Fundamentals of Operating Systems: Architecture and Concurrency
Chapter 1: Introduction to Operating Systems
Components of a Computer System
A computer system consists of four essential components:
- Computer Hardware: CPU, memory, I/O devices.
- Operating Systems (OS)
- Application Programs: Word processors, compilers, web browsers.
- Users: People utilizing the machines.
Operating System Functions and Definition
- User Goals: Users prioritize ease-of-use and performance.
- Server Goals: Servers focus on balancing resource allocation.
- Smartphone Goals: Optimization for usability.
Mastering Databricks: Key Concepts and Features
🌐 Databricks Basics
What is Databricks?
Cloud platform for storing, processing, and analyzing data.
Built on Apache Spark → fast, scalable.
Lakehouse = one place for data lake + warehouse + ML.
Used for ETL, streaming, AI/ML.
Persist data (very important idea):
In-memory DataFrame dies when the cluster stops.
Persisted data = saved as Delta / Parquet / tables → survives cluster restarts.
Cluster = compute
A cluster = group of machines that run notebooks & jobs.
Notebooks & magics
Languages: Python,
Understanding Quick Sort, Search Algorithms, and Sorting Techniques
Q) How does the choice of pivot element affect the running time of the Quick Sort algorithm?
The choice of the pivot in Quick Sort directly affects the balance of the partition and therefore its running time:
Good pivot (middle value): Produces nearly equal partitions, leading to O(n log n) time.
Bad pivot (smallest or largest element): Produces highly unbalanced partitions, leading to O(n²) time.
Thus, choosing an appropriate pivot (like the median or using randomization) improves average performance.
Read More10 Foundational Principles for Secure System Design
10 Core Security Principles in One Line
Economy of Mechanism
Keep it small and simple.
- Do: Minimize features and Lines of Code (LoC) in the TCB.
- Don’t: Add non-critical features in the critical path.
- Why: Fewer bugs, easier audits.
- Example: Remove optional TLS extensions; use minimal parsing libraries.
Fail-Safe Defaults
Default deny; whitelist, not blacklist.
- Do: Permit access only when explicitly allowed; fail-closed on errors.
- Don’t: Expose services publicly by default.
- Example: Firewalls drop traffic
Python Fundamentals: 54 Essential Concepts and Code Examples
Python Fundamentals: 54 Essential Concepts
1. Key Features of the Python Programming Language
- Python is easy to read and write, making it quick for beginners to learn.
- It is an interpreted language, meaning it executes code line-by-line.
- It has a large standard library and supports multiple programming styles (procedural, object-oriented, functional).
Example: Basic Output
print("Hello Python")2. Different Data Types in Python and Their Usage
int– Whole numbers (e.g., 5, -10).float– Decimal numbers
Understanding Computers: Functions, Features, and Generations
Definition of Computer:
A computer is an electronic device that processes input data according to a set of instructions (programs), stores it, and produces meaningful output as information. It performs four basic operations: Input, Processing, Storage, and Output.
It is a data processing machine that can perform arithmetic and logical operations at extremely high speed and accuracy.
It is used in every field today due to its efficiency, reliability, versatility, and automation capabilities.