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How "Operating Systems" Work: Dave Coustan If You Have A Computer, Then You Have Heard About Operating Systems

The operating system (OS) manages the computer's hardware and software resources and provides a consistent way for applications to interact with the hardware without knowing specific details. OSes allow devices to serve multiple purposes, interact with users in complex ways, and adapt to changing needs over time. Common OSes for desktops/laptops include Windows, MacOS, and Linux/UNIX variants, while mobile devices increasingly have OSes that allow apps and customization. The OS is loaded at startup and is essential for a computer to function.

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11 views

How "Operating Systems" Work: Dave Coustan If You Have A Computer, Then You Have Heard About Operating Systems

The operating system (OS) manages the computer's hardware and software resources and provides a consistent way for applications to interact with the hardware without knowing specific details. OSes allow devices to serve multiple purposes, interact with users in complex ways, and adapt to changing needs over time. Common OSes for desktops/laptops include Windows, MacOS, and Linux/UNIX variants, while mobile devices increasingly have OSes that allow apps and customization. The OS is loaded at startup and is essential for a computer to function.

Uploaded by

Sabrina Termizi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How “Operating Systems” Work

DAVE COUSTAN

If you have a computer , then you have heard about operating systems .

A ny desktop or laptop pc that you buy normally comes pre-loaded with windows XP Macintosh computers
come pre-loaded with OS X . Many corporate servers use the Linux or UNIX operating systems . The
operating system (OS) is the first thing loaded onto the computer – without the operating system, a computer is
useless

More recently , operating systems have started to pop up in smaller computers as well . If you like to tinker with
electronic devices , you are probably pleased that operating systems can be found on many of the devices we
use every day , from cell phones to wireless access points.

The computers used in these little devices have gotten so powerful that they can now actually run an operating system and
applications. The computer in typical modern cell phone is now made powerful than a desktop computer more than 20 years
ago, so this progression makes sense and is a natural development .In any device that has an operating system,theres usually
a way to make changes to how the device works. This is far from a happy accident, one of the reason operating systems are
made out of portable code rather than permanent physical circuits is so that they can be changed or modified without having
to scrap the whole device. At the simplest level, an operating systems does two things:

 It manages the hardware and software In a system with two or more CPUs, the operating
sources of the systems.In a desktops system must divide the workload among the CPUs,
computer, these resources include such thing trying to balance the demands of the required process
as the processor,memory,disk spaces.etc.(On with the available cycles on the different CPUs.
a cell phone,they include the keypad,the
screen,the address book,the phone dialer,the Asymmetric operating system (11:01:2-7) use one
battery and the network connection)1 CPU,Symmetric opearating systems (12:0:2-7) divide
 It providesa stable, consistent way for themselves among the various CPU;s,balancing demand
applications to deal with the hardwarewithout versus CPU availability even when the operating system
having to know all details of the hardware .2 itselfis all that’s running.

For other device, an operating system creates the ability Even if the operating system is the only software with
to: execution needs, the CPU is not the only resource to be
scheduled.Memory management is the next crucial step
 Serve a variety of purpose in making sure that all the process run smoothly.
 Interact with use in more complicated ways
 Keep up with needs that change over time

All desktop computer have operating systems . The most


common are the windows family of operating system
developed by Microsoft , the Macintosh operating
systems developed by Microsoft, the Macintosh
operating systems developed by APPLE and the UNIX
family of operating systems (which have been developed
by a whole history of individuals, corporations and
collaborators). There are hundreds of other operating
systems available for special purpose application,
including specializations for mainframes ,robotic
,manufacturing , real-time control systems and so on.

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