Systems / ILLUSTRATED SERIES

Build It Yourself

A Shell, a Key-Value Database, and a Web Server from Scratch

Build a small shell, key-value database, and HTTP server from scratch. Work through the processes, files, and sockets that make them run.

Coming soon

We’re preparing this book for publication. Its Amazon listing will be linked here when it’s available.

Read a sample chapter

A REAL LOOK INSIDE

Programs, Processes, and Files

Running a Python file creates operating-system state that the source file does not contain: memory, open files, an execution position, and a process identifier. The shell, database, and server in this book all manipulate some part of that state. We will begin by separating the program stored on disk from the process executing it.

An excerpt from the working manuscript. Read the illustrated pages or download the complete sample chapter.

Read the sample →

First page of Programs, Processes, and Files, a sample from Build It Yourself

A LITTLE MORE CLARITY

What you’ll explore.

Developers who learn best by building something that works.

The outline is from the working manuscript and may change before publication.

01Processes and pipes
02A working shell
03Append-only logs
04Indexes
05TCP sockets
06An HTTP server

PUT AN IDEA TO WORK

There’s a seat for your curiosity.

Try a coding problem, then compare approaches with a friend.

Explore practice

Opening your workspace…