Operating System

Two Types of Software

• Software is the programs and applications that tell the

computer what to do and how to look.

• Computer programmers write the codes/instructions that

make-up software applications/programs.

• Types of Software

– Application Software

– Operating System Software

 Application Software

• Business software: word processors, spreadsheets, and database

programs.

• Communication software: allows computers to communicate with other

computers: Skype

• Graphics software: software that allows users to create and manipulate

graphics: Photoshop, Print Shop, etc.

• Education and Reference software: Programs that help teach new material
and ideas, and programs that can be used to find information : Encarta,
Worldbook Encyclopedia.

• Entertainment software
 Difference between OS and User Software

• If a user does not like a particular piece of

program like e-mail may get a different one or
write his own
• However, a user does not free to write his own
clock interrupt handler,.
 What Is An Operating System?

• Computer System ! Lots of hardware !!

• One or more processors
• Main memory
• Disks
• Printers
• Various input/output devices

• Managing all these components requires a layer of

software – the operating system
 What is an Operating System?

• A program that acts as an intermediary between a

user of a computer and the computer hardware
• Operating system goals:
– Execute user programs and make solving user
problems easier
– Make the computer system convenient to use
– Use the computer hardware in an efficient manner
 Computer System Structure

• Computer system can be divided into four components:

– Hardware – provides basic computing resources
• CPU, memory, I/O devices

– Operating system
• Controls and coordinates use of hardware among various
applications and users

– Application programs – define the ways in which the system resources

are used to solve the computing problems of the users
• Word processors, compilers, web browsers, database systems,
video games

– Users
• People, machines, other computers
Four Components of a Computer System
 Interface

• Interface:
• shell when it is text based
• GUI (Graphical User Interface)
• Examples:
• Windows, Linux,
 Functions of Operating System

• Abstraction
– User performs File I/O not disk I/O
– The architecture of a computer system of most computers is difficult
to program at the machine language level, especially for I/O
– Example:
• I/O Of Floppy Read Write Command
• Requires 13 parameters, packed into 9 bytes.
• Status of Motor (On or Off) should also be considered
 Functions of Operating System

• Since we have an already written library, namely the OS, to add two numbers
we simply write the following line to our program:
• c=a+b;
• in a system where there is no OS installed, we should consider some
hardware work as:
• (Assuming an MC 6800 computer hardware)

• LDAA $80  Loading the number at memory location 80

• LDAB $81  Loading the number at memory location 81
• ADDB  Adding these two numbers
• STAA $55  Storing the sum to memory location 55

• As seen, we considered memory locations and used our hardware knowledge

of the system.
 Functions of Operating System

• Security
– For security, modern operating systems employ a firewall. A
firewall is a type of security system that monitors all computer
activity and blocks it if it detects a threat.

• Coordination between other software and users

– operating system (OS) allows hardware components to be
coordinated and directs and allocates assemblers, interpreters,
compilers, and other software to different users of the computer
system.
 Functions of Operating System

• Memory Management
– It is the management of the main or primary memory. Whatever program is executed, it
has to be present in the main memory.
– Main memory is a quick storage area that may be accessed directly by the CPU. When
the program is completed, the memory region is released and can be used by other
programs. Therefore, there can be more than one program present at a time. Hence, it is
required to manage the memory.
– A file system is a collection of directories, subdirectories, and files organized in a logical
order.
– The OS is responsible for maintaining the file system through indexing of filenames and
their disk location.
 Functions of Operating System

• Processor Management/Scheduling
– Every software that runs on a computer, whether in the background
or in the frontend, is a process. Processor management is an
execution unit in which a program operates. The operating system
determines the status of the processor and processes, selects a job
and its processor, allocates the processor to the process, and de-
allocates the processor after the process is completed.

– When more than one process runs on the system the OS decides
how and when a process will use the CPU. Hence, the name is
also CPU Scheduling. Certain algorithms used for CPU scheduling are
as follows:
• First Come First Serve (FCFS)
• Shortest Job First (SJF)
• Priority-based scheduling etc.
 Functions of Operating System

• Booting process
– The process of starting or restarting a computer is referred to as
Booting. Cold booting occurs when a computer is totally turned
off and then turned back on. Warm booting occurs when the
computer is restarted. The operating system (OS) is in charge of
booting the computer.
 Types of Operating Systems

• Single user/single-tasking
• Single-user/multitasking
• Multi-user/multitasking
 Single-User, Single Task

• OS designed to manage the computer so that one user can

effectively do one thing at a time

Example: MS-DOS is an example single-tasking single-user OS

with a command line interface (CLI).
 Single-User, Multi-Tasking

• Most popular OS

• Used by most of PCs and Laptops

• Let's a single user interact with several programs,

simultaneously

Example: Windows, Mac OS, Linux

 Multi-User, Multi Tasking

• A multi-user OS allows many users to take advantage

of the computer's resources, simultaneously

Example: Linux, Windows Servers

The User’s View

Rick Graziani graziani@cabrillo.edu 20

Rick Graziani graziani@cabrillo.edu 21
 Ref

• https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/generations-of-computers-computer-fundamentals/