The Unix Operating System: Lions’ Commentary

Price: $44.95
(as of May 21,2023 16:52:46 UTC – Details)

The Lions’ Commentary on Unix is considered to be the most famous suppressed book in computer history. Ken Thompson, the developer of the Unix operating system, describes it as the best exposition of the workings of a “real” operating system even after 20 years since its publication. The book was suppressed as trade secrets by various owners of the Unix code but has now been re-released, much to the delight of computer enthusiasts. Published in 1977, this book is still relevant today and is used as an Operating System textbook at MIT.

“The Lions book” is a legendary underground classic that has been widely circulated as a photocopied bootleg document since the late 1970s. This book is comprised of two works. The first is the complete source code of an early version (Edition 6) of the Unix operating system. The second is a brilliant commentary on that code by John Lions, which was originally used as an operating systems textbook and remains superbly well-suited for this purpose even today.

The unrestricted edition of the Lions’ Commentary on Unix has additional historical perspective essays added in 1996, making it even more valuable to computer enthusiasts. The book is published by Peer to Peer Communications/ Annabook, is in English and has 254 pages. Its ISBN-10 and ISBN-13 are 1573980137 and 978-1573980135, respectively. The book weighs 1.31 pounds and has dimensions of 8.25 x 0.55 x 11 inches.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peer to Peer Communications/ Annabook; 6th edition (August 1, 1977)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 254 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1573980137
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1573980135
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 0.55 x 11 inches