Operating Systems Where would we be without operating systems? Technologically, we would be living in the Stone Age, computers would be useless without an operating system. What is an operating system? An operating system is computer instructions that coordinate all the activities of a computers’ hardware like, memory, storage devices, and printers (Gary B. Shelly). Operating systems work in two ways, by managing the hardware and software resources of the computer. Managing the hardware and software resources, is important because different programs and input methods go through the central processing unit (CPU) and both take up memory, storage and input/output bandwidth for their own purposes. Secondly, providing a consistent application interface, is critical if there is more than one of a specific type of computer using the same operating system, or if the computer’s hardware can be updated. A consistent application program interface (API) creates a way for a software developer to write an application on one computer and know that it will run on another of the same type, even if the memory and storage are different between computers. The purpose of an operating system is to organize and control software so whatever device that’s being ran, can run smoothly with other applications, interact with different computers and users, and to keep up with new software (operating systems). For example, software updates on an I-Phone. If software doesn’t get updated, the phone may not be compatible with certain programs, applications, etc. Most computers need an operating system, such as regular computers, laptops, even cell phones. Anything that has constantly changing applications, hardware controls, and software will need an OS. How... ... middle of paper ... ...orld without those three things, everyday life would be pretty different for most. Works Cited Bellis, Mary. Putting Microsoft on the map. n.d. November 2013. . Coustan, Curt Franklin and Dave. How operating systems work. n.d. 11/19/13 Nov 2013. Gary B. Shelly, Misty E. Vermaat. Microsoft office 2010. Boston, 2011. Goode, Lauren. 5 key features of Mavericks. 28 October 2013. . Holwerda, Thom. Mobile operating systems. 12 November 2013. . operating systems. October 2011. November 2013. . operating systems. n.d. . OS X Mavericks Released. October 2013. . Salwa Buksh, Nousheen Shaikh. Palm OS- CP 2060. n.d. .
I was very interested in computers and technology as a child, both playing games and building fake parts for them. Still in elementary school, I was fascinated by these computing machines, spending hours on end working with DOS to satisfy my curiosity. Around my middle school years, Windows became graphical, and I found interest in even more computer games with even greater experiences and capabilities. Windows was the dominant operating system at the time, but I was soon to find there was a whole different world out there of operating systems. While out on vacation in Washington, DC, my Dad and I were able to meet with the local Tech Fanatics group, HackDC. It was here where I discovered Linux. Linux, an alternative to Windows, immediately grabbed my attention when I saw it in use. It appeared to me as something that only the extreme computer users even heard of. Upon my return home,
As the internet is becoming faster and faster, an operating system (OS) is needed to manage the data in computers. An Operating system can be considered to be a set of programed codes that are created to control hardware such as computers. In 1985 Windows was established as an operating system and a year earlier Mac OS was established, and they have dominated the market of the computer programs since that time. Although, many companies have provided other operating systems, most users still prefer Mac as the most secured system and windows as it provides more multiple functions. This essay will demonstrate the differences between windows
It all began in 1991, during the time of monumental computing development. DOS had been bought from a Seattle hacker by Bill Gates, for a sum of $50,000 – a small price for an operating system that had managed sneak its way across the globe due to a clever marketing strategy. Apple’s OS and UNIX were both available, though the cost of running either was far greater than that of running DOS. Enter MINIX, an operating system developed from the ground up by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, a college professor. MINIX was part of a lesson plan used to teach students the inner-workings of an operating system. Tanenbaum had written a book on MINIX called “Operating System” and anyone who had picked up a copy would find the 12,000 lines of code that comprised MINIX itself. This was a big issue; due to the fact that all know (well published) operating systems to that point had been well guarded by software developers, thus making it difficult for people to truly expand on operating system mechanics.
Silberschatz, A., Galvin, P. B., & Gagne, G. (2005). Operating System Concepts (8th Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An operating system is a piece of software that manages all the hardware on the system and allows the user to interact with them. The OS is the most important software on the computer and automatically starts when the PC is booted. It’s a lower level software and usually allows third party programs to run within the operative system. It also manages the disk drive and dictates how files are stored within the HDD. Furthermore it manages peripherals and inputs such as mice, keyboards and printers. Even though early operating systems were operated in a command line interface, they evolved and became more intuitive with the advent of graphical user interface and the mouse. These two advents made operating systems more interactive, intuitive and easier to use especially for the general public.
