8.   Systems


This chapter under major construction.


At this point we know what a computer is and how it is built. We also know how to write Java programs to solve interesting problems. In this section, we'll connect these two ideas by "demystifying the Java abstraction." Details about data representation, including linked lists and objects; compilers, interpreters, and virtual machines; memory and process management; OS, networks and common apps like word processors and browsers.

Systems enable us to work with computers at a high level of abstraction. We describe the basic components of computer systems that support programming; operating systems for interacting with our programs and our data; networks that allow interaction among computers; and applications systems that provide specialized support for particular tasks.