Operating Systems builds on the foundation of the Systems and Cyber-Security theme delivered in Computer Systems by considering the software that operates computers. The module examines concepts of operating system design, structure, and operation, including the securing of computer systems. Operating Systems also introduces students to distributed application development via programming network sockets. The module will allow students to work with common operating system tools to allow computer management and will also allow students to develop simple operating systems of their own.

The aim of Operating Systems is to strengthen students' understanding of computer operation by moving beyond the hardware representation examined in Computer Systems to how computer resources are managed to provide services to users. The module will require students to work on the command line of the computer, as well as write their own tools and simple operating systems to understand how a computer operates to a standard user. At the end of this module, students should have a thorough understanding of the computer as a system and thereby the limitations and vulnerabilities thereof.

*Course content subject to change