CSC103 How Computers Work

Notes1a

Course Introduction

1. Class List
2. Goals
3. Outline
4. Prerequisites
5. Mechanics
   • Assignments, Quizzes, Paper(!)
   • Textbook
   • TA Lab hours

Operating Systems

1. Operating Systems [p.57]
   • What
   • History:
     • Unix (1970)
     • DOS (1980)
     • MacOS (1984)
     • Windows (1987), NT, ME, XP
     • Linux (1991)
     • MacOS X (2001)
   • Five Components
2. User command interface (Windows, icons, clicking, etc.)
3. Memory Management [p.58]
   • Size: bits(b) and Bytes(B)
   • Hierarchy:
     • registers,
     • cache,
     • RAM,
     • magnetic disk,
     • optical disk, ...
   • Management
     • Virtual memory [p.60]
4. Process Management [p.60]
   • Time Sharing / Multitasking [p.59]
   • Swapping [p.60]
   • Unix $ top
5. Devices
   • Devices [p.30]
   • Device drivers & BIOS
   • Interrupts [p.26]
     • Keyboard
     • Disk
6. File System [p.134] (later)
7. Booting-Up [p.20]
   • BIOS