it helps them to understand how information systems are used in organizations. This course may be useful for Business Analysts, as it provides a foundation in how operating systems work. By understanding how operating systems allocate and manage resources, Business Analysts are better able to understand how information systems are used in organizations.
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, organize, and manage projects. Understanding how operating systems work is not typically required for Project Managers. However, this course may be useful for Project Managers who are working on projects that involve the development or deployment of software.
Sales Manager
Sales Manager
Sales Managers plan, organize, and manage sales teams. Understanding how operating systems work is not typically required for Sales Managers. However, this course may be useful for Sales Managers who are working with customers who are in the technology industry.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5fb4q1/intro
Reading list
We've selected ten books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Intro to Operating Systems 1: Virtualization.
This classic textbook provides a comprehensive overview of operating system concepts, covering topics such as processes, scheduling, memory management, and file systems. It valuable resource for students who want to learn the fundamentals of operating systems.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of computer systems, including operating systems, computer architecture, and networking. It valuable resource for students who want to learn about the hardware and software that make up computer systems.
Provides a detailed overview of the Linux programming interface. It valuable resource for students who want to learn how to write operating system-level programs.
Provides a detailed overview of the Unix programming environment. It valuable resource for students who want to learn how to use Unix effectively.
This textbook provides a modern and up-to-date overview of operating system concepts. It covers topics such as virtual memory, concurrency, and distributed systems. It good choice for students who want to learn about the latest developments in operating systems.
Save
Provides a detailed overview of Docker, a popular containerization technology. It valuable resource for students who want to learn how to use Docker to build and deploy applications.
Save
This online textbook provides a concise and accessible overview of operating system concepts. It good choice for students who want to learn the basics of operating systems without getting bogged down in too much detail.
Provides a detailed overview of site reliability engineering practices. It valuable resource for students who want to learn how to improve the reliability and performance of their websites and applications.
Save
Provides a detailed overview of DevOps practices. It valuable resource for students who want to learn how to improve the efficiency and reliability of their software development and delivery processes.
Save
This novel provides a fictionalized overview of the principles and practices of DevOps. It valuable resource for students who want to learn about DevOps in a more engaging way.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5fb4q1/intro
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Effort
8 weeks of study, 4-6 hours/week
Level
Intermediate
Via
Coursera
Institution
Codio
Instructor
Patrick Ester
Language
English
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Introduction to Operating Systems. It's comprised of four courses:
- Intro to Operating Systems 1: Virtualization (viewing)
- Intro to Operating Systems 2: Memory Management
- Intro to Operating Systems 4: Persistence
- Intro to Operating Systems 3: Concurrency
Good to know
Ideal for non-programmers who want to understand operating systems
Covers core concepts like processes, scheduling, and memory
Focuses on building a strong foundation in operating systems for beginners
Utilizes a unique video-free approach with runnable code examples for hands-on learning
Emphasizes understanding concepts rather than relying solely on memorization
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