Distributed Computing

"This text provides a well-written, thoroughly thought-out introduction to the theory of distributed computing. For the first time, the fundamentals of distributed computing will be accessible to nonspecialists."
–Maurice Herlihy
Computer Science Department, Brown University, on the first edition

A Clear Path To Understanding Distributed Computing

The explosive growth of distributed computing systems makes understanding them imperative. To make this notoriously difficult subject accessible, Distributed Computing: Fundamentals, Simulations, and Advanced Topics; Second Edition, provides a solid introduction to the mathematical foundations and theory of distributed computing, highlighting common themes and basic techniques.

The authors present the fundamental issues underlying the design of distributed systems–communication, coordination, synchronization, and uncertainty–as well as fundamental algorithmic concepts and lower-bound techniques. The book’s unifying approach emphasizes the similarities between different models and explains inherent discrepancies between them. Focusing on ideas rather than optimizations, the book discusses major models of distributed computing, including:

Message passing and shared memory communication; synchronous and asynchronous timing models, failures, proofs of correctness, and lower bounds

Leader election, mutual exclusion, and consensus

Causality of events and clock synchronization

Simulations between models of distributed computing

Advanced topics including randomization, the wait-free hierarchy, asynchronous solvability, and failure detectors

With new material on such subjects as fast mutual exclusion and queue locks, and improved coverage of existing material throughout, this Second Edition will serve as a comprehensive textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and as a key reference for researchers and practicing professionals.