Operating System
An operating system (OS) is a fundamental software component of any computer system that manages hardware resources, provides common services for computer programs, and acts as an intermediary between the user and the hardware. Here are key aspects:
History
- Early Development: The first OS, known as GM-NAA I/O, was developed in the early 1950s by General Motors and North American Aviation.
- 1960s: With the advent of batch processing, systems like OS/360 for the IBM System/360 were developed, allowing multiple users to interact with a single computer.
- 1970s: UNIX was developed at AT&T Bell Labs, introducing concepts like the hierarchical file system, shell scripting, and multi-user capabilities.
- 1980s-1990s: The era of personal computing led to the widespread use of Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and various flavors of Linux.
- 21st Century: Mobile operating systems like Android and iOS have become predominant, alongside advancements in server OS like Windows Server and various distributions of Linux.
Core Functions
- Resource Management: Manages hardware like CPU, memory, storage, and I/O devices.
- Process Management: Handles the creation, scheduling, and termination of processes.
- Memory Management: Allocates memory to different programs, ensuring they do not interfere with each other.
- File System Management: Controls how data is stored, retrieved, and updated on storage devices.
- Security and Protection: Implements security measures to protect system resources from unauthorized access.
- User Interface: Provides an interface for interaction, which could be command-line (CLI), graphical (GUI), or a combination.
Types of Operating Systems
- Single-User, Single-Tasking: Designed for a single user running one task at a time, like older versions of Mac OS.
- Multi-User: Allows multiple users to interact with the system simultaneously, like UNIX or Linux.
- Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS): Focused on real-time applications where timing is critical, used in embedded systems.
- Distributed Operating Systems: Manages a group of independent computers that appear to the user as a single system.
- Mobile Operating Systems: Optimized for handheld devices, focusing on touch interfaces and mobile-specific functionalities.
Key Developments and Features
- Virtual Memory: Introduced to allow programs to use more memory than physically available by using disk space as an extension of RAM.
- Networking: Integration of networking capabilities for communication between computers and over the internet.
- Virtualization: Modern OS can run multiple virtual machines, each with its own OS, on a single physical machine.
- Security Enhancements: Over time, OS have evolved to include advanced security features like firewalls, encryption, and sandboxing.
References
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