Teaching operating systems using android

The computing landscape is shifting towards mobile devices. To learn about operating systems, it is increasingly important for students to gain hands-on kernel programming experience in these environments, which are quite different from traditional desktops and servers. We present our work at Columbia University to teach operating systems using Android, an open, commercially supported software platform increasingly used on mobile and embedded devices. We introduce a series of five Android kernel programming projects suitable for a one semester introductory operating systems course. Each project teaches a core operating system concept infused with Android or mobile device specific context, such as Android specific process relationships, use of sensors, and design considerations for resource constrained mobile devices. We also introduce an Android virtual laboratory based on virtual appliances, distributed version control, and live demonstrations which gives students hands-on Androi...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2012
• Where: SIGCSE
• Authors: Jeremy Andrus, Jason Nieh
• Keywords: Computer Science Education, Education, Information Science Education, SIGCSE 2012, Traditional Desktops