Essential Reading List for Mastering Modern Computing Systems

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture (Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture)

Thomas Erl, Zaigham Mahmood, Ricardo Puttini – 2013

Editorial recommendation: A comprehensive foundation for cloud computing, blending computer science, networking, and business strategy with clear language suitable for both professionals and non‑specialists.

Author introduction: Thomas Erl (Canadian tech writer), Zaigham Mahmood (UK education technology consultant and professor), Ricardo Puttini (Brazilian senior IT advisor).

Cloud Computing (Advanced)

Mastering Cloud Computing: Foundations and Applications Programming (Mastering Cloud Computing: Foundations and Applications Programming)

Rajkumar Buyya, Christian Vecchiola, S.Thamarai Selvi – 2013

Editorial recommendation: Provides a systematic learning framework from environment setup to practical applications, supplemented by extensive free teaching resources.

Author introduction: Rajkumar Buyya (Professor, University of Melbourne), Christian Vecchiola (IBM Research), S.Thamarai Selvi (Indiana University).

Edge Computing

Edge Computing and Capability‑Oriented Architecture

Haishi Bai, Boris Scholl – 2021

Editorial recommendation: Explores edge computing’s revolutionary data‑processing capabilities and offers strategic insights for both experts and beginners.

Author introduction: Haishi Bai (Chief Software Engineer at Microsoft), Boris Scholl (Microsoft).

Distributed Computing

Distributed Systems: Principles and Paradigms (2nd Edition) (Distributed Systems: Principles and Paradigms, Second Edition)

Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Maarten van Steen – 2007

Editorial recommendation: A foundational text that balances theory and practice with clear explanations and up‑to‑date research.

Author introduction: Andrew S. Tanenbaum (American computer scientist, IEEE/ACM Fellow), Maarten van Steen (Professor, University of Twente).

Databases

Designing Data‑Intensive Applications

Martin Kleppmann – 2017

Editorial recommendation: Offers a thorough exploration of data‑intensive system design, combining theory with real‑world case studies for building reliable, scalable applications.

Author introduction: Martin Kleppmann (Distributed systems researcher at Cambridge University).

Fog Computing

Fog Computing: Theory and Practice

Albert Zomaya, Assad Abbas, Samee Khan – 2020

Editorial recommendation: Provides an in‑depth look at fog computing’s theory, key technologies, and practical applications in modern architectures.

Author introduction: Albert Zomaya (Professor, University of Sydney), Assad Abbas (Assistant Professor, COMSATS University), Samee Khan (Professor, North Dakota State University).

High Performance Computing

Introduction to High Performance Computing for Scientists and Engineers (High‑Performance Scientific and Engineering Computing)

Georg Hager, Gerhard Wellein – 2010

Editorial recommendation: A textbook that demystifies HPC concepts with theory, case studies, and extensive teaching resources.

Author introduction: Georg Hager (Head of Training at Erlangen HPC Center), Gerhard Wellein (Professor, University of Erlangen‑Nuremberg).

Parallel Computing

Parallel and High Performance Computing (Parallel Computing and High‑Performance Computing)

Robert Robey, Yuliana Zamora – 2021

Editorial recommendation: Covers fundamentals to advanced topics, including multicore, GPU acceleration, and MPI/OpenMP usage.

Author introduction: Robert Robey (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Yuliana Zamora (NVIDIA).

Heterogeneous Computing (CUDA/OpenCL)

Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands‑on Approach (2nd Edition) (大规模并行处理器编程实战（第2版）)

David B. Kirk, Wen‑mei W. Hwu – 2013

Editorial recommendation: A practical guide to parallel programming and GPU architectures, covering CUDA, OpenCL, and real‑world examples.

Author introduction: David B. Kirk (NVIDIA Fellow, CUDA co‑creator), Wen‑mei W. Hwu (NVIDIA Senior Research Scientist, University of Illinois).

Parallel Programming

An Introduction to Parallel Programming (并行程序设计导论)

Peter Pacheco – 2011

Editorial recommendation: Guides readers from basics to advanced parallel models (MPI, PThread, OpenMP) with hands‑on examples and expert endorsements.

Author introduction: Peter Pacheco (Chair, Department of Mathematics, San Francisco State University).

Heterogeneous Computing with OpenCL 2.0

David Kaeli, Perhaad Mistry, Dana Schaa, Dong Ping Zhang – 2015

Editorial recommendation: Comprehensive guide to OpenCL 2.0 features, including shared virtual memory and dynamic parallelism, with practical code examples.

Author introduction: David Kaeli (IEEE/ACM Fellow, former NVIDIA chief scientist), Perhaad Mistry (Apple), Dana Schaa (AMD), Dong Ping Zhang (Intel).

Quantum Computing

Quantum Computing since Democritus (量子计算公开课：从德谟克利特、计算复杂性到自由意志)

Scott Aaronson – 2013

Editorial recommendation: A thought‑provoking collection linking quantum computing with mathematics, philosophy, and fundamental questions about the universe.

Author introduction: Scott Aaronson (ACM Computing Award winner, Professor at UT‑Austin).

Quantum Computation and Quantum Information

Quantum Computation and Quantum Information: 10th Anniversary Edition (量子计算与量子信息：10周年版)

Michael A. Nielsen, Isaac L. Chuang – 2010

Editorial recommendation: The definitive textbook for quantum computing and information, widely used in university courses and research.

Author introduction: Michael A. Nielsen (Postdoctoral researcher, Los Alamos), Isaac L. Chuang (IBM Research, Stanford advisor).

Cluster Computing

High Performance Cluster Computing: Programming and Application Issues, Volume 2 (High Performance Cluster Computing: Programming and Application Issues, Second Volume)

Rajkumar Buyya – 1999

Editorial recommendation: Authoritative guide on cluster computing technologies, design, and practical programming examples.

Author introduction: Rajkumar Buyya (IEEE Cloud Computing award winner, highly cited researcher).

Computer Architecture

Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach (6th Edition) (Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach Sixth Edition)

John L. Hennessy, David A. Patterson – 2017

Editorial recommendation: Classic reference that combines foundational concepts with modern topics like multicore, mobile, and cloud computing.

Author introduction: John L. Hennessy (2017 Turing Award winner, former Stanford president), David A. Patterson (2017 Turing Award winner).

AI Computing Systems

AI Chip: Frontier Technology and Innovative Future

Zhang Chenxiong – 2021

Editorial recommendation: Explores core AI chip technologies, industry insights, and future predictions with vivid case studies.

Author introduction: Zhang Chenxiong (Former chief scientist at a Fortune‑500 high‑tech company, semiconductor expert).