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Stanford CS104e - An Experimental Course on Operating Systems

Free

Build your own embedded OS for the Raspberry Pi

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Visit Website GitHub (40 stars)

About Stanford CS104e - An Experimental Course on Operating Systems

Stanford CS104e (CS140e) is an experimental, lab-based operating systems course where students build their own simple, clean OS for the ARM-based Raspberry Pi from scratch. There are no explicit lectures; instead, the course consists of two two-to-three hour labs per week, with an optional Friday discussion section. By the end of the quarter, students implement interrupts, threads, virtual memory, and a simple file system. The course emphasizes working directly with primary sources such as the Broadcom and ARM6 manuals and various datasheets, teaching students how to read and act on technical documentation. Unlike traditional OS courses, CS140e uses real hardware instead of a simulator, and almost all code is written by the student. The class is intended for students who write code well or are willing to invest significant time, and it can substitute for the standard CS140 (including for PhD students needing an OS breadth requirement). The outcome is a working embedded system that can serve as a base for sensor-based or embedded projects.

Key Features

Lab-based course with no explicit lectures
Uses real Raspberry Pi hardware instead of a simulator
Covers interrupts, threads, virtual memory, and file system
Relies on primary source documents (Broadcom and ARM manuals)
Students write almost all code themselves
Optional Friday discussion sections
Can substitute for Stanford CS140

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Real hardware experience rather than simulation
  • Emphasis on reading and applying technical datasheets
  • Significant hands-on coding with minimal scaffolding
  • Course output is a working OS useful for real projects
  • Small class format with optional discussion sections
Cons
  • Requires strong coding skills or significant time commitment
  • No formal lectures; learning is self-directed via labs
  • Challenging for students not already interested in systems
  • Must be comfortable with primary source documentation

Best For

Learning operating system concepts through hands-on implementationGaining practical embedded systems skillsUnderstanding real hardware operationBuilding a foundation for sensor-based or embedded projectsFulfilling OS breadth requirement for PhD students

FAQ

Who should take this class?
You should take it if you write code well (or don't yet but have time to devote) AND find systems topics interesting. It is not intended as an easier way to satisfy the CS140 requirement.
How does CS140e differ from CS140?
CS140e uses real hardware (Raspberry Pi) instead of a simulator; most reading involves primary hardware documents rather than high-level discussions; and almost all code is written by the student instead of dealing with a large code base.
Can CS140e count as a substitute for CS140?
Yes, CS140e can substitute for CS140, including for PhD students needing an OS breadth requirement. It is about 80% of the coding work but requires a more strenuous type of thinking.