Operating System

It is an interface between computer user and computer hardware.

It is the collection of system software used to manage the overall operation of the computer.

prerequisite : Introduction to computing

Basic Function of an Operating System

Control the hardware and software.
Responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of the entire computer system.
Provide GUI interface to make computer system user friendly.
Network management.
File management.
Memory management.
It control I/O devices.
Controls execution of programs to prevent errors and improper use of the computer.
Use the computer hardware and resources in efficient manner.

Features of Operating System

Efficiency: min input give maximum output
Reliability:
Maintainability:
Security:
Size ( in term of the amount of memory):

Open Source vs Closed Source Operating System

Closed Source

Proprietary software and limited for licensed user.
User friendly.
More secured.
Keep the source files secured and encrypted.
Company or creator provides limited support or warranty for a limited time period.
Flexibility depends on company permission.
You need to pay some cost.

Open Source

No need of license.
Less secured
Not friendly.
A community provides full support for a long time.
Flexibility depends on user community.
Generally free but some features may cost.
It allows user to modify source file as per requirement.

Operating System environment

Single-user, single task – As the name implies, this operating system is designed to manage the computer so that one user can effectively do one thing at a time.

Single-user, multi-tasking – This is the type of operating system most people use on their desktop and laptop computers today. Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s MacOS platforms are both examples of operating systems

Multi-user – A multi-user operating system allows many different users to take advantage of the computer’s resources simultaneously. Unix, VMS and mainframe operating systems