What is an Operating System
Subject: Introduction To Windows And Linux Operating System (VU-CYB 201)
An Operating System (OS) is the most critical piece of system software that manages a computer's hardware and software resources and provides a stable, consistent environment for application programs to run.
Think of the OS as the manager of the computer. It acts as an intermediary between the user/applications and the physical computer hardware, coordinating everything from the CPU to the printer. Without an OS, you wouldn't be able to run any application software (like a web browser or a word processor).
Core Functions of an Operating System
1. Process Management: this function controls the execution of all programs (known as processes) currently running on the computer. The OS decides which process gets to use the Central Processing Unit (CPU), when, and for how long. This rapid switching between processes is what allows your computer to multitask (e.g., streaming music while browsing the web).
Analogy: The OS acts like a traffic controller, directing different cars (processes) on the highway (CPU) to prevent congestion and ensure smooth, efficient flow.
2. Memory Management: This involves managing the computer's primary memory (RAM). The OS keeps track of how much memory is being used, allocates memory space to programs when they start, and frees that space when they close. This is crucial for data integrity, ensuring one program's data doesn't interfere with another's.
Analogy: This is similar to a real estate agent assigning different apartments (memory blocks) within a building to various tenants (programs), ensuring they stay within their designated space.
3. File Management: this manages how information is organized and stored on secondary storage devices (hard drives, SSDs). It controls the structure (directories/folders), naming, retrieval, and protection of files. It also manages access permissions, determining which users or programs can read, write, or modify specific files.
Analogy: The OS is the librarian, organizing, cataloging, and retrieving books (files) on shelves (storage) and maintaining a register of who is authorized to check out certain materials.
4. Device Management: this handles the communication between the computer and all its peripheral hardware devices. The OS uses special programs called device drivers to communicate with devices like keyboards, printers, and webcams. It manages the input and output (I/O) requests from all these components.
Analogy: Think of the OS as a translator who speaks the hardware's complex language (drivers) to relay instructions between the CPU and a foreign device (like a printer).
5. User Interface (UI): This provides the means by which a user interacts with the computer. The OS provides either a Graphical User Interface (GUI), which uses visual elements like windows, icons, and menus (e.g., Windows and macOS), or a Command-Line Interface (CLI), which uses text-based commands (often used by programmers and system administrators).
Analogy: This is the dashboard and steering wheel of a car, giving the user the necessary controls and visual feedback to operate the machine.
6. Security & Protection: This function is responsible for protecting the system and user data from external threats and unauthorized access. It enforces security measures, including user authentication (passwords and logins) and access control policies to ensure users and applications only have permission to access the resources they need.
Analogy: The OS acts as the security guard, checking IDs (passwords) at the gate and ensuring that employees only have keys (permissions) to the secure areas they are authorized to enter.
Windows and Linux are two of the most widely used operating systems, each with distinct design philosophies and use cases. Windows is a proprietary OS developed by Microsoft, while Linux is an open-source, Unix-like system maintained by a global community.By:
Vision University
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