Traditionally, a vade mecum (pronounced ‘‘VAHdee MAYkem’’) is a laboratory manual
that guides the student step by step through complex procedures. Operating systems are
complex mixtures of policy and mechanism, of algorithm and heuristic, and of theoretical
goals and practical experience. This vade mecum tries to unify these diverse points of
view and guide the novice step by step through the complexities of the subject. As a text,
this book is intended for a first course in operating systems at the undergraduate level.
