Intermediate Training: Linux Systems Programming

Overview

This document outlines the intermediate training in Linux systems programming, focusing on in-depth system programming concepts and practical applications. The training is based on "The Linux Programming Interface" book by Michael Kerrisk and includes a detailed project on creating a Linux memory manager.

Table of Contents

1. The Linux Programming Interface
2. Project: Linux Memory Manager
3. Chapters Covered
4. Practical Labs and Real-World Examples
5. Resources

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The Linux Programming Interface

In the second part of the training, we studied "The Linux Programming Interface," which provided an in-depth understanding of system programming concepts and APIs used in Linux. The first 10 chapters of the book were covered, providing a strong foundation in Linux system programming.

Chapters Covered

1. Chapter 1: History and Standards

   • Overview of UNIX and Linux history.
   • Understanding POSIX and UNIX standards.

2. Chapter 2: Fundamental Concepts

   • Core concepts of operating systems.
   • The shell, users, and groups.
   • Directory hierarchy, files, and links.

3. Chapter 3: System Programming Concepts

   • System calls and library functions.
   • Error handling and portability issues.

4. Chapter 4: File I/O: The Universal I/O Model

   • File I/O operations using system calls.
   • Opening, reading, writing, and closing files.

5. Chapter 5: File I/O: Further Details

   • Advanced file I/O operations.
   • File control operations and nonblocking I/O.

6. Chapter 6: Processes

   • Process creation and termination.
   • Process states and memory layout.

7. Chapter 7: Memory Allocation

   • Dynamic memory allocation.
   • Memory management techniques.

8. Chapter 8: Users and Groups

   • User and group management.
   • Password and shadow files.

9. Chapter 9: Process Credentials

   • Understanding process credentials.
   • Real, effective, and saved user and group IDs.

10. Chapter 10: Time

    • Handling time and date in programs.
    • System clocks and timers.

Additional Topics Covered

• Static and Shared Libraries
  • Creating and using static and shared libraries.
  • Differences between static and shared linking.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of static and shared libraries.

Project: Linux Memory Manager

As a practical application of the concepts learned, we developed a project focused on creating a Linux memory manager. This project involved:

Memory Allocation and Deallocation

• Implementing custom memory allocation and deallocation routines.

Memory Mapping

• Understanding and utilizing memory mapping techniques.

Virtual Memory Management

• Exploring virtual memory concepts and implementing a basic virtual memory manager.

Project Highlights

• Designing and implementing a custom memory allocator.
• Handling memory fragmentation and optimizing allocation strategies.
• Mapping files into memory and managing memory-mapped regions.
• Creating a basic virtual memory manager to handle paging and segmentation.

Practical Labs and Real-World Examples

Each topic is paired with practical labs and real-world examples to enhance learning and retention, making it ideal for those aiming to deepen their understanding of Linux internals and system programming.

Resources

This training provided an in-depth understanding of Linux system programming, focusing on practical skills and advanced concepts. For further reading and practice, consider exploring the following resources:

• The Linux Programming Interface by Michael Kerrisk
• Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment
• Linux Kernel Development by Robert Love
• Memory Management Documentation in the Linux Kernel

Each topic is paired with practical labs and real-world examples to enhance learning and retention, making it ideal for those aiming to deepen their understanding of Linux internals and system programming.