So, over the past week, I've spent a large chunk of my life writing code for my CS411 class (Operating Systems II). The concept is simple, they give us some skeleton code for a bare-bones operating system written in Java (don't ask me why they chose java) and we are expected to flush out the implementation. It doesn't really sound that difficul until you really start diving into the code and realize what a freakin' mess the internal structure is. Everything is modular and fairly seperated, but the damn documentation is *so* damn bad, half the time, i have to do a code trace just to figure out what a damn method does -- there's very little explanation.

anyway, i've basically been living in the computer lab with my group these last few days, trying to get this project done. we were required to build a system to execute arbitrary user code (ie: handle system calls) in a multiprogramming environment (ie: virtual memory handling). long story short, we were passing about half of the tests and we were almost 100% positive that our code to handle the virtual memory (write/read) was correct, but it wasn't passing the tests.

after five hours in the lab, we realize that one of our primary data structures to hold the active user processes was declared as static (big no-no) and that the constructor was re-initializing the LinkedList everytime we created a new process (BIGBIGBIG NO-NO). Anyway, we added one check:

if(pid == 0)
     freePages = new LinkedList();


and out tests went from 48% to 100%.

it was really cool that we had figured it out, we had gotten into crunch time (project was due in less that 4 hours), but also kind of disheartening. We could have been done ages ago. chalk it up to experience, i guess.

anyway, it's friday night, i'm gonna go have some reckless fun.

i love you all.

UserProcess.java: unleashing the evil

eric

Friday 13 May 2005 at 9:45 pm

Two comments

i've been trying to figure out and produce exact tones and measurments with pigments mixed with oil to convey the look and feel of form with a paint brush, but what you're doing sounds way harder. and way less fun. i'm still drunk from last night. are you coming down for spring break? me, wispy, and val are getting a house. and it has a pool. you should come over. i love you. i feel misserable. i need you. count o monte cristo. SUCH A GOOOOOOOOD BOOK. fuck it . i hate. cant feel my membrain. i was tryingto get thrown out of the Sisque brew pub last night by screaming Esteban but it didn't really work out. good bye, i love you. rock n roll fever!
lord bearded
Friday 13 May 2005 at 9:45 pm
I understood less than half of that post...
Anyways, I hope that EricOS turns out well, and you totally have to spruce it up with cool stuff like 3D scrollbars and uh... gradients and stuff.
Jon K
Friday 13 May 2005 at 9:45 pm

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