KNOWLEDGE-I.T #2: OPERATING SYSTEM

wisdomdavid (52)in #steemstem • 8 years ago (edited)

What is an Operating System?

An operating system is a collection of programs that after it is loaded by the boot program into the computer, is responsible for managing the overall operation of the computer. We can say that an operating system is the master program which manages the work or the duties of a computer. Operating systems has been in existence since 1950, they were known for executing one program. Thereby not having room for multitasking. In subsequent years, computers were included with a different software program which was called libraries. These libraries were linked together to create the new evolution of the operating systems used worldwide. Thus, the operating system acts like a parent in the computer, giving instruction to the application, when to be processed and allocate time to them.

Computer in its layers

Application programs: Developed by users
System programs: This includes debuggers, text editors etc
Operating system: Master program
Hardware: Physical parts of a computer.

Operating System And Its Component

The operating system has different component but, the three most important component of an operating system are;
The graphic user interface: This gives the visual output of the computation made by the user. It creates a communication or interaction between the user and the computer through graphical icons or the command line.
Application program interface: This interface allows developers to write application codes that will run on the operating system. The application interface allows a request from the application to run on the operating system.
Kernel: Provision of control over all hardware devices is made through the kernel. The kernel plays a vital role in the computer which includes the writing data to the computer memory reading data, determines how the devices send and receives data, processes the execution orders given by the user and can interpret the data received through the network.

Types of Operating System

Multiuser operating system: This multiuser operating system allows different users who are on a different computer to access a single computer or system with an operating system. The programs executed by each user is different, therefore, the task to be done by the operating system is much. An example of a multiuser operating system is Unix, mainframe operating system
Real-time operating system: This kind of operating system are usually used to control machines, Industrial systems, and scientific instruments. A real-time operating system has but few user interface functionality and has no end-user applications or utilities. Further, real-time operating systems manage the computer resources in the sense that when a job is to be executed, it executes on the same amount of time. Given that it occurs again.
Single user, multi-tasking operating system: This type of operating system is common in the world today. Most individuals use this operating system on their laptops, desktop. An example is Microsoft MacOS and windows. A single user gets to process different programs at a time. A user can be streaming a song at the same time writing with the word processor.
Single user, single task: This kind of operating system is designed to be used by one user and the user gets to process one job at a time effectively. A modern single user, single task operating system example is the Palm OS meant for Palm handheld computers.

Different used operating systems today
Microsoft Windows 10: commonly used operating system
Ubuntu Linux: An open source OS. Most servers use Linux because it is easy to customize
IOS: Apple iPhone and iPad operating system.
Apple mac os: operating system used on Apple computers
Chromium: operating A Google OS that is used with Chromebook.
Though there are other different types of an operating system which are used for different special purposes like controlling real-time system, robotics, mainframes etc.

How the Computer Operating System Works

When a computer is powered on, some set of instructions that are stored in the Read-only memory (ROM) runs. These instructions check the hardware to see if everything is functioning properly. The power on self-test (POST) checks the basic input/ output systems known as BIOS and the CPU memory to see if there is any error. When the check is completed, it stores the result in a location in the memory. After the POST is completed, the BIOS or firmware will start activating the hard drive in search for the bootstrap loader.
The bootstrap loader is a program that has its unique functionality. Its function is to load the OS into the memory so that it will begin its operation.
Additionally, the bootstrap loader is responsible for setting up the drivers that serve as a medium to communicate with various hardware in the computer. Establishment of data structures that keeps the semaphores, flags and the myriad signal which are used in communication between the applications of the computer and the subsystem.

Functions of Operating System

There are eight functions of an operating system which are;
File management
Input and output system management
Process management
Networking
Protection system
Command interpreter system
Main Memory management
Secondary management
In operating system, everything these functions are very important but in grouping them, the functions will be categorized into four groups, which are;
Process management, file management, main memory management, and I/O management. The remaining four are categorized under the listed four above.

Conclusion

The most current operating system comes in different forms. Multitasking, multi-user, multithreading, and multiprocessing operating system. the most multi-user operating system used by users multitask. Without the operating system, the computer would be useless. Not only computers have an operating system. Both phones, iPad, and other devices use operating systems. Furthermore, the graphic user interface differs, some graphic user interface is smart. They use touch screens for input in the devices. In the next episode, we will be talking about Process management and how the processes managed in the operating system.