Operating Systems
Design and Implementation
by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Albert S. Woodhull · first published 1987
61% recommend38% neutral1% critical
Why HN recommends it
Readable, even funny OS textbook that explains concepts through the MINIX source code, so readers see design ideas in a real microkernel. Suits kernel-curious developers and students starting out on operating systems.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Operating Systems Design and Implementation is ideal for introductory courses on computer operating systems. Written by the creator of Minux, professional programmers will now have the most up-to-date tutorial and reference available today. Revised to address the latest version of MINIX (MINIX 3), this streamlined, simplified new edition remains the only operating systems text to first explain relevant principles, then demonstrate their applications using a Unix-like operating system as a detailed example. It has been especially designed for high reliability, for use in embedded systems, an
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There are two books that taught me how systems work. - One system in isolation - Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces. Covers persistence, virtualisation and concurrency. This book is available for free at https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~remzi/OSTEP/ - Multiple systems, and how data flows through them…
on “Ask HN: How to learn proper systems programming?” ↗Books I'll treasure forever: - Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment by Stevens - Operating Systems: Design and Implementation by Tanenbaum - The Art of Unix Programming by ESR - Parsing Techniques by Grune and Jacobs - Applied Cryptography by Schneier
on “Ask HN: What language-agnostic programming books should I read?” ↗Actually, I'd recommend the latest version of OSDI, which is fairly recent, and contains the complete source for MINIX3 (in text form, and on CD): http://www.amazon.com/Operating-Systems-Design-Implementatio...
on “How to Write an Operating System” ↗I love his Operating Systems book [0] which explains OS Concepts using Minix code [0] - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0131429388
on “Andrew S. Tanenbaum's FAQ” ↗Also, there aren't many OSs that have books to teach you about them, but MINIX does. Operating Systems: Design and Implementation by Andrew Tanenbaum. I suppose the value you get for free in MINIX 3, you pay for if you want the book...
on “Ask HN: Examples of Microkernels?” ↗I'd think that Tanenbaum's book Operating Systems: Design and Implementation (OSDI) and the included MINIX3 source would be high on the list of reading for any kernel-curious developers.
on “Roll Your Own UNIX Clone” ↗Try this book ( http://www.amazon.com/Operating-Systems-Design-Implementatio... ). It is written be Andrew S Tanenbaum, the author of minix. The book contains whole of minix source code. Nothing beats learning from reading actual codes. Linus Torvalds was…
on “OS” ↗…as well? (I don't know much about selling on Amazon so I don't even know if this is a viable suggestion). > And don't believe that people who have a free copy will never buy a formal edition Yep! Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces is an excellent book which the authors have made freely available online. After reading it for a while, I purchased a physical copy, both to support the authors for their excellent…
on “Ask HN: Should I give away my book for free?” ↗I highly recommend "Operating Systems: Design & Implementation" by Tanenbaum. It is a very clear book dealing with a lot of design and implementation details of operating systems. It has an in depth discussion of the Minix source and design…
on “Learning OS programming?” ↗OSDev ( http://wiki.osdev.org/Main_Page ) has a bunch of great stuff. Start at the top and work your way down. Also, Operating Systems Design and Implementation, aka the Minix book, is an amazing resource.( http://www.amazon.com/Operating-Systems-Design-Implementatio... )
on “Learning OS programming?” ↗…Security--: Kernel Exploitation: Attacking the Core http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Kernel-Exploitation-Attacking-Co... Most 'hacking' books are goofy. This one is very good and doubles nicely as a hackers operating systems text. Web Application Hackers Handbook http://www.amazon.com/Web-Application-Hackers-Handbook-Disco... Very nice overview for web concerns. --Operating Systems-: Operating System Design and Implementation http://www.amazon.com/Operating-Systems-Design-Implementatio...…
on “Ask HN: Fundamental texts for serious web engineers?” ↗Tanenbaum's ineffable "Operating Systems Design and Implementation" and MINIX (a learning OS) existed then, and was what Linus Torvalds studied before creating Linux: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0131429388
on “Operating System Development Series (2008)” ↗Get the Minix book: http://www.amazon.com/Operating-Systems-Design-Implementatio...
on “Linux Kernel Modules in Haskell (2009)” ↗Thank you for sharing this list of OS dev resources! I would also recommend Andrew Tanenbaum's "Modern Operating Systems" or "Operating Systems: Design and Implementation" (the MINIX book), to anyone interested in OS dev. I read it when I was teenager (around 15), and I really really enjoyed it. Tanenbaums' books were one of the few truly addicting textbooks. As a side, "Structured Computer…
on “Writing a simple operating system from scratch (2010) [pdf]” ↗Operating Systems: Design and Implementation - Andrew S. Tanenbaum Always a good one when you want to brush up on arcane knowledge.
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best written programming books?” ↗