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Memory, Pointers, and Representation: Reading Guide

Primary source and scope​

Use Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective for object lifetime, aliasing, allocation, and representation. Find these topic headings in your edition; section numbering can differ. Start with the module concepts and worked examples.

Read actively​

Draw storage regions and lifetimes, not just arrows between pointer variables. Record whether each pointer owns, borrows, or aliases an allocation.

When to stop and when to go deeper​

For the compact path, stop once you can solve the transfer task, explain its assumptions, and pass the guided lab. For the full-book path, this assignment is a checkpoint within your scheduled whole-book reading, not permission to skip the remaining book. Additional sources belong in a question log until they address a specific failure.

Required ownership extension​

Complete Ownership under growth and failure and every MP1–MP6 gate. Its 20–30 hours replace the old 2–3-hour growable-buffer lab; original module practice remains required. See the reconciled semester workload.