OPERATING SYSTEM: WHAT IT IS FOR, COMPONENTS, TYPES, EXAMPLES - TECHNOLOGY - 2025

The operating system is a program conceived to deal with the main components in the operation of a computer system, such as issuing commands to different hardware devices and allocating system resources, such as main memory, to the different applications that are running.

It is software that is required to run all application programs and utility routines. In addition, it works as a bridge for better interaction between application programs and computer hardware.

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The operating system is made up of the system software, which are the fundamental programs that the computer needs to start up and function. Every desktop, tablet, and smartphone includes an operating system to provide basic device functionality.

Its main objective is to make the computer system comfortable to use, as well as to take advantage of the hardware in an efficient way. The operating system performs basic tasks such as receiving keyboard input, processing instructions, and sending the output to the screen.

What is an operating system for?

Master control

The operating system is the program that serves as the master control of the computer. When it is turned on, a small boot program is what loads it.

Although additional system modules can be loaded as needed, the main part known as the kernel or kernel at all times resides in memory.

When computers were first introduced, the user interacted with them through a command line interface, which required written commands. Currently, almost all computers use a GUI (graphical user interface) operating system, which is much easier to use and operate.

For large systems it fulfills important responsibilities. He acts like a traffic cop, making sure that different programs running at the same time do not interfere with each other.

The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users cannot access the system.

Intermediary between user and hardware

In a computer system the hardware can only understand the code of the machine, in the form of 0 and 1, which does not make any sense to a common user.

You need a system that can act as an intermediary and manage all the processes and resources present in the system.

An operating system could be specified as an interface between a person and hardware. It is the guarantor that all the processes are executed, the handling of the files and the CPU, the allocation of resources and many other tasks.

As the operating system acts primarily as the user interface of a computer, it plays a significant role in how you interact with the device. Therefore, many users prefer to use a particular operating system.

Run applications

When software developers create applications, they must write them for a specific operating system. This is because each operating system communicates with hardware differently and has a specific application program interface (API) that the programmer must use.

Although many popular programs are cross-platform, developed for multiple operating systems, some are only available for a single operating system.

The programs communicate with the operating system to be able to carry out all the operations that have to do with file management and the user interface.

goals

The purpose of an operating system is to control and organize hardware and software so that the device where it is hosted works properly.

- Hide details of hardware resources from users.

- Make the computer system convenient to use efficiently.

- Manage the resources of a computer system.

- Provide users with a convenient interface to use the computer system.

- Provide an efficient and fair exchange of resources between users and programs.

- Track who is using which resource, authorizing resource requests and intervening in conflicting requests from different programs and users.

Components of an operating system

Windows, Linux and iOS

All the components exist for the various parts of a computer system to work together.

Core

It provides one of the most fundamental levels of control over all of the computer's hardware devices. The kernel is the central component of an operating system. It is initially loaded and remains in main memory.

Manage the accessibility of RAM memory for programs, establish which programs have access to resources. It implements the operating states of the CPU for optimal operation at all times.

Process execution module

The operating system provides an interface between an application program and the hardware, such that the application program can connect to the hardware by simply following the principles and procedures configured in the operating system.

Interrupt Module

Interrupts are essential, because they provide a reliable method for the operating system to respond to its environment.

An interrupt is a signal from a device connected to the computer, or from a program inside the computer, that needs the operating system to determine exactly what to do next.

Upon receiving an interrupt, the computer puts any running program on hold, saves its state, and executes the operating system code associated with the interrupt.

Memory management module

He is in charge of all aspects of memory management. It ensures that a program does not conflict with the memory that is being used by another program.

Multitasking module

Describes the operation of multiple independent programs on the same computer. The operating system has the ability to see where these programs are and move from one to another without losing information.

It is done using time sharing, where each program uses a portion of the computer's time to run.

Security module

If a computer allows the simultaneous operation of multiple processes, then these processes must ensure the activities of each.

The operating system must be able to differentiate between the requests that should be allowed to process and those that should not be processed.

User interface module

This unity is vital for human communication to be feasible. Verify and request operating system services, obtaining information from input devices and requiring operating system services to display status messages and so on on output devices.

Data management module

Keeps track of data when it is stored. The program manages the data through a file name and its particular location. This drive knows where data is physically stored on the hard drive.

The interaction between an application and the operating system is done through a programming interface. When a program needs to save or retrieve information, it calls this unit, which is in charge of opening, reading, writing and closing the files.

Types of operating systems

Real-time operating system (RTOS)

They are used to control industrial systems, scientific instruments, and machinery. This type of operating system has almost no user interface capability, because the system is a sealed box on delivery.

