Operating systems, processes and threads

The central question

What happens when a program runs?

First half

OS responsibilities; user and kernel modes; interrupts and system calls; programs and processes.

Second half

Process states, context switching, threads, shared resources and basic interprocess communication.

What you should be able to do

• Explain the distinction between a program, process and thread.
• Trace process state changes and identify why execution moves into the kernel.

A concrete example

Follow a command from the shell through process creation, execution, waiting and termination.

Reading reference

Operating System Concepts, 10th edition: Chapters 1–4. We use selected sections rather than every slide in each chapter.

Lecture materials

Read the detailed Week 1 chapter, with figures, worked examples, practice programs, review questions and required viewing.

Download lecture slides (PDF, 65 slides)