Linux System Calls (syscalls)
Learn how to perform common operating system operations like file I/O, process management, and memory allocation using Linux system calls.
What are System Calls?
Welcome! In this lesson, we'll dive into Linux System Calls (syscalls). These are the fundamental way user-space programs request services from the operating system's kernel.
Think of them as a special set of functions that your program can call to do powerful things, like interacting with files, managing processes, or allocating memory.
User vs. Kernel Mode
Modern operating systems operate in different privilege levels. Typically, there's user mode (where your applications run) and kernel mode (where the OS core runs).
- User Mode: Limited access to hardware and critical memory.
- Kernel Mode: Full access, handles system resources securely.
System calls are the controlled gateway for user-mode programs to temporarily switch to kernel mode and ask the OS to perform privileged operations on their behalf.
All lessons in this course
- Virtual Memory Concepts
- Linux System Calls (syscalls)
- Windows API Interaction
- Dynamic Memory: Heap Allocation in Assembly