(Computer science) Operating System

An operating system is the overall set of instructions that are required for managing and co-ordinating various parts of a computer system. An OS keeps track of where the informations are stored and controls the operation of each PC component or I/O devices connected to the the computer. An operating system is based upon a Kernel, which controls the basic streams that the operating system is using. This kernel is a essentially the core of the operating system and varies between the different kinds and versions of operating systems we know.

In short it can be said that the OS is master control program of the computer system. It is responsible for:

Memory, Resource & CPU Management
Disk Management
Interfaces that allow various hardware to be controlled.
User Interface
Executing and controlling other programs

Memory & CPU Management

When any job is performed by computer, OS calls it from the disk and loads it into computer's memory RAM. However before loading the program OS checks whether sufficient memory is available or not and if available then OS allocates memory for the job. After execution of the job, OS removes the job from the memory so that the freed memory can be allocated to the next job. CPU processes any job assigned to it. OS handles the problem of assigning various jobs to CPU for processing. This function of OS is known as job scheduling.

Disk Management

The OS helps in storing and retrieving files as and when required. We users need not have to think of how data is tored or where it is stored in the storage device or where to search for it, as the OS takes care of all this for us.

Hardware Interfaces

The computer system consisting of the motherboard is connected to various peripherals. The OS assigns priorities and communicates with these devices. It also provides the interfaces that allow programs to work with the hardware, either directly or through the use of a driver.

Note that some OS's (including WinXP) do not allow direct access to the hardware.

User Interface

The OS helps in bridging the gap between human and the machine with the help of OS command interpreter. As we type any command on the keyboard and the machines response is again converted into human understandable form for us.

Other Programs

The OS allows other programs to be run on the system. It provides resources to the program and controls which ones it is allowed to access.

Incomplete list of operating systems

last edited (November 14, 2006) by bilderbikkel, Number of views: 24334, Current Rev: 7 (Diff)

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