Book · 1992
Modern Operating Systems
by Andrew S. Tanenbaum
Tanenbaum's textbook walks through every layer of an OS — scheduling, memory, file systems, threads — one chapter at a time, with the implementation details left in.
What does Reddit think of Modern Operating Systems?
Thirty-four mentions across 7 years, spread thin: r/compsci owns 18 of them, r/learnprogramming adds 7, r/devops 4, r/cscareerquestions 3, with r/programming and r/ExperiencedDevs contributing 1 each. Sentiment lands mildly positive overall, with r/cscareerquestions running noticeably warmer than the rest. The pattern in the threads is list placement. Tanenbaum sits alongside Cormen, Kurose, and OSTEP in canonical reading lists on r/compsci — not singled out, slotted in. The ↑76 r/compsci comment reads like a course outline where the book is the reference, not the subject. The one genuine endorsement comes from r/cscareerquestions (↑22): someone who reads it before every interview cycle calls it their 'absolute favorite OS refresher' — easy to read, detailed chapter by chapter. The r/devops crowd cites it as a foundational text for FAANG prep. Nobody disputes the content. The question is always whether you need this one specifically.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Operating system internals: scheduling, memory management, paging
- · Processes, threads, and synchronization primitives
- · I/O subsystems and file systems
- · Concurrency, locking, and kernel-level vs. user-level threads
- · Interview preparation for systems roles
- · Canonical CS curriculum placement alongside Cormen and Kurose
Common praise
- + The chapter-by-chapter structure makes it easy to use as an interview refresher without reading cover to cover.
- + R/cscareerquestions ranks it as the clearest OS text for interview prep, and the ↑22 endorsement calls out the depth-to-readability ratio explicitly.
- + The thread coverage on user-level vs. kernel-level thread performance (cited from Section 2.4.6 on r/programming) holds up as a precise technical reference.
- + R/devops recommends it for FAANG interview candidates who want strong fundamentals rather than side-project lines on a resume.
Common criticism
- − OSTEP appears as a free alternative in multiple r/learnprogramming and r/compsci threads, undercutting the case for buying this one.
- − With only 34 total mentions across 7 years, it generates less Reddit discussion than its curriculum reputation would predict.
- − It rarely gets discussed on its own terms; most mentions are list entries where it's interchangeable with OS Concepts (the dinosaur book).
Who it's for
If you're prepping for systems interviews and want a single textbook you can re-read before each cycle, this is the one r/cscareerquestions actually names. Students whose OS course assigned the dinosaur book instead will find this covering the same ground with a different voice. R/devops readers treating foundational CS as a deliberate project — not a supplement to side projects — cite it alongside Cormen and Kurose as the reading list. If OSTEP's free availability is enough for you, the threads won't argue.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Modern Operating Systems?
Top-upvoted quotes across the subreddits where this book is mentioned. Click through to read the full thread.
“I am currently in the process of preparing for FAANG interviews with 4 YoE. Instead of doing side projects I simply bit the bullet and started learning these foundational technologies and concepts. I hope that my resume speaks for itself and I can impress with my strong basics. Books I can recommend…
“You should have an idea around how computers work. * Processes/Threads and Synchronisation * CPU Scheduling, context switching, preemption * Caching/Pipelining * Concurrency and locking mechanisms (eg Mutex Locks/Semaphores/Monitors) * Memory management and paging * I/O and File systems * An unders…
“- Cormen - Intro to algorithms - Knuth - The art of computer programming - Tanenbaum - Modern operating systems - P. Pacheco - Introduction to parallel programming - Kurose - Computer Networking
“Most of the concepts for what you're looking for will fall in the Operating Systems specialty of Computer Science. Some textbooks include: * (Free Online) Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces by Remzi H. Arpaci-Dusseau and Andrea C. Arpaci-Dusseau * Operat…
“"Introduction to Algorithms"by Cormen [et.…
“**Below are the books that my operating systems class recomended:** * (Book) Operating Systems in Three Easy Pieces * (Book) Operating System Concepts * *Note: The book with a dinosaur on the cover* * (Book) Modern Operating Systems **Below are the links to the readings from Graduate Introducti…
“My absolute favorite OS interview refresher book is Modern Operating Systems by Tanenbaum. Incredibly easy to read, brilliant amounts of detail that goes chapter wise on each aspect. I study it before every interview cycle to refresh my memory.
“From "Modern Operating Systems" by Tanenbaum (Section 2.4.6, on page 167 in the 4th edition): > A major difference between user-level threads _(green threads)_ and kernel-level threads is the performance. Doing a thread switch with user-level threads takes a handful of machine instructions. With ke…
Convinced? Pick up Modern Operating Systems
Readers also mention
Books that share discussion threads with Modern Operating Systems — counted from the comments, not curated.
Introduction to Algorithms
Thomas H. Cormen
The textbook four MIT professors wrote to settle every algorithms argument, cited by 254 Reddit commenters across 12 subreddits and still going.
Working Effectively with Legacy Code
Michael C. Feathers
Michael Feathers wrote the book for the developer who just inherited 30 devs' worth of code across 5 years in 5 different styles and has to ship next quarter.
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Harold Abelson
MIT's 1985 Scheme textbook that 319 Reddit commenters have recommended and a noticeably smaller number have finished.
Designing Data-Intensive Applications
Martin Kleppmann
A backend engineer's field guide to the tradeoffs behind every database, queue, and distributed system you will ever touch.
Modern Operating Systems — frequently asked
Is Modern Operating Systems worth buying when OSTEP is free?+
Depends on how you learn. OSTEP appears as a free alternative in multiple r/compsci and r/learnprogramming threads, and those subs treat the two as largely interchangeable. The r/cscareerquestions endorsement (↑22) specifically favors Modern Operating Systems for interview prep — calls it easy to read with chapter-by-chapter depth. If structured textbook formatting matters to you, it justifies the cost. Otherwise, the threads don't insist on it.
What does Reddit actually think of Modern Operating Systems by Tanenbaum?+
It shows up in canonical reading lists alongside Cormen and Kurose rather than as a standout recommendation. The warmest reception comes from r/cscareerquestions, where one commenter (↑22) calls it their go-to OS refresher before every interview cycle. Everywhere else, it's list furniture — present, respected, not argued for.
Should I read Modern Operating Systems or the dinosaur book (OS Concepts)?+
Reddit treats them as near-equivalents. The ↑25 r/learnprogramming thread lists both without ranking them. R/cscareerquestions favors Modern Operating Systems for interview prep specifically, citing readability and chapter structure. Neither book dominates the other in the data — 34 total mentions for Tanenbaum, with no thread making a head-to-head case. Pick the one your course assigned, or the one you can get cheaply.
Is Modern Operating Systems useful for FAANG interview prep?+
Yes, at least according to r/devops and r/cscareerquestions. The ↑86 r/devops thread recommends it as part of a foundational reading strategy for FAANG candidates with 4 years of experience who want their basics to carry interviews. The r/cscareerquestions comment (↑22) is more direct: the commenter re-reads it before every interview cycle and calls it their absolute favorite OS refresher.