Chapter 7Processes
In a typical operating system, a process represents a program in execution along with associated system resources, which may be physical (such as processor cycles and memory) or abstract[1] (such as the number of files the process can open). The kernel provides an illusion of concurrent execution by scheduling resources between ready-to-run processes. On a multiprocessor or multicore system, more than one process may execute truly concurrently.
In their landmark 1965 paper,[2] Jack B. Dennis and Earl C. Van Horn defined a process as a “locus of control within an instruction sequence . . . an abstract entity which moves through the instructions of a procedure as the procedure is executed by a processor.”
In earlier chapters, ...
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access