Operating Systems is a foundational course in computer science that explores the design, implementation, and behavior of operating systems. This course delves into the core concepts and mechanisms that manage hardware resources, provide a user interface, and execute applications efficiently.
Key Topics:
- Introduction to Operating Systems:
- Definition and purpose of operating systems
- Types of operating systems (batch, multiprogramming, time-sharing, real-time)
- System calls and system programs
- Process Management:
- Process concept, process states, and process control block
- Process scheduling algorithms (FCFS, SJF, Priority, Round Robin)
- Process synchronization and inter-process communication
- Deadlocks and deadlock avoidance
- Memory Management:
- Memory hierarchy (cache, main memory, secondary storage)
- Memory allocation techniques (contiguous memory allocation, paging, segmentation)
- Virtual memory and page replacement algorithms
- File System:
- File system structure and organization
- File system operations (create, delete, read, write, open, close)
- File system implementation (directory structure, disk scheduling algorithms)
- Input/Output Systems:
- I/O devices and their characteristics
- I/O buffering and caching
- Device drivers and interrupt handling
- Security:
- Access control mechanisms (user authentication, access control lists)
- Security threats and vulnerabilities
- Security measures (encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection systems)
Practical Applications:
- System administration: Managing and troubleshooting operating systems
- Software development: Understanding system-level interactions and performance optimization
- Cybersecurity: Analyzing and mitigating security threats
- Cloud computing: Managing virtualized environments
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental concepts of operating systems
- Analyze and evaluate different operating system design choices
- Implement simple operating system components
- Troubleshoot common operating system problems
- Apply operating system principles to real-world scenarios
Prerequisites:
- Basic programming skills (C or C++)
- Data structures and algorithms
- Computer architecture
- Teacher: Ezra Kiplangat Ngetich