Distributed Computing Pearls

Computers and computer networks are one of the most incredible inventions of the 20th century, having an ever-expanding role in our daily lives by enabling complex human activities in areas such as entertainment, education, and commerce. One of the most challenging problems in computer science for the 21st century is to improve the design of distributed systems where computing devices have to work together as a team to achieve common goals.

In this book, I have tried to gently introduce the general reader to some of the most fundamental issues and classical results of computer science underlying the design of algorithms for distributed systems, so that the reader can get a feel of the nature of this exciting and fascinating field called distributed computing. The book will appeal to the educated layperson and requires no computer-related background. I strongly suspect that also most computer knowledgeable readers will be able to learn something new.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Distributed Computing
Chapter 2. One Loaf of Bread, Please
Chapter 3. A Tale of Two Lovers
Chapter 4. A Night at the Movies
Chapter 5. The Fall of the Byzantine Empire
Chapter 6. Sightseeing in Paris
Chapter 7. Food for Thought
Chapter 8. All for One and One for All
Chapter 9. The World is a Playground
Chapter 10. Getting the Service You Deserve