"This book documents the implementation of the basic kernel, so that it becomes possible to understand the "why" behind just the code. It displays the dependencies between different portions of the kernel implementation, documents limitations of the implementation, shows alternative directions of implementation or locations where the kernel may be extended, and demonstrates the current choice of implementation."

"One of the major goals behind the 386BSD effort is to establish structure and clarity in the kernel. These annotations illustrating kernel architecture and implementation represent our best effort thus far in providing a raison d'etre, so that critical work done to improve it is also structured and justified..."