Operating Systems
Operating systems, or Oss, are software programs that allow a computer’s hardware to communicate and operate with the software installed on the computer. It defines the computing experience. An operating system is the software that organizes and controls the hardware on a computer. All operating systems manage at least two functions: 1) managing the hardware and software, such as the processor, memory, etc., on a computer; 2) providing a consistent way for programs to deal with the hardware without having to know everything about the hardware. It plays the role of making sure that each program gets what it needs as well as managing the limited capacity of the system. Operating systems make sure that programs continue to run while hardware upgrades and program updates occur. Four types of operating systems exist: Real-time operating systems; Single-user, single task; Single-user, multi-tasking, and Multi-user. Real-time operating systems, or RTOSs, control machinery, scientific instruments and industrial systems. They contain very little user-interface capability and do not have end-user utilities. The most important feature of a Real-time operating system is the management of the resources of the computer so that an operation will execute in the exact same amount of time every time. Single-user, single task operating systems are designed for the management of a computer so that a single user can do only one thing at a time. The Palm OS is an example of this. Single-user, multi-tasking is the most common type of operating system. This system allows a single user to have several programs operating simultaneously. Windows 98 and Mac OS are examples of Single-user, multi-tasking operating systems. Multi-user operating systems allow for many different users to access a computer’s resources at the same time. It ensures that the requirements of the various users are in balance and that each program being used has sufficient resources so that a problem with one user does not affect the all users. UNIX, VMS, and MVS are examples of this type of operating system. An operating systems tasks fall into six main categories: Processor Management, Memory Management, Device Management, Storage Management, Application Interface, and User Interface. Most operating systems are developed by commercial organizations that distribute versions of their software that cannot be studied or altered. The continuous growth of the Internet and development of computers will require that operating systems continue to change, but the core functions will remain, even as operating systems evolve.
Although many operating systems have been in existence, the most commonly used operating system today by both business and personal computer users is the Windows series developed by Bill Gates. He has designed the Windows series for ease of use. A version of Windows is installed on most computers when a new computer is purchased. Linux is used by some experienced computer users.
VMS Windows Operating Systems Timeline
MacOS Operating Systems Comparison Chart