This resource will explain how operating systems work, and note the differences between the Microsoft Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. Show
What is an operating system?An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between the computer user and computer hardware, and controls the execution of programs. The operating system’s jobThe operating system (OS) manages all of the software and hardware on the computer. It performs basic tasks such as file, memory and process management, handling input and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. Most of the time, there are several different computer programs running at the same time, and they all need to access your computer’s central processing unit (CPU), memory and storage. The operating system coordinates all of this to make sure each program gets what it needs. In the image above the User interfaces with the System & Application software. The System & Application software interfaces with the Operating System. The Operating system interfaces with the Hardware. Each of these interfaces are two way transactions with each sending and receiving data. Types of operating systemsOperating systems usually come pre-loaded on any computer you buy. Most individuals use the operating system that already comes with their computer however it is possible to upgrade or change the initial operating system to suit your preference. Different operating systems will work in different ways. They may appear visually different, have different terms for common functions and organise programs in different ways. Do not be alarmed if you find yourself using a computer at university that you are unfamiliar with – a bit of practice and you’ll be well on your way! There are many operating systems that are available however the three most common operating systems are Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s macOS and Linux. In the table below, we will outline a few of the key differences between each system. Microsoft WindowsMac OSLinuxPre-loaded Devices Microsoft Windows is pre-loaded on all computers except Apple products. Mac OS is the pre-loaded OS on all Apple Mac computers. Linux is not pre-loaded on many computers, but is free to download. Customisability Minimal changes. Minimal changes. Highly customisable as it is open source. Huge collaborative community building a range of applications. Icon Windows icon.This is the Start Menu and is located in the bottom left hand corner of the screen it allows you to access your ‘Control Panel’, ‘Computer’, programs, folders and more. You can also shut down your computer using this menu. Apple icon.It is located in the top left hand corner of the screen and it is where you can access your ‘System Preferences’, ‘Software Update’, ‘About This Mac’ and more. You can also shut down your computer using this menu. Different icons depending on what software interface you are using e.g. Redhat has a redhat symbol. Ubuntu has the Circle of Friends symbol. These symbols are located in the top left hand corner of the screen and it is where you can access all your computer applications. An Operating System (OS) is an interface between a computer user and computer hardware. An operating system is a software which performs all the basic tasks like file management, memory management, process management, handling input and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. Índice Show An operating system is software that enables applications to interact with a computer's hardware. The software that contains the core components of the operating system is called the kernel. The primary purposes of an Operating System are to enable applications (spftwares) to interact with a computer's hardware and to manage a system's hardware and software resources. Some popular Operating Systems include Linux Operating System, Windows Operating System, VMS, OS/400, AIX, z/OS, etc. Today, Operating systems is found almost in every device like mobile phones, personal computers, mainframe computers, automobiles, TV, Toys etc. DefinitionsWe can have a number of definitions of an Operating System. Let's go through few of them: An Operting System is the low-level software that supports a computer's basic functions, such as scheduling tasks and controlling peripherals. We can refine this definition as follows: An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware and controls the execution of all kinds of programs. Following is another definition taken from Wikipedia: An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. ArchitectureWe can draw a generic architecture diagram of an Operating System which is as follows: Operating System GenerationsOperating systems have been evolving over the years. We can categorise this evaluation based on different generations which is briefed below: 0th GenerationThe term 0th generation is used to refer to the period of development of computing when Charles Babbage invented the Analytical Engine and later John Atanasoff created a computer in 1940. The hardware component technology of this period was electronic vacuum tubes. There was no Operating System available for this generation computer and computer programs were written in machine language. This computers in this generation were inefficient and dependent on the varying competencies of the individual programmer as operators. First Generation (1951-1956)The first generation marked the beginning of commercial computing including the introduction of Eckert and Mauchly’s UNIVAC I in early 1951, and a bit later, the IBM 701. System operation was performed with the help of expert operators and without the benefit of an operating system for a time though programs began to be written in higher level, procedure-oriented languages, and thus the operator’s routine expanded. Later mono-programmed operating system was developed, which eliminated some of the human intervention in running job and provided programmers with a number of desirable functions. These systems still continued to operate under the control of a human operator who used to follow a number of steps to execute a program. Programming language like FORTRAN was developed by John W. Backus in 1956. Second Generation (1956-1964)The second generation of computer hardware was most notably characterised by transistors replacing vacuum tubes as the hardware component technology. The first operating system GMOS was developed by the IBM computer. GMOS was based on single stream batch processing system, because it collects all similar jobs in groups or batches and then submits the jobs to the operating system using a punch card to complete all jobs in a machine. Operating system is cleaned after completing one job and then continues to read and initiates the next job in punch card. Researchers began to experiment with multiprogramming and multiprocessing in their computing services called the time-sharing system. A noteworthy example is the Compatible Time Sharing System (CTSS), developed at MIT during the early 1960s. Third Generation (1964-1979)The third generation officially began in April 1964 with IBM’s announcement of its System/360 family of computers. Hardware technology began to use integrated circuits (ICs) which yielded significant advantages in both speed and economy. Operating system development continued with the introduction and widespread adoption of multiprogramming. The idea of taking fuller advantage of the computer’s data channel I/O capabilities continued to develop. Another progress which leads to developing of personal computers in fourth generation is a new development of minicomputers with DEC PDP-1. The third generation was an exciting time, indeed, for the development of both computer hardware and the accompanying operating system. Fourth Generation (1979 – Present)The fourth generation is characterised by the appearance of the personal computer and the workstation. The component technology of the third generation, was replaced by very large scale integration (VLSI). Many Operating Systems which we are using today like Windows, Linux, MacOS etc developed in the fourth generation. Following are some of important functions of an operating System.
Memory ManagementMemory management refers to management of Primary Memory or Main Memory. Main memory is a large array of words or bytes where each word or byte has its own address. Main memory provides a fast storage that can be accessed directly by the CPU. For a program to be executed, it must in the main memory. An Operating System does the following activities for memory management −
Processor ManagementIn multiprogramming environment, the OS decides which process gets the processor when and for how much time. This function is called process scheduling. An Operating System does the following activities for processor management −
Device ManagementAn Operating System manages device communication via their respective drivers. It does the following activities for device management −
File ManagementA file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation and usage. These directories may contain files and other directions. An Operating System does the following activities for file management −
Other Important ActivitiesFollowing are some of the important activities that an Operating System performs −
The Operating System is a program with the following features −
Objectives of Operating SystemThe objectives of the operating system are −
Characteristics of Operating SystemHere is a list of some of the most prominent characteristic features of Operating Systems −
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