Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective (2nd Edition)

For Computer Systems, Computer Organization and Architecture courses in CS, EE, and ECE departments.

Few students studying computer science or computer engineering will ever have the opportunity to build a computer system. On the other hand, most students will be required to use and program computers on a near daily basis. Computer Systems: A Programmer’s Perspective introduces the important and enduring concepts that underlie computer systems by showing how these ideas affect the correctness, performance, and utility of application programs. The text's hands-on approach (including a comprehensive set of labs) helps students understand the “under-the-hood” operation of a modern computer system and prepares them for future courses in systems topics such as compilers, computer architecture, operating systems, and networking.

Visit the CSS:AP web page http://csapp.cs.cmu.edu for more information and resources.

Customer Reviews:

DO NOT buy the Kindle version

By John - September 14, 2011

There are too many typos. It's a complete waste of money and time trying to decipher some of the formulas, where variables like x' can sometimes mixed up with x'', where there is poor spacing between different formulas, etc. There are even basic word typos ("buy" for "by").

I'm having to purchase the physical edition.

UPDATE: I bought the physical version. Wow. All those typographical errors in the Kindle version really screwed me over for the upcoming homework. Complete formulas were left out. Avoid.

Example: (|V| o) ....is actually supposed to be (|V|>>0). There are MORE significant examples than this one, where incorrect notation can make or break your understanding.

Great book in general

By C. Lee - June 7, 2011

I am a software engineer who already have 5 years experience. When I was at University of Penn., we used this book(1st edition) as supplement. However, I found it is just deserved to be used as main textbook: clean, friendly writing style, concrete examples to explain abstract system concepts, and interesting exercises with detailed solution. It's the number one system textbooks in my mind. Even though I have worked for 5 years, this books remain it's place on my bookshelf.

The only little problem of this book, both the strength and weakness, is that it chooses x86 architecture to explain the system concepts. x86 is great architecture, but from an embedded system developer point of view, I will strongly recommend the authors to introduce some embedded processors topics(like ARM): they are small, powerful enough to drive most of mobile devices, and consumes "much" less power, and more importantly, they are the rising stars in the post PC world.

Needs Editor, Otherwise Fine So Far

By 3xamine - August 24, 2011

This review is for the Kindle version. I have only read through section 2, and I have found more typographical errors than any other book I have read. There are even careless errors in the practice problems and their solutions. Also, the formatting of some inline math and LaTeX is terrible. As far as the material goes, I'm a student, so I'm probably not a great judge. It's at least clear and comprehensible. Maybe even thorough.

Update:
After having read through chapter 6, either the error rate has died down or I just stopped noticing. Also, the accompanying online material is great, especially the labs.