Goal of an Operating System: The fundamental goal of a Computer System is to execute user programs and to make tasks easier. Various application programs along with hardware system are used to perform this work. Operating System is a software which manages and control the entire set of resources and effectively utilize every part of a computer.

1. Operating Systems
2. Operating Systems Concepts
3. Free Operating Systems For Computers

1. Jun 22, 2018 - An operating system or OS is a software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software.
2. An operating system is a program designed to run other programs on a computer. A computer’s operating system is its most important program. It is considered the backbone of a computer, managing both software and hardware resources.

The figure shows how OS acts as a medium between hardware unit and application programs. Need of Operating System:. OS as a platform for Application programs: Operating system provides a platform, on top of which, other programs, called application programs can run. These application programs help the users to perform a specific task easily. It acts as an interface between the computer and the user. It is designed in such a manner that it operates, controls and executes various applications on the computer. Managing Input-Output unit: Operating System also allows the computer to manage its own resources such as memory, monitor, keyboard, printer etc.

This is a list of operating systems.Computer operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. Criteria for inclusion is notability, as shown either through an existing Wikipedia article or citation to a reliable source.

Management of these resources is required for an effective utilization.The operating system controls the various system input-output resources and allocates them to the users or programs as per their requirement. Consistent user interface: Operating System provides the user an easy-to-work user interface, so the user doesn’t have to learn a different UI every time and can focus on the content and be productive as quickly as possible. Operating System provides templates, UI components to make the working of a computer, really easy for the user. Multitasking: Operating System manages memory and allow multiple programs to run in their own space and even communicate with each other through shared memory. Multitasking gives users a good experience as they can perform several tasks on a computer at a time. Functions of an Operating System An operating system has variety of functions to perform. Some of the prominent functions of an operating system can be broadly outlined as:.: This deals with management of the Central Processing Unit (CPU).

The operating system takes care of the allotment of CPU time to different processes. When a process finishes its CPU processing after executing for the allotted time period, this is called scheduling. There are various type of scheduling techniques that are used by the operating systems:.

Operating Systems

): Process which need the shortest CPU time are scheduled first.: Each process is assigned a fixed CPU execution time in cyclic way.: In this scheduling, processes are scheduled according to their priorities, i.e., highest priority process is schedule first. If priorities of two processes match, then schedule according to arrival time. Device Management: The Operating System communicates with hardware and the attached devices and maintains a balance between them and the CPU. This is all the more important because the CPU processing speed is much higher than that of I/O devices. In order to optimize the CPU time, the operating system employstwo techniques – Buffering and Spooling. Buffering: In this technique, input and output data is temporarily stored in Input Buffer and Output Buffer.

Once the signal for input or output is sent to or from the CPU respectively, the operating system through the device controller moves the data from the input device to the input buffer and for the output device to the output buffer. In case of input, if the buffer is full, the operating system sends a signal to the program which processes the data stored in the buffer. When the buffer becomes empty, the program informs the operating system which reloads the buffer and the input operation continues.: This is a device management technique used for processing of different tasks on the same input/output device. When there are various users on a network sharing the same resource then it can be a possibility that more than one user might give it a command at the same point of time. So, the operating system temporarily stores the data of every user on the hard disk of the computer to which the resource is attached.

The individual user need not wait for the execution process to be completed. Instead the operating system sends the data from the hard disk to the resource one by one.

Example: printer.: In a computer, both the CPU and the I/O devices interact with the memory. When a program needs to be executed it is loaded onto the main memory till the execution is completed. Thereafter that memory space is freed and is available for other programs.

The common memory management techniques used by the operating system are Partitioning and Virtual Memory. Partitioning: The total memory is divided into various partitions of same size or different sizes. This helps to accommodate number of programs in the memory. The partition can be fixed i.e. Remains same for all the programs in the memory or variable i.e. Memory is allocated when a program is loaded on to the memory. The later approach causes less wastage of memory but in due course of time, it may become fragmented.: This is a technique used by the operating systems which allow the user can load the programs which are larger than the main memory of the computer.

In this technique the program is executed even if the complete program can not be loaded inside the main memory leading to efficient memory utilization. File Management: The operating System manages the files, folders and directory systems on a computer. Any data on a computer is stored in the form of files and the operating system keeps information about all of them using File Allocation Table (FAT). The FAT stores general information about files like filename, type (text or binary), size, starting address and access mode (sequential/indexed sequential/direct/relative). The file manager of the operating system helps to create, edit, copy, allocate memory to the files and also updates the FAT.

