Operating Systems Basics

Operating Systems

Definition

• An Operating System (OS) is a software that manages computer hardware resources and provides common services to computer programs.
• It acts as an intermediary between computer hardware and user-level applications.

Functions of an Operating System

1. Process Management: manages creation, execution, and termination of processes (programs) running on the computer.
2. Memory Management: manages allocation and deallocation of memory for running programs.
3. File Management: provides file system management, including file creation, deletion, and storage.
4. Input/Output (I/O) Management: manages input/output operations between devices and programs.
5. Security: provides mechanisms for controlling access to computer resources.
6. Interrupt Handling: handles interrupts generated by hardware devices.

Types of Operating Systems

1. Single-User, Single-Tasking: allows one user to run one program at a time (e.g., MS-DOS).
2. Multi-User, Single-Tasking: allows multiple users to run one program at a time (e.g., early Unix systems).
3. Multi-User, Multi-Tasking: allows multiple users to run multiple programs simultaneously (e.g., modern operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux).

Popular Operating Systems

1. Windows: developed by Microsoft Corporation.
2. macOS: developed by Apple Inc. for Mac computers.
3. Linux: open-source operating system with various distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora).
4. Unix: developed at Bell Labs, widely used in servers and mainframe computers.

Operating System Components

1. Kernel: core of the operating system, responsible for managing hardware resources.
2. Device Drivers: software components that interact with hardware devices.
3. System Calls: interface between the operating system and applications.
4. System Programs: utility programs that perform specific tasks (e.g., file management, process management).

Operating Systems

Definition

• An Operating System (OS) manages computer hardware resources and provides common services to computer programs.
• It acts as an intermediary between computer hardware and user-level applications.

Functions

Process Management

• Manages creation, execution, and termination of processes (programs) running on the computer.

Memory Management

• Manages allocation and deallocation of memory for running programs.

File Management

• Provides file system management, including file creation, deletion, and storage.

Input/Output (I/O) Management

• Manages input/output operations between devices and programs.

Security

• Provides mechanisms for controlling access to computer resources.

Interrupt Handling

• Handles interrupts generated by hardware devices.

Types

• Single-User, Single-Tasking: one user runs one program at a time (e.g., MS-DOS).
• Multi-User, Single-Tasking: multiple users run one program at a time (e.g., early Unix systems).
• Multi-User, Multi-Tasking: multiple users run multiple programs simultaneously (e.g., modern operating systems).

Popular Operating Systems

• Windows: developed by Microsoft Corporation.
• macOS: developed by Apple Inc. for Mac computers.
• Linux: open-source operating system with various distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora).
• Unix: developed at Bell Labs, widely used in servers and mainframe computers.

Operating System Components

Kernel

• Core of the operating system, responsible for managing hardware resources.

Device Drivers

• Software components that interact with hardware devices.

System Calls

• Interface between the operating system and applications.

System Programs

• Utility programs that perform specific tasks (e.g., file management, process management).

Test your knowledge of operating systems, including their definition, functions, and roles in managing computer hardware resources and providing services to programs.