operating system introduction (software)

operating System

1. Operating Systems Software

2. What is Software? Definition: Software refers to the set of instructions, data, or programs used to operate computers and execute specific tasks. It is the non-tangible component of computers, contrasted with hardware, which refers to the physical devices. Importance: Without software, most hardware would be non-functional. Software makes computers useful and capable of running various tasks.

3. Types of Software: Application Software: These are programs designed to perform specific tasks for users. Examples include: Productivity Software: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace. Web Browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge. Media Players: VLC Media Player, Windows Media Player. Graphics Software: Adobe Photoshop, GIMP

4. Types of Software: System Software: This includes the operating system and all utility programs that manage computer resources at a low level. Examples include: Operating Systems (OS): Windows, macOS, Linux.Device Drivers: Software that allows the OS to communicate with hardware peripherals.Utilities : Disk management tools, antivirus programs, etc.

5. Types of Software: Development Software: Tools that developers use to create, test, and maintain other software programs. Examples include: Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): Visual Studio, Eclipse, PyCharm. Code Editors: Sublime Text, Atom, VS Code.

6. Operating Systems

7. What is an Operating System? An operating system is system software that acts as an intermediary between computer hardware and the computer user. It manages hardware resources and provides services for computer programs. An operating system acts as a communication bridge (interface) between the user and computer hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide a platform on which a user can execute programs in a convenient and efficient manner

8. The Evolution of Operating Systems: Early OS (1950s-1960s): Batch processing, no interaction with users. 1960s-1970s: Introduction of time-sharing systems (e.g., Unix). 1980s: Development of graphical user interfaces (e.g., Apple Macintosh, Microsoft Windows). 1990s-2000s: Growth of mobile operating systems, introduction of networked OS, and popularization of open-source systems. 2010s-Present: Rise of cloud-based OS, IoT (Internet of Things) devices with embedded OS, and advancements in real-time and secure OS.

9. Functions of an Operating System: Process Management: Handles the creation, scheduling, and termination of processes. It ensures that each process gets the necessary resources and time on the CPU. Memory Management: Manages computer memory, allocating space for programs and ensuring that different programs do not interfere with each other’s memory. File System Management: Manages data storage, including file organization, storage, retrieval, naming, sharing, and protection of files.

10. Functions of an Operating System: Device Management: Manages device communication via their respective drivers. It controls hardware peripherals and allocates their usage among various processes. Security and Access Control: Ensures that unauthorized users do not access the system. It protects data and resources through authentication (e.g., usernames and passwords). User Interface: Provides a way for users to interact with the computer. It can be command-line-based (CLI) or graphical (GUI). Networking: Manages network communications, facilitating data exchange between computers over networks.

11. Key Components of OS A shell is basically an interface present between the kernel and the user.  A kernel is the very core of a typical OS. A shell is a CLI (command-line interpreter)/ GUI A kernel is a type of low-level program that has its interfacing with the hardware on top of which all the applications run (disks, RAM, CPU, etc.).