The book Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective introduces readers to the important and timeless concepts upon which computing systems are based, showing how these concepts affect the correctness, performance, and usability of programs.

Most books on computer systems are written from the manufacturer's perspective, describing how to implement the hardware or software of the system. This book is written from the programmer's perspective, describing how application programmers can use their knowledge of a system to write better programs.

The practical approach of the book – with hundreds of exercises and problems – will help students understand what happens inside modern computers and prepare for more advanced coursework in topics of computing systems, such as compilers, computer architecture, operating systems, and networking.

Contents:

• A tour of computer systems
• Part I: Program structure and execution: Representation and manipulation of information
• Representation of programs at the machine level
• Processor architecture
• Optimizing program performance
• The memory hierarchy
• Part II: Program execution in a system: Linking
• Exceptional control flow
• Virtual memory
• Part III: Program interaction and communication: I/O at the system level
• Network programming
• Concurrent programming
• Appendix A: Error handling

Randal E. Bryant is a Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University and has been teaching undergraduate and graduate courses for about 40 years. He has published over 150 technical articles, and the results of his research are used by major computer manufacturers, including Intel, IBM, Fujitsu, and Microsoft. He has been recognized for his research work by the Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

David R. O'Hallaron is a Professor of Computer Science and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and has been teaching computer systems at the undergraduate and graduate levels for 20 years. In 2004, he received the Herbert Simon Award for Teaching Excellence from the CMU School of Computer Science.