OS Scheduling

In any system that multiplexes resources, the problem of scheduling what computations run where and when is perhaps the most fundamental. Yet, like many other essential problems in computing (e.g., query optimization in databases), academic research in scheduling moves like a pendulum, with periods of intense activity followed by periods of dormancy when it is considered a "solved" problem. These three papers make significant contributions to an ongoing effort to develop better scheduling policies for modern computing systems. The papers highlight the need for better, more efficient, and more flexible OS schedulers; open up new areas of research; and demonstrate the importance of continued development and innovation in OS scheduling policies.