This type of system is mainly used to manage computer resources in such a way that a particular operation is executed in the exact same amount of time each time it occurs.

One user, one task

This type of system operates computer equipment in such a way that one person can only perform one job simultaneously.

The Palm system belongs to this type, used for handheld computers of that brand.

One user, multitasking

It is the one currently used in desktop computers. Windows is an operating system where you can have multiple applications running simultaneously.

That is, a person may be typing text in a word processor while an e-mail message is being printed and a file is downloaded from the Internet.

Multi user

With this type of system, several people can use the resources of a computer at the same time.

The operating system must be certain that there is a balance in the requirements of the users and that each program they are using has sufficient resources separately so that if there is a problem with one user, it will not affect the others.

Unix and VMS operating systems used in macrocomputers are part of this type of operating system.

Features

User interface

Currently everything is based on graphics, the user interface includes windows, menus and a method of interaction between the user and the computer.

Before the existence of graphical user interfaces (GUI), all operations were performed using commands. Operating systems can support optional interfaces.

Job management

Job management controls both the time and the sequence in which applications run.

IBM's job control language is common in the high-end macrocomputer and server environment. It was developed to schedule daily work.

On Unix / Linux servers it is common to run small programs at certain times during the day.

In a desktop environment, batch files can be written to perform a sequence of operations, which can be scheduled to start at any given time.

Task management

In the macrocomputer and server environment this management is critical. Applications can be prioritized to run faster or slower, depending on their purpose.

On desktop computers, multitasking is usually a change of tasks, keeping applications open so that users can go back and forth between them.

Device handling

Devices can be managed by the operating system through the use of instructions in the peripheral's own code.

The software used to communicate with peripherals is called a driver. A specific driver is required for each device connected to the computer.

Security

Operating systems provide password protection to keep unauthorized users out of the system.

Activity logs are kept, being able to provide a count of time for billing purposes.

They can also provide backup and recovery routines to start over in the event of a system failure.

Most used operating systems

Windows

It has been the most widely used operating system for personal computers. Each version contains a graphical user interface, with which users can view files and folders.

Microsoft introduced it with version 1.0 in 1984. The most recent version for end users is Windows 10.

Previous versions of Windows include Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

The first business-oriented version of Windows, called Windows NT 3.1, was in 1993.

Windows can run on any x86 series computer, such as Intel and AMD processors. For this reason, it can be installed in the vast majority of computer brands.

OS X

This operating system was designed by Apple for Macintosh computers. It replaced Mac OS 9 in 2001 as the standard operating system for Mac.

It is based on Unix and uses the same kernel. This kernel provides OS X with better multi-processing capabilities and better memory management.

The OS X desktop interface is called Finder and includes several standard features, such as a fixed menu bar at the top of the screen.

This operating system also contains a large library of functions, which can be used when writing Mac programs.

Linux

It is a Unix-like operating system created by Linus Torvalds. When a working version of Linux was finished building, it was freely distributed, helping it gain popularity. Currently, Linux is used by millions of people around the world.

This operating system is highly customizable. Programmers can even modify the source code and create their own version of the Linux operating system.

Linux is often installed on web hosting servers because servers based on this system are cheaper to configure and maintain than those based on Windows.

Linux is also compatible with various hardware platforms, including Intel, PowerPC, DEC Alpha, Sun Sparc, and Motorola.

Android

It is a free platform based on Linux. It was originally developed by Google and released in 2007 for mobile platforms.

It is a strong rival to Apple iOS, which is the operating system used in Apple's iPhone.

Atari

Atari Inc. is an arcade game production company. This company has developed various operating systems for its consoles, among which are:

- GEMDOS

- BIOS

- XBIOS

- The Operating System (TOS)

- MultiTOS

- FreeMiNT

BlackBerry OS

Blackberry, formerly known as Research In Motion Limited, is a Canadian-based company that produces hardware and software. The operating system used in mobile devices is the BlackBerry OS, which is based on Java technology.

Unlike the Android operating system, the BlackBerry OS is a closed source system, so it can only be used on company devices.

JavaOS

The Java operating system is open source, so it can be used on a variety of devices, not just those produced by the company.

It is also a multiplatform system, which means that it is compatible with other operating systems (Windows, Linux, among others).

FreeBSD

The FreeBSD operating system is a free source system based on systems developed by Unix, compatible with the GNU / Linux operating system and the applications developed by it.

This operating system is used by the Yahoo! and for the consoles of Nintedo.

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