Contents Preface xix About the Authors XXXV 1 A Tour of Computer Systems 1 1.1 Information Is,Bits Context 3 1.2 Programs Are Translated.by Other Programs into Different Forms 4 13 It Pays to Understand How Compilation Systems Work 6 14 Processors Read and Interpret Instructions Stored in Memory 7 1.4.1 Hardware Organization of a System 8 1.4.2 Running the hello Program 10 1.5 Caches Matter 11 1.6 Storage Devices Form a Hierarchy.14 1.7 The Operating System Manages the Hardware 14 1.7.1 Processes 15 1.7.2 Threads 17 1.7.3 Virtual Memory 18 1.7.4Fi1es19 18 Systems Communicate with Other Systems Using Networks 19. 19 Important Themes 22 1.9.1 Amdahl's Law 22. 1.9.2 Concurrency and Parallelism 24 1.9.3 The Importance of Abstractions in Computer Systems 26 1.10 Summary 27 Bibliographic Notes 28 Solutions to Practice Problems 28 Part I Program Structure and Execution 2 Representing and Manipulating Information 31 2.1 Information Storage 34 一 2.1.1 Hexadecimal Notation 36 2.1.2 Data Sizes 39 viiContents t " ,. Preface xix About the Autho~s xxxv 1 A Tour of Cqmputer ~ystell!;s 1 1.1 Information Is,Bits + Context ''.l L2 L3 1.4 Programs Are Translated .by Other P,rograms into Different Forms 4 It Pays to Understand How_ Compilation Systems Work 6 1.5 Processors Read and-Interpret Instructions Stored in Memory 7 1.4.1 Hardware Organization of a System 8 1.4.2 Running the hello Program 10 Caches Matter 11 1.6 Storage Devices Form a Hierarchy. 14 1. 7 The Operating System Manages the Hard~are 14 1.7.1 Processes 15 1.7.2 Threads 17 1.7.3 Virtual Memory 18 1.7.4 Files 19 LS Systems Communicate with Other Systems Using Networks 19. 1.9 Important Themes 22 1.9.1 Amdahl's Law 22· '•· 1.9.2 Concurrency and Parallelism 24 1.9.3 The Importance of Abstractions in Computer Systems 26 1.10 Summary 27 Bibliographic Notes 28 Solutions to Practice Problems 28 Part I Program Structui:e and.Execution 2 Represepting and Manipulating Information Jl 2.1 Information Storage 34 2.1.1 Hexadecimal Notation 36 2.1.2 Data Sizes 39 vii