Operating Systems covers the core principles behind modern computer systems. You'll explore process management, memory allocation, file systems, and scheduling algorithms. The course dives into how different OS components interact, security mechanisms, and virtualization. You'll also get hands-on experience with system calls, threading, and synchronization techniques.

Is Operating Systems hard?

Operating Systems has a reputation for being tough, and it can be challenging. The concepts are pretty abstract, and you'll need to think about multiple system components interacting simultaneously. That said, if you've got a solid programming background and enjoy problem-solving, you'll probably find it fascinating. The workload can be heavy, with lots of coding projects, but the skills you learn are super valuable.

Tips for taking Operating Systems in college

Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
Code, code, code - implement concepts like process schedulers or memory managers
Visualize abstract concepts - draw diagrams of memory layouts or process states
Practice explaining concepts to others - it'll help solidify your understanding
Stay on top of assignments - projects can be time-consuming
Watch "Silicon Valley" for a fun take on tech culture
Read "The Design of the UNIX Operating System" by Maurice J. Bach for deeper insights

Common pre-requisites for Operating Systems

Data Structures and Algorithms: This course covers fundamental programming concepts and techniques for organizing and manipulating data efficiently. You'll learn about arrays, linked lists, trees, and graph algorithms.
Computer Architecture: This class explores the inner workings of computer hardware. You'll study processor design, memory hierarchy, and how software interacts with hardware components.
Systems Programming: In this course, you'll get hands-on experience with low-level programming. You'll learn about system calls, memory management, and working with C or C++ in a Unix-like environment.

Classes similar to Operating Systems

Distributed Systems: Explores how multiple computers work together to solve problems. You'll learn about networking, consensus algorithms, and fault tolerance.
Computer Networks: Focuses on how data is transmitted between computers. Covers protocols, network architecture, and security concepts.
Database Systems: Dives into how data is stored, retrieved, and managed at scale. You'll learn about data models, query optimization, and transaction processing.
Cloud Computing: Examines large-scale distributed computing systems. Covers virtualization, containerization, and scalable application design.

Computer Science: Covers a broad range of computing topics, from theory to practical application. Students learn programming, algorithms, and various subfields of computing.
Computer Engineering: Combines computer science with electrical engineering. Students learn to design and develop computer hardware and software systems.
Information Technology: Focuses on the practical aspects of computing in business environments. Students learn about network administration, cybersecurity, and IT management.
Software Engineering: Emphasizes the systematic development of large-scale software systems. Students learn software design principles, project management, and quality assurance techniques.

What can you do with a degree in Operating Systems?

Systems Software Developer: Designs and builds low-level software that interacts directly with computer hardware. They might work on device drivers, firmware, or the OS itself.
Cloud Infrastructure Engineer: Develops and maintains large-scale distributed systems. They work on optimizing performance, scalability, and reliability of cloud platforms.
Embedded Systems Engineer: Creates software for specialized devices like smart appliances or automotive systems. They need to optimize code for resource-constrained environments.
Cybersecurity Analyst: Protects computer systems and networks from threats. Knowledge of OS internals is crucial for understanding and mitigating security vulnerabilities.