Operating System
- An operating system is the core software that allows a computer to run as an useful
device by managing the hardware, the user interface and all other software running on
the computer.
- Without an operating system, a computer is just a collection of components heating up
the room as no-one would be able to make any practical use of the machine.
Examples of Operating systems
Windows or Linux - for personal computers
MacOS - for Macs
Unix - for mainframes
Symbian, Android - for mobile phones
Functions of the Operating System
- Although these operating systems have been developed to work with very different
types of computers, they all share a number of common functions:
Providing a user interface
- the means by which the user and a computer system interact thus an operating system
provides just that.
-
Types of user interfaces
1. Graphical User Interface (GUI)/ Windows Icons Menus Pointers (WIMP)
2. Command Driven Interface
3. Menu Driven Interface
Managing the computer's memory
- Memory inside the computer is limited and therefore needs to be managed. The
operating system manages the computer’s memory
Managing the hardware
- with the hardware in order to receive data from input devices and to send its result to output
devices.
Other functions of the operating system
Handling files
Security such as handling user names and passwords
Allocating resources on networks such as disk space
Moving data to and from the hard disk
Deal with errors which occur while users are working
Manage the installation of new applications and the de-installation of unwanted
applications
Providing services such as print spooling
Operating System
- An operating system is the core software that allows a computer to run as an useful
device by managing the hardware, the user interface and all other software running on
the computer.
- Without an operating system, a computer is just a collection of components heating up
the room as no-one would be able to make any practical use of the machine.
Examples of Operating systems
Windows or Linux - for personal computers
MacOS - for Macs
Unix - for mainframes
Symbian, Android - for mobile phones
Functions of the Operating System
- Although these operating systems have been developed to work with very different
types of computers, they all share a number of common functions:
Providing a user interface
Types of user interfaces
1. Graphical User Interface (GUI)/ Windows Icons Menus Pointers (WIMP)
2. Command Driven Interface
3. Menu Driven Interface
- the means by which the user and a computer system interact thus an operating system
provides just that
Managing the computer's memory
- Memory inside the computer is limited and therefore needs to be managed. The
operating system manages the computer’s memory
Managing the hardware
- with the hardware in order to receive data from input devices and to send its result to output
devices.
Other functions of the operating system
Handling files
Security such as handling user names and passwords
Allocating resources on networks such as disk space
Moving data to and from the hard disk
Deal with errors which occur while users are working
Manage the installation of new applications and the de-installation of unwanted
applications
Providing services such as print spooling
