Introduction to Operating Systems

CSC 213 - Operating Systems and Parallel Algorithms - Weinman

1. In his seminal tome on the "science" of computer science, Herb Simon¹ writes

   No artifact devised by man is so convenient for this kind of functional description as a digital computer. It is truly protean, for almost the only ones of its properties that are detectable in its behavior...are the organizational properties. ... For the rest, almost no interesting statement that one can make about an operating computer bears any particular relation to the specific nature of the hardware. A computer is an organization of elementary functional components in which, to a high approximation, only the function performed by those components is relevant to the behavior of the whole system. (p. 17-18)

   Herbert A. Simon. The Sciences of the Artificial. MIT Press (1996)²

   Select the sentence from today's reading that you believe is most closely related. Briefly (3-5 sentences) explain whether your choice supports, denies, or complicates Simon's assertion.
2. The reading lists four central operating system design goals. Select the one you believe is most important. Briefly (3-5 sentences) explain why you chose this goal over the others.
3. Imagine you are computer hardware engineer Tom Kilburn in 1956 starting work on the MUSE/Atlas system. Write one or two paragraphs to one of the following recipients about the idea for the system call:
   • colleague Alan Turing (who knows a lot about computation but nothing about physical computers), expressing and explaining your excitement over the prospect;
   • Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (a funding agency), convincing them of the importance and potential impact of supporting the project.

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