Operating systems concepts are part of every serious computer science education curriculum. They represent the basis for understanding the inner workings of computer systems.

The distinctive trait of the current publication compared to similar ones in the same field is that it is composed of two parts: the first part covers the main concepts of operating systems, which are unlikely to change in the near future; the second part details the implementation of the techniques covered in Part 1 in recent operating systems. The latter by nature is a fast-paced and changing field. This separation makes it easy for the authors, as well as the readers, to update the text and knowledge, respectively, when technologies get outdated and a new version of the book needs to be released.

The writing style is clear and easy to follow. Screenshots and figures make it easy for the reader to grasp the theoretical concepts. Additionally, the text is interspersed with historical information about scientists who contributed to the field. This helps put things into context.

Understanding operating systems is composed of 16 chapters.

Part 1 (chapters 1 through 12) begins with a definition of operating systems (chapter 1), followed by a discussion of main memory management techniques (chapters 2 and 3). Single processor and multiprocessor systems are covered in chapters 4, 5, and 6. Chapters 7 and 8 detail the management of devices and files, respectively. Operating systems for networks are covered in chapters 9 and 10. Systems security is explained in chapter 11, whereas the last chapter of the first part explores systems management.

Part 2 (chapters 13 through 16) explores operating systems in practice and shows how the techniques discussed in Part 1 are implemented in them. This includes Unix, Windows, Linux, and Android.

The most noteworthy aspect of the book is that is has been written and organized as a textbook. There is an exhaustive list of resources for instructors, including an instructor’s manual, PowerPoint slides, test bank, and corresponding solutions to exercises appended at the end of each chapter. The resources are available free from the book’s companion website.

Adding to the quality of the text, and the clear learning objectives stated at the beginning of each chapter, Understanding operating systems is a perfect candidate for anyone wishing to study or teach operating systems. The book does not assume any prerequisites, except being moderately familiar with the use of an existing operating system.

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