Operating Systems

Operating systems are essential to modern computing. They manage processor time, memory, devices, and data, ensuring that these resources can be used efficiently, reliably, and securely. What fundamental problems must they solve to make this possible?

This textbook approaches operating systems from a problem-oriented and technology-independent perspective. Rather than focusing on particular operating systems or implementation-specific technologies, it explores the enduring principles, models, and algorithms that underpin their design and operation.

The book systematically develops the core concepts of process management, memory management, concurrency, file systems, and input/output. It also examines protection mechanisms, system services, and operating system architectures. Modern topics such as virtualization, distributed systems, energy efficiency, and artificial intelligence are placed in the context of these fundamental concepts.

Numerous exercises with detailed solutions enable readers to apply the concepts, assess their understanding, and explore the material in greater depth.

The book is intended primarily for computer science students in the early stages of their studies, as well as for anyone who wants to understand not only how to use operating systems, but also how they work and why they are designed as they are. What fundamental problems do they solve? Which principles and algorithms do they employ? And how do their essential mechanisms work together?