Operating System
Introduction
A computer system has many resources (hardware and software), which
may be required to complete a task. The commonly required resources are input/output
devices, memory, file storage space, CPU, etc. The operating system acts as a manager of the
above resources and allocates them to specific programs and users, whenever necessary to
perform a particular task. Therefore the operating system is the resource manager i.e. it can
manage the resource of a computer system internally. The resources are processor, memory,
files, and I/O devices. In simple terms, an operating system is an interface between the
computer user and the machine.
It is very important for you that every computer must have an operating system in order to
run other programs. The operating system mainly coordinates the use of the hardware among
the various system programs and application programs for various users.
An operating system acts similarly like government means an operating system performs
no useful function by itself; though it provides an environment within which other programs
can do useful work.
Operating System Management Tasks
1. Process management which involves putting the tasks into order and pairing them
into manageable size before they go to the CPU.
2. Memory management which coordinates data to and from RAM (random-access
memory) and determines the necessity for virtual memory.
3. Device management provides an interface between connected devices.
4. Storage management which directs permanent data storage.
5. An application that allows standard communication between software and your
computer.
6. The user interface allows you to communicate with your computer.
Types of Operating System
Given below are different types of Operating System:
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Simple Batch System
Multiprogramming Batch System
Multiprocessor System
Desktop System
Distributed Operating System
Clustered System
Realtime Operating System
Handheld System.
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Functions of Operating System
1. It boots the computer
2. It performs basic computer tasks e.g. managing the various peripheral devices e.g.
mouse, keyboard
3. It provides a user interface, e.g. command line, graphical user interface (GUI)
4. It handles system resources such as the computer's memory and sharing of the central
processing unit(CPU) time by various applications or peripheral devices.
5. It provides file management which refers to the way that the operating system
manipulates, stores, retrieves, and saves data.
6. Error Handling is done by the operating system. It takes preventive measures
whenever required to avoid errors.
Advantages of Operating System
Given below are some advantages of the Operating System:
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The operating system helps to improve the efficiency of the work and helps to save a
lot of time by reducing the complexity.
The different components of a system are independent of each other, thus failure of
one component does not affect the functioning of another.
The operating system mainly acts as an interface between the hardware and the
software.
Users can easily access the hardware without writing large programs.
With the help of an Operating system, sharing data becomes easier with a large
number of users.
We can easily install any game or application on the Operating system easily and can
run them
An operating system can be refreshed easily from time to time without having any
problems.
An operating system can be updated easily.
There are various operating systems that are accessible in open source. Example:
Unix/Linux these can easily run on the personal computer with no cost that means
Free.
An operating system is mainly used to hide the complexity of the hardware.
AN operating system easily manages the computer as programming becomes easier.
With the help of an operating system, multitasking becomes easier.
Disadvantages of an Operating system
Given below are the drawbacks of using an operating system:
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Expensive There are some open-source platforms like Linux. But some operating
systems are expensive. Also, users can use free operating systems but generally, there
is a bit difficulty to run them than others. On the other hand, operating systems like
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Microsoft Windows having GUI functionality and other in-built features are very
expensive.
Virus Threat Operating Systems are open to virus attacks and sometimes it happens
that many users download the malicious software packages on their system which
pauses the functioning of the Operating system and also slows it down.
Complexity Some operating systems are complex in nature because the language
used to establish them is not clear and well defined. If there occurs an issue in the
operating system then the user becomes unable to resolve that issue.
System Failure An operating system is the heart of the computer system if due to any
reason it will stop functioning then the whole system will crashes.
Examples of Operating System
Windows
Android
iOS
Mac OS
Linux
Window Phone OS
Chrome OS
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Conclusion
In conclusion, an operating system is a software that manages computer
hardware and software resources, and to provide public services for computer programs. The
operating system is an important part of the system software in a computer system. Although
it is possible to directly interface software applications and hardware, the vast majority of
applications in an operating system, which allows them to take advantage of the public
library, without having to worry about the specific hardware details written.
Some operating systems were developed in the 1950s, where computers could only execute
one program at a time. The operating systems are very importance to responsible for
everything from the control and allocation of memory to recognizing input from external
devices and transmitting output to computer displays. Later in the decade, computers
included many software programs, sometimes called libraries, which were linked together to
create the beginning of today’s operating systems.
Today’s operating systems tend to have graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that use pointing
devices for input. A mouse is an example of such a pointing device, as is a stylus. Commonly
used the operating systems for IBM-compatible personal computers is include the Microsoft
Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. In addition, there really is no such thing as a perfect
operating system. However, every operating system has its advantages and disadvantages.
Choose the right operating system is very important. So, the user must carefully to choose the
operating system. It will help the user to minimize the workload and increase the work
efficiency.
Appendix
Fig; Linux operating system
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Fig; windows operating system
Fig mac operating system
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