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Animating operating systems algorithms with XTANGO

Published:12 March 1994Publication History
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Abstract

In operating systems courses, students study the major algorithms used in operating systems to manage the various objects and resources in a computing system: processes, files, buffer space, processors, messages, main memory, semaphores, and disk storage. Various classical synchronization problems such as the dining philosophers, the readers and writers, and the producers and consumers with bounded buffer are also analyzed. Even though the computing systems being studied are getting more and more powerful, these algorithms and classical problems are usually analyzed using blackboard, chalk, pencil, and paper. This paper describes an X-windows based package called xtango that was used to animate some of the algorithms and classical problems studied in operating systems. One animation typical of those that have been developed is presented. Students can use these animations during study outside the classroom for a better understanding of the algorithms. Instructors can use the animations to facilitate the presentation of the algorithms in the classroom.

References

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  2. 2 Stephen J. Hartley, "Experience with the Language SR in an Undergraduate Operating Systems Course," ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 1, March 1992. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
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  1. Animating operating systems algorithms with XTANGO

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            • Published in

              cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
              ACM SIGCSE Bulletin  Volume 26, Issue 1
              March 1994
              410 pages
              ISSN:0097-8418
              DOI:10.1145/191033
              Issue’s Table of Contents
              • cover image ACM Conferences
                SIGCSE '94: Proceedings of the twenty-fifth SIGCSE symposium on Computer science education
                March 1994
                414 pages
                ISBN:0897916468
                DOI:10.1145/191029

              Copyright © 1994 ACM

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              Association for Computing Machinery

              New York, NY, United States

              Publication History

              • Published: 12 March 1994

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