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The Design of the UNIX Operating System
This book describes the internal algorithms and the structures that form the basis of the UNIX® operating system and their relationship to the programmer interface. The system description is based on UNIX System V Release 2 supported by AT&T, with some features from Release 3.
471 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 16, 2011
A UNIX bible, not for the just dabbling programmer, but
more the systems level. This was the text for one of
those 3day all day on site classes. Even if you're not
interested in the nitty-gritty it is interesting to
browse through and see how disk blocks are read
or structures linked, for example.
March 3, 2020
An absolute classic! I wax nostalgic every time I see it. Brings back good memories. I know, I know, Linux beat out UNIX, albeit being very nearly the same, but in my day, there was a certain mystique and elegance to a UNIX flavor that I've never quite found replicated in a LINUX distribution. I'm old school, or possibly just old. Still, a great book and permanently recommended!
May 28, 2013
Please provide me the link for reading this book online
February 1, 2017
It is not so much that I enjoyed this book. Rather, I appreciated the thorough overview of the operating system that I interact with for many hours a day.
I think that anyone with an advanced layman's appreciation of *nix would find something in this book, though it is long, and old. At the same time, the historical aspects were nice. The history of Unix.
I am glad that I worked through every relevant word of this book - I skipped the exercises.
I think that anyone with an advanced layman's appreciation of *nix would find something in this book, though it is long, and old. At the same time, the historical aspects were nice. The history of Unix.
I am glad that I worked through every relevant word of this book - I skipped the exercises.
March 20, 2013
Classic, I got it from an ex Sun employee. It is quite old (1986) but really helpful to understand how Unix and Linux Operating Systems work. Especially the chapters about processes (Chapter 4 - 8) and Memory Management. Worth reading if you are interested in Linux/Unix internals.
October 23, 2007
Expensive but well worth it, a must read for any Unix guru
November 22, 2013
It is a great starter for anyone who wants to know what happens in a UNIX box. Classic read.
December 23, 2010
The internals under the original *UX
January 1, 2023
Unix is without a shadow of a doubt, the most important system ever to be design for computers. From Linux, Darwin Os which evolved and became the apple family of operating systems for their various devices, to the hard to penetrate BSD world (and a favorite of mine), Unix is at the very basis of much of modern computer science today. This book, written in the late 80s, showcase many of the foundational system calls, memory mapping algorithms and foundational structures that Unix brought to the world of information. It is a fun read, with quite a few graphical presentations of concepts, it digs into the very core of the system, explaining most of the main mechanisms that direct operations around in a very clear manner. A must read for any system designer, hacker and system administrator.
January 3, 2024
This was actually an awesome read, this book dates from '86 and has aged incredibly well. Okay, I agree the approach to multiprocessing and distributed systems has changed a bit in almost 4 decades and the Internet (and by extension sockets) is slightly more popular nowadays while it was still exotic in '86. But the remainder of the book focuses on a really interesting layers. Other books focus too much on the hardware (either computer architecture or device drivers) or the user space aspects. While this book focuses on a middle layer right at the interaction with between kernel-space and user-space at the implementation of the systemcalls and the underlying algorithms (which often shine in their simplicity).
June 8, 2021
Among Tech books this is a classic and a must read for people to know how operating systems are built and what thought process goes into them. Its a ready reckoner of sorts, a place where you go looking for patterns. Its a timeless book.
July 5, 2020
This is pure bliss! Gives a thorough idea of how Unix operating systems algorithms are designed and quite philosophical too!
November 21, 2021
This was a re-read of Maurice Bach's classic. Brilliant, succinct, and to the point. It has just enough detail, C code wise, to convey the fundamental simple elegance of the design. Recommended.
December 27, 2021
Good and still not dated overview of UNIX design, covering not only How but Why.
March 21, 2017
Seems like the best book to get the info on how UNIX really is designed. Great diagrams, details and information.
January 30, 2008
ver good book
Currently reading
September 23, 2008I love this book !
Another super-interesting book ! ! !
[--Review pending--]
Another super-interesting book ! ! !
[--Review pending--]
July 27, 2010
Still amazes me...
Currently reading
February 20, 2011i have started to reading this now...
January 22, 2013
This Is the Best Book I have ever read..
February 6, 2013
A great starter to understanding how one would implement a unix kernel.
Want to read
May 9, 2014good
April 4, 2015
masterpiece
Read
December 11, 2015An interesting read from a historical perspective.
Read
December 26, 2016to learn
February 2, 2017
The core principles are explained well and helps understand the evolution of the operating system. Must read
June 30, 2021
A good book to understand original Unix design and algorithm.
Want to read
July 20, 2018213
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
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