Understanding the Dalvik Virtual Machine

[Kydos]

I'm trying to understand the Dalvik virtual machine and really how it runs on top of the linux kernel. I mean I get the general Idea, but I am wondering about some of the workings of it.

How do the developers utilize system calls to make the program go? How does Dalvik facilitates this? I mean really how does it work?

Are there are any low-level details associated with the linux based system calls that are be abstracted away from an Android App Dev?

 

[Crashdamage]

This will get you started:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalvik_(software)
If that's too basic, click on some of the references for lots more into.

Personally, I wouldn't spend much time learning Dalvik since it's being replaced by ART.