This study concentrates on the general principles and basic algorithms which are necessary for a very wide range of real-time and parallel applications, such as operating systems, industrial process control systems, and programs for different types of parallel architectures. Practical details are included as the book has been written with the practising software engineer in mind. Covering a wide range of programming levels - from bare assembly code to modern high level languages - the volume is suitable for use as an undergraduate textbook. Exercises and detailed solutions are included.