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The Operating System. By J. W. Rider 2 September 2003. A working definition. Software (program and/or data)… … initializes hardware components … interface with users and/or programs … manage program execution Examples:
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The Operating System By J. W. Rider 2 September 2003
A working definition • Software (program and/or data)… • … initializes hardware components • … interface with users and/or programs • … manage program execution • Examples: • CP/M, DOS, Univac Exec, Genie, Linux, MacOS, MS Windows, Multics, OS, p-System, Share/7, Solaris, Tenex, T.H.E., TOPS, Unix, VMS
Tip of the Iceberg • Most users might think of the OS as just what they can see… • But, most of the OS proper is hidden out of sight.
Systems existed before the OS • Originally, computer systems were designed for a specific purpose. One computer; one application. App App App App
Reusable computer systems • General-purpose computers made programming a separate discipline. One computer; many applications. App App App App
The OS makes distributed software practical • The advent of the OS made application and systems programming separate disciplines. Application OS OS
Parts of the OS • Kernel • The barest essential code • Services • Device drivers • Application Programming Interface (API) • Shell • What the user sees
OS Features • Task scheduling • Input/output functions • Library routines • Named file system • Logging • Multiuser, multitasking, multithreading • Memory management
OS “Package” • OS Proper • Other system software • Optional hardware drivers • Development software • Backup and recovery • Other application software • Word processing • Data-base management