UNIX system call programming
Next offered in 1996
J Boutland
4 points * 3 hours per week * First/Second semester * Caulfield * Prerequisites: SFT2201 * Prohibitions: CFR3111, CFR3701, RDT2141, SFT3001
Introduction: the UNIX philosophy of simplicity, the broad design of the UNIX system. Basic concepts: the file; directories and pathnames; ownerships and permissions; processes; inter-process communications; system calls. The file in detail: UNIX file-access primitives. The file in context: files in a multi-user environment; files with multiple names; obtaining file information; directories, file systems and special files. Directories: the implementation of a directory; programming with directories; UNIX file systems; UNIX special files. The process: creating processess; synchronising processess; process attributes; example of a command processor. Interprocess communications using the system V features: record locking; system V IPC facilities; semaphores; message queues, shared memory. The terminal: modifying terminal characteristics.
Assessment
Examination (2 hours): 40% * Practical work: 40% * Tutorial presentations: 20%
Recommended texts
Bach M J The design of the Unix operating system Prentice-Hall 1990
Rochkind M J Advanced Unix programming Prentice-Hall, 1985
Stevens W R Advanced programming in the Unix environment Addison-Wesley, 1992
Tanenbaum A S Operating systems design and implementation Prentice-Hall, 1987