It is a set of one or more programs designed to carry out operations for a specific application. Application software such as word processor or web browser depends on system software to execute different tasks using computer. For example, User will be unable to surf on internet without Internet browser software. The Internet browser will be unable to read the page without an operating system software as the browser would not be able to run on the computer. (Anon.,
The operating system is a key part of the system software in any computer system. In order to do almost anything with a modern home computer you need to have a functional operating system. There are many different operating systems varying between ease of use and capability. I like to think of UNIX as being the more capable and modifiable one. Windows 8 being easier to use and more well supported for those who know little about computers. I will now provide some more back round knowledge of UNIX and show you just how versatile it is.
As an operating system, Linux performs many of the features characteristic of the DOS and Windows. However, it should be noted that the OS is of particular strength and flexibility. Most operating systems, personal computers, such as DOS, created for small PCs with limited capabilities and only recently developed into a universal machine. These operating systems are constantly being upgraded, because they must meet continually evolving capacity of computer hardware (Gagne 2004). The system is Linux was designed in a very different context. It is a PC version of the operating system UNIX, which is used for decades on mainframes and minicomputers and is the primary operating system desktops. Linux makes available to your PC's speed, efficiency and flexibility of UNIX, using all advantages of modern personal computers.
Let’s start by defining a few words the definition for Software means computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically is software (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/software.html). If you are not familiar with this definition then the difference between system and application could be very confusing.
The Basic features of OS were developed in the 1950 such as resident monitor functions it automatically run different programs in same time in succession to speed up processing. Earlier in 1960 OS was not existed in their modern and complex form. In 1960 single operating system was introduced by IBM. A distant descendant is the current operating system in IBM. The scope of operating system was developed by Control Data Corporation. In 1980 when personal computer becomes famous at that time operating system was made similar. The earlier electronic digital system in 1940 had no operating system. A computer can only work at a single program at a time, earlier in 1950. A program was uploaded into a machine and machine set its self to work until program complete or crashed. Later machine were built to libraries of program which link users program to assist in operation. It was called the genius of modern day O S. But still machine were running on single job at a
Linux is an operating system developed by Linus Benedicts Torvalds. The operation system is the key of communication between the software and the hardware. Linux is a free and open-source software1 built around the Linux kernel. The first event leading to its creation is the conception of the UNIX operating system implemented by Ken Thomson and Dennis Ritchie in 1969 and first released in 1970. They rewrote it to make it portable and it became widely adopted, copied and modified by academic institutions and businesses. In 1987, Andrew Tanenbaum released MINIX2 to typify the concepts written in his textbook, Operating Systems: Design and Implementation. The source code was available but it was impossible to modify or redistribute the system.
Software consists of computer programs , which are sequences of instructions for the computer. The process of writing (or coding ) programs is called programming , and who perform this task are called programmers. The computer can’ t do anything until it is instructed by software. Although computer hardware is, by design, general purpose, platform that enables the user to instruct a computer system to perform various functions that fulfil the needs. Software is a collection of programs or sequence of instructions given for changing the state of the computer hardware in a certain manner..
Real time: Respond to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such as “dos” and “Linux”, are not real-time.
An operating system (OS) is an essential software that manages a computer. It acts as an interface between the computer and the user such that the computer 's hardware and software communicate effectively so as a computer or mobile device can operate properly. If a computer does not have an operating system, it is useless (Denning & Peter 31). The other programs that facilitate a computer to work more efficiently and effectively are known as application programs. An operating system comprises of system software or the necessary files that help a computer to boot and function. Every Smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer must have an operating system for it to operate efficiently.
The embedded system is a dedicated computer system embedded in another larger system that may be mechanical or electrical. An embedded system performs pre-defined tasks, usually with very specific requirements based on single or multi cores processors in form of microcontrollers or digital signal processors and FPGA. These processing components are integrated with components dedicated to handle electrical and mechanical interfacing. Most Embedded systems include operating system, but this operating system is simple enough to be written as single program and is called embedded operating systems, Linux is an example of emerging operating system in market of embedded operating system.