Book Reviews

The diversity of terms used by different designers to denote similar functions increases the difficulty of comparing several operating systems–a problem which the authors of this excellent book have managed very well. They present four different operating system techniques in a manner which makes comparative analysis possible. The systems discussed–the Burroughs B5500 Master Control Program, CDC Scope 3.2, T.H.E. Multiprogramming System, and the Cambridge University Titan Supervisor–were chosen because of their effect on subsequent operating system developments. To facilitate the comparison of such diverse systems, the authors have attempted to examine each one under the same headings and, wherever possible, in the same terminology. Thus, for example, the Burroughs terms "slate" and "bed" have been replaced by the more descriptive terms "dispatch queue" and "event queue."