Concurrent Systems: An Integrated Approach to Operating Systems, Database, and Distributed Systems (International Computer Science Series) [Paperback]

Jean Bacon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201416778 | ISBN-13: 978-0201416770 | Publication Date: March 1993

Concurrent Systems answers the need for a book on concurrent programming which serves to integrate operating systems and database concepts, and provides a foundation for later courses in these areas.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

((shelf classification)) Operating Systems

Concurrent Systems
Operating Systems, Database and Distributed Systems: An Integrated Approach

Second Edition

Jean Bacon

Concurrent Systems presents a modern approach to software systems, ideally suited to the needs of today¿s students and programmers. It focuses on those concepts in concurrency that play a vital role in the design of operating systems, database systems, distributed systems and communication networks.

Key features of the book include:

· an exceptionally clear introduction to operating systems emphasizes the fundamental concept of process while also covering traditional operating system functions

· the principles of concurrency are developed from simple shared memory systems through to modern multiprocessor and distributed environments

· an evolution of the concepts leads naturally to transactions, to concurrency control and to recovery for distributed databases

· an object-oriented paradigm is used as a unifying framework throughout

· case studies in UNIX, the Mach and CHORUS microkernels, and a transaction processing system show how designs are implemented in practice

Concurrent Systems is an ideal text for undergraduates on operating systems courses that focus on the central role of concurrency in modern software technology. Programmers, software engineers and systems designers will also gain new insights into the integrated nature of modern system software.

Jean Bacon is a Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Cambridge, with a wealth of experience in teaching courses in operating systems, distributed systems and computer architecture, reflected here in this book. Her main interests lie in the field of distributed computing, for which Cambridge is recognized as a centre of excellence.

Visit Addison Wesley Longman on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.awl-he.com/computing
http://www.awl.com/cseng

((A-W logo)) Addison-Wesley
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--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jean Bacon is a Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Cambridge, with a wealth of experience in teaching courses in operating systems, distributed systems and computer architecture, as reflected in this book. Her main interests lie in the field of distributed computing, in which Cambridge is recognized as a centre of excellence.

0201177676AB04062001 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 616 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley (March 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201416778
• ISBN-13: 978-0201416770
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,590,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great content but hard to read, November 27, 1999

By 

Mark Meyer (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Concurrent Systems (2nd Edition) (International Computer Science Series) (Paperback)

I used this book for a "Distributed Computing" college course that I taught in 1999. So I read it pretty thoroughly. Overall I can't find many errors, and I thought the range of content was excellent, very thorough. In some places she is more complete than Tanenbaum. But I had to really struggle with some of the writing. It just wasn't very clear. Her sentences tend to be very long and complex which obfuscates the meaning.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent content, but poor writing., December 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Concurrent Systems (2nd Edition) (International Computer Science Series) (Paperback)

In terms of its content, this is definitely the best introductory text to operating system and concurrency. Unfortunately, Jean Bacon's writing style has caused tremendous headaches among her students at Cambridge. This is how one student used to put it:"Every word has its meaning, but when they were put together, they make no sense in Jean Bacon's book!" My personal experience was that I had to read the same paragraph at least 3 to 4 times in order to understand the message. In short, this book is for serious reader only. You need all the patience, and determination in order to finish reading this book. (like us, who had to answer the exam questions she set!)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Four stars., June 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Concurrent Systems (2nd Edition) (International Computer Science Series) (Paperback)

Jean definately knows her content well, and she gets a little too excited at times.

The content is very consise and detailed. However due to this, the book requires close attention while reading (so don't read this too late at night).

I feel the other reviews on this book are rather harsh, and I must admit that the first few chapters tend to be badly written, but the rest are ok.