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CS 530 — Virtual Machines
(dt. Virtuelle Maschinen)

Level, degree of commitment Specialization module, depends on importing study program
Forms of teaching and learning,
workload		 Lecture (2 SWS), recitation class (2 SWS),
180 hours (60 h attendance, 120 h private study)
Credit points,
formal requirements		 6 CP
Course requirement(s): Successful completion of at least 50 percent of the points from the weekly exercises as well as at least 2 presentations of the tasks.
Examination type: Oral examination (individual examination) or written examination
Language,
Grading		 English,
The grading is done with 0 to 15 points according to the examination regulations for the degree program M.Sc. Computer Science.
Subject, Origin Computer Science, M.Sc. Computer Science
Duration,
frequency		 One semester,
each winter semester
Person in charge of the module's outline Prof. Dr. Christoph Bockisch

Contents

It is an ongoing trend to develop process-based virtual machines for modern programming languages that reduce complexity for the programmer by providing managed resources. This also enables dynamic optimizations or program analyses, for example. System-based virtual machines are a related concept. These provide a virtual environment that corresponds to an entire computer system, including hardware and operating system. Several virtual machines can share a physical machine, whereby virtual resources such as memory are separated from each other.


Qualification Goals

Translation is missing, sorry. German original:

Die Studierenden

  • können die grundlegenden Konzepte von prozess- und system-basierten virtuellen Maschinen beschreiben und erläutern,
  • können den Aufbau von virtuellen Maschinen beschreiben,
  • können Komponenten Prozess-basierter VMs (wie Scheduler, Garbage Collection, just-in-time Compiler) entwickeln,
  • können die Methoden von System-basierten VMs (Hypervisor, Hardware-Emulation, Hardware-Virtualisierung, Paravirtualisierung) erläutern,
  • können Optimierungen in virtuellen Maschinen erläutern,
  • können beispielhaft moderne Forschungsarbeiten im Bereich VM-Technologie darstellen,
  • können Implementierungsansätze für Programmiersprachenkonzepte (Code-Transformation vs. VM-Unterstützung) vergleichen.

Prerequisites

None. The competences taught in the following modules are recommended: either Algorithms and Data Structures or Practical Informatics II: Data Structures and Algorithms for Pre-Service-Teachers, Declarative Programming, Object-oriented Programming, System Software and Computer Communication, Technical Computer Science, Software Engineering, either Software Lab or Software Lab for Business Informatics.


Recommended Reading

  • Will be announced in the module announcement.



Please note:

This page describes a module according to the latest valid module guide in Winter semester 2025/26. Most rules valid for a module are not covered by the examination regulations and can therefore be updated on a semesterly basis. The following versions are available in the online module guide:

The module guide contains all modules, independent of the current event offer. Please compare the current course catalogue in Marvin.

The information in this online module guide was created automatically. Legally binding is only the information in the examination regulations (Prüfungsordnung). If you notice any discrepancies or errors, we would be grateful for any advice.