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CS439: Principles of Computer Systems

Dr. Alison N. Norman
taught in conversation and collaboration with Dr. Mootaz Elnozahy

Schedule for Fall 2026

This schedule, and the links contained in it, are subject to change during the semester. Exam dates, however, are final.

Reading assignments are generally from one of the required textbooks:

Readings from additional sources are linked from the schedule. All reading assignments are recommended and are most beneficial when completed before class on the schedule day.

 Date

 

Topic

Suggested Readings

Mon Aug 24 Introduction & Themes Reading: OSTEP: Chapter 2, except 2.6
Wed Aug 26 History of Operating Systems
Fri Aug 28 Attend discussion section
Section 0 Problem Set due 10:59p
(Electronic Submission through Canvas)
Mon Aug 31 Processes
 Reading: OSTEP: The Process, Process API, and Limited Direct Execution up to 6.3
Project 0 available
Wed Sep 2 More Processes and CPU Scheduling Reading: OSTEP: CPU Scheduling
and The Multi-Level Feedback Queue
Fri Sep 4 Section 1 Problem Set in section
Shell Group Planning and Reflections document due at 11:59p
Mon Sep 7 Labor Day
Wed Sep 9 Threads and Too Much Milk!
Reading: OSTEP: Concurrency and Threads API (up to 27.3)
Fri Sep 11 Project 0 Design Doc rough draft due in section
Project 0 Code due at 5:59p
Project 0 Design Doc due at 10:59p
Shell Group Evaluation document due at 11:59p
Mon Sep 14 Locks and Semaphores Reading: OSTEP: Locks (skip 28.8-28.11) and
Semaphores (up to 31.5)
Project 1 available
Project 1 group registration due 10:59p
Wed Sep 16 Deadlock and Monitors
 Reading: OSTEP: Common Concurrency Problems, pages 1-11 (stop at "Deadlock Avoidance via Scheduling"), and
Monitors
Fri Sep 18 Section 3 Problem Set in section
Threads Group Planning and Reflections document due at 11:59p
Mon Sep 21 More Synchronization
 Reading: MH: Atomic Transactions: Intro and Durability (5.1 and 5.4)
Wed Sep 23 The Importance of Safety
  1. Read the Therac-25 paper, following these tips.
    If you are off-campus, this link through the UT libraries Web proxy may be useful.
  2. Read this New York Times article and at least the first two pages of this one.
    To get access to the online NYT through UT, follow the library's instructions.
Fri Sep 25 Project 1 Design Doc rough draft due in section
Project 1 Code due at 5:59p
Project 1 Design Doc due at 10:59p
Threads Group Evaluation document due at 11:59p
Project 2 available
Mon Sep 28 Synch Review
 Project 2 group registration due 10:59p
Wed Sep 30 Exam 1 7p-9p in UTC 2.102A
Fri Oct 2 No Discussion Section
Userprog Group Planning and Reflections document due at 11:59p
Mon Oct 5 Memory: Overview
In-class Exam Review
 Reading: OSTEP: Address Spaces and
Mechanism: Address Translation
Project 2 Stack Check Due
Wed Oct 7 Virtual Memory: Mechanisms Exam 1 Retakes in UTC 2.102A from 7p-9p
Reading: OSTEP: Paging: An Introduction
Fri Oct 9 Userprog Group Reflections document due at 11:59p
Mon Oct 12 Virtual Memory: Policies
 Reading: OSTEP: Paging: Smaller Tables and Swapping: Policies
Wed Oct 14 Virtual Memory: More Policies
Fri Oct 16 Section 6 Problem Set in section
Concurrency Bugs Topic Learning Session in Section
Project 2 Code due at 5:59p
Userprog Group Evaluation document due at 11:59p
Project 3 available
Mon Oct 19 Heap Memory Management
and Garbage Collection
 Reading: OSTEP: Memory:API
Project 2 Code Reviews begin
Project 3 group registration due 10:59p
Wed Oct 21 Stable Storage and File Systems Reading: OSTEP: I/O Devices and Hard Disk Drives
Fri Oct 23 Data Structures and Design Document rough draft due in section
Synchronization Concepts Topic Learning Session in Section
Project 3 Data Structures and Design Document due at 10:59p
VM Group Planning and Reflections document due at 11:59p
Mon Oct 26 File System Efficiency
 Reading: OSTEP: File System Implementation,
Locality and The Fast File System, and
SSDs
Wed Oct 28 File System Usability
 Reading: OSTEP: Files and Directories
Fri Oct 30 Section 8 Problem Set in section
Synchronization Code Topic Learning Session in Section
VM Group Reflections document due at 11:59p
Mon Nov 2 File System Consistency Reading: OSTEP: Crash Consistency: FSCK and Journaling
Wed Nov 4 Exam 2 7p-9p in UTC 2.102A
Synch Topic Retakes 9p-10p in UTC 2.102A
Fri Nov 6 No Discussion Section
Project 3 Code due at 5:59p
VM Group Evaluation document due at 11:59p
Project 4 available
Mon Nov 9 Networks and Their Abstractions
In-Class Exam Review
 Reading: An Introduction to Computer Networks, Chapter 1, sections 1-1.3, 1.9-1.14, by Peter L. Dordal
Project 4 group registration due 10:59p
Wed Nov 11 Sockets and Parallel Programming Exam 2 Retakes in UTC 2.102A
Fri Nov 13 Filesys Group Planning and Reflections document due at 11:59p
Mon Nov 16 Parallel and Distributed Computing
 Reading: OSTEP: Multiprocessor Scheduling
Distributed Systems for Fun and Profit, by Mikito Takada, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3
Wed Nov 18 Fancy File Systems
 Reading: NFS
The Google File System
Fri Nov 20 Project 4 Code due at 5:59p
Project 4 Design Doc due at 10:59p
Filesys Group Evaluation document due at 11:59p
Mon-Fri Nov 23-27 Thanksgiving! with a bit of Deadlock Revisited on the side :) Reading: Deadlock Notes
from Dr. John T. Bell at University of Illinois, Chicago
Mon Nov 30 The Security Mindset Reading: OSTEP: Why Security,
Introduction to OS Security, and
Authentication
Wed Dec 2 Putting It All Together
Fri Dec 4 No Discussion Section
Mon Dec 7 Something Different VM and FS Retakes 5p-8p in UTC 2.102A
Final Exam is at the time and location scheduled by the registrar
NOT at the time given on the registrar's tentative schedule, but at a uniform time with my other sections of CS439.
The registrar typically publishes the final exam schedule in early October.

The exam may be as late as Monday, Dec 14th.