Operating Systems Concepts

The operating system also takes care that files are opened with proper access rights to read or edit them.

What Does an Operating System Do? An operating system is the core set of software on a device that keeps everything together. Operating systems communicate with the device’s hardware. They handle everything from your keyboard and mice to the Wi-Fi radio, storage devices, and display. In other words, an operating system handles input and output devices. Operating systems use device drivers written by hardware creators to communicate with their devices.

Operating systems also include a lot of software—things like common system services, libraries, and that developers can use to write programs that run on the operating system. The operating system sits in between the applications you run and the hardware, using the hardware drivers as the interface between the two.

For example, when an application wants to print something, it hands that task off to the operating system. The operating system sends the instructions to the printer, using the printer’s drivers to send the correct signals. The application that’s printing doesn’t have to care about what printer you have or understand how it works. The OS handles the details. The OS also handles multi-tasking, allocating hardware resources among multiple running programs. The operating system controls which processes run, and it allocates them between different CPUs if you have a computer with, letting multiple processes run in parallel.

Free Operating Systems For Computers

It also manages the system’s internal memory, allocating memory between running applications. The operating system is the one big piece of software running the show, and it’s in charge of everything else. For example, the operating system also controls the files and other resources these programs can access.

Most software applications are written for operating systems, which lets the operating system do a lot of the heavy lifting. For example, when you run Minecraft, you run it on an operating system. Minecraft doesn’t have to know exactly how each different hardware component works. Minecraft uses a variety of operating system functions, and the operating system translates those into low-level hardware instructions. This saves the developers of Minecraft—and every other program that runs on an operating system—a lot of trouble.

Operating Systems Aren’t Just for PCs When we say “computers” run operating systems, we don’t just mean traditional desktop PCs and laptops. Your smartphone is a computer, as are tablets, smart TVs, game consoles, smart watches, and Wi-Fi routers. An or is a computing device that runs an operating system.

Familiar desktop operating systems include Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Google’s Chrome OS, and Linux. The dominant smartphone operating systems are Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Other devices, such as your Wi-Fi router, may run “embedded operating systems.” These are specialized operating systems with fewer functions than a typical operating system, designed specifically for a single task—like running a Wi-Fi router, providing GPS navigation, or operating an ATM. Where Do Operating Systems End and Programs Begin? Operating systems also include other software, including a user interface that lets people interface with the device.

This may be a desktop interface on a PC, a touchscreen interface on a phone, or a voice interface on a digital assistant device. An operating system is a large piece of software made of many different applications and processes. The line between what’s an operating system and what’s a program can sometimes be a little blurry. There’s no precise, official definition of an operating system. For example, on Windows, the File Explorer (or Windows Explorer) application is both an essential part of the Windows operating system—it even handles drawing your desktop interface—and an application that runs on that operating system. The Core of an Operating System is the Kernel At a low level, the “kernel” is the core computer program at the heart of your operating system.

This single program is one of the first things loaded when your operating system starts up. It handles allocating memory, converting software functions to instructions for your computer’s CPU, and dealing with input and output from hardware devices. The kernel is generally run in an isolated area to prevent it from being tampered with by other software on the computer. The operating system kernel is very important but is just one part of the operating system. The lines here can be a little fuzzy, too.

For example, Linux is just a kernel. However, Linux is still often called an operating system. Android is also called an operating system, and it’s. Like Ubuntu take the Linux kernel and add around it. They’re referred to as operating systems, too. What’s the Difference Between Firmware and an OS? Many devices just run ““—a type of low-level software that’s generally programmed directly into the memory of a hardware device.

Firmware is usually just a small bit of software designed to do only the absolute basics. When a modern computer boots up, it loads from the motherboard. This firmware is low-level software that quickly initializes your computer’s hardware. It then boots your operating system from your computer’s solid-state drive or hard drive. (That solid-state drive or hard drive has its own internal firmware, which handles storing data on the physical sectors inside the drive.) The line between firmware and an operating system can get a little blurry, too. For example, the operating system for Apple’s iPhones and iPads, named iOS, is often called a “firmware.” The PlayStation 4’s operating system is officially called a firmware, too. These are operating systems that interface with multiple hardware devices, provide services to programs, and allocate resources among applications.

However, a very basic firmware that runs on a TV remote control, for example, isn’t generally called an operating system. RELATED: The average person doesn’t need to understand exactly what an operating system is.

It may be helpful to know what operating system you have to know which software and hardware your device is compatible with, however. Image Credit: /Shutterstock.com, /Shutterstock.com, /Shutterstock.com.