In this book we give an overview of modeling techniques used to describe computer systems to mathematical optimization tools. We give a brief introduction to various classes of mathematical optimization frameworks with special focus on mixed integer linear programming which provides a good balance between solver time and expressiveness. We present four detailed case studies -- instruction set customization, data center resource management, spatial architecture scheduling, and resource allocation in tiled architectures -- showing how MILP can be used and quantifying by how much it outperforms traditional design exploration techniques. This book should help a skilled systems designer to learn techniques for using MILP in their problems, and the skilled optimization expert to understand the types of computer systems problems that MILP can be applied to.

Fourth film in the hugely popular 'Terminator' franchise. The film is set in 2018 in a post-apocalyptic world where the human race is at war with Skynet and its army of deadly Terminators. John Connor (Christian Bale) is a young soldier who is destined to become the leader of the human resistance. However, he is forced to question his certainty about the future when a mysterious stranger named Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) suddenly appears, and John must decide whether he has been sent from the past or the future. As Skynet grows more and more powerful and all hope for the human race looks like being eliminated in one final devastating attack, John and Marcus journey to the centre of Skynet's operations where they discover a shocking secret...