Welcome to Advanced Operating Systems @ Rice

Overview and Purpose

Operating Systems are ubiquitous, allowing hardware to be used by multiple applications as if each owned the whole thing. The key is virtualization, along with a vast supply of libraries that simplify programming complex and diverse hardware. Although our present ecosystem of Android, iOS, and Windows seems relatively stable, it did not arrive overnight nor is it quite settled about what exactly an operating system should be and do. Additionally, in its role as both presenter and protector of digital information, operating system security is paramount, but security comes at the cost of performance and ease of use. With rising attacks due to missing abstractions, mechanisms, and policies, will operating systems evolve?

In this course, we will explore key operating systems results by reading original discoveries and pair that with modern “hot” operating systems research to get a sense of where the field is going. Specifically, we will explore the structure of operating systems and how that structure impacts performance and security. The aim of this course is to understand the state-of-the-art while preserving what came before so that we can push the frontier of operating systems research. Research will take place through a semester long project occurring simultaneously with readings and discussions. Additionally, this course will instruct on how to develop research proposals, papers, and presentations.

Much is still to be said on the topic, what will you contribute to the discussion?

Prerequisites

This course assumes an introductory operating systems course has been completed (e.g. COMP 421/521). It also assumes a basic understanding of computer architecture.