Journal Entry Week 1 (30 minutes) CST 334

Reflecting on this week, it has not been my favorite. Work has been stressful, which has made it harder for me to stay fully focused on class. Even with that, I tried to keep up with everything we learned and understand the main ideas.

The main topics this week were the introduction to operating systems, computer architecture, Linux and the shell, command line basics, programming in C, and the math addendum. All of these concepts are connected around the main idea of processes, which is how an operating system manages and runs multiple programs simultaneously.

In my own words, an operating system is like the manager of the computer. It makes sure everything runs smoothly, handles memory, and controls how programs share the system’s resources. The computer architecture review helped me remember how the CPU, memory, and storage interact, which made the operating system concepts easier to understand. Learning about Linux and the shell showed how we can use commands to interact with the system directly. I used the terminal frequently when I was at Clovis Community College, so it felt somewhat familiar, although it was nice to get a refresher and a deeper look at how it works under the hood. The math addendum was also a welcome refresher, as many computer science concepts rely on fundamental math principles.

The hardest part for me was the programming in C section. I know C++, but C feels very stripped down, and I am not as comfortable with its syntax or how it handles memory. I can see the similarities, but it still feels like starting over in some areas. I did not have any significant “aha” moments this week, but I did start to see how everything connects and lays the foundation for a better understanding of operating systems.

Although this week was rough, I can see that these topics will be important for the rest of the course, and I hope next week feels smoother.

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