OPERATING SYSTEM

A Computer cannot perform any task with the hardware alone. A set of
instructions is required to direct or guide or guide the computer on what is to be
done this Set of instructions is called a PROGRAM and set of interlinked programs
is called a SOFTWARE.
Software can be broadly classified as System software and Application software.
A software that performs the basic function of a computer is called SYSTEM
SOFTWARE.A software that is employed by users ,such as teacher and students to
performs specific tasks is called APPLICATION SOFTWARE.PAINT is an example of
an Application Software you use an application or program to create ,modify or
delet date stored on your computer
OPERATING SYSTEM

An Operating System OS is the software that manages and controls the working
of a computer .The moment you turn on the computer ,it checks whether all the
computer’s internal devices such as RAM,ROM and peripheral devices (e.g printer
and monitor )are functioning properly .After these checks are successful , the
operating system is loaded .Two examples of the Operating System are windows
and unix.
Why are Operating Systems Used?
Between the user and the computer hardware, an operating system serves as a
communication bridge (interface). An operating system’s objective is to provide a
platform for a user to run programs in an efficient and convenient manner.

An OS is a piece of software that controls how computer hardware is allocated.

Hardware coordination must be appropriate to ensure the computer system’s proper
operation and to prevent user programs from interfering with the system’s proper
operation.

Example: We request or convey our orders to the OS in the same way as a boss
delivers orders to his employees.

The primary purpose of the operating system is to make the computer environment
more user-friendly, with a secondary goal of maximising resource utilisation.
Functions of Operating System:

Process management is a critical component of any operating system. Process

management is the backbone of every operating system. Processes are essential for
managing system resources and ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and
effectively.
In this blog, we will discuss the different process states, different process operations,
context switching, and Process management by modern operating systems

1. File Management
An operating system’s (OS) primary function is to manage files and folders.
Operating systems are responsible for managing the files on a computer. This includes
creating, opening, closing, and deleting files. The operating system is also responsible
for organizing the files on the disk.
Think of your computer as a project manager. A project manager manages the whole
team,checks the working of all the team members,provide resourses,facilitate things for
teams members in the same way operating system will be responsible for checking
ongoing processes,providing resources when required and ensuring that everything is in
order. This could also include managing which files and folders are stored on the
computer and who has access to them.

The OS also handles file permissions, which dictate what actions a user can take on a
particular file or folder. For example, you may have the ability to read a file but not edit
or delete it. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing or tampering with your
files.
Besides this OS helps in doing:

 Creating a file: The operating system provides a graphical user interface or command-line
interface that allows users to create new files. In a graphical user interface-
 You can right-click on a folder or desktop and select “New”
 Choose the type of file you want to create, such as a text file or a Microsoft Word
document. Alternatively, you can use a command-line interface and type commands to
create files.
 Editing a file: Once a file has been created, you can use various tools like word processor and
applications to edit it provided by operating system.

 Updating a file: The operating system provides the facility to edit the file and also tracks
changes made to the file and updates the file metadata accordingly.

 Deleting a file: The operating system provides the facility to delete the file that you no longer
need. OS moves the file to the recycle bin or trash folder, where it can be restored if necessary,
or permanently deletes the file from the storage device.
2. Device Management

 Operating systems provide essential functions for managing devices connected

to a computer. These functions include allocating memory, processing input and
output requests, and managing storage devices. This device could be a
keyboard, mouse, printer, or any other devices you may have connected.
 An operating system will provide you with options to manage how each device
behaves. For example, you can set up your keyboard to type in a specific
language or make it so that the mouse only moves one screen at a time.
 You can also use an operating system to install software and updates for your
devices and manage their security settings.

3. Process Management

The operating system’s responsibility is to manage the processes running on your

computer. This includes starting and stopping programs, allocating resources, and
managing memory usage. The operating system ensures that the programs running on
your computer should be compatible. It’s also responsible for enforcing program
security, which helps to keep your computer safe from potential attacks.
How do Operating systems manage all processes?
Each process is given a certain amount of time to execute, called a quantum. Once a
process has used its quantum, the operating system interrupts it and provides another
process with a turn. This ensures that each process gets a fair share of the CPU time.

The operating system manages processes by doing the following task:

 Allocating and de-allocating the resources.

 Allocates resources such that the system doesn’t run out of resources.
 Offering mechanisms for process synchronization.
 Helps in process communication (inter communication).
4. Memory Management :

One of the most critical functions of an operating system is memory management. This
is the process of keeping track of all different applications and processes running on
your computer and all the data they’re using.
This is especially important on computers with a limited amount of memory, as it
ensures that no application or process takes up too much space and slows down your
computer. The operating system can move data around and delete files to make more
space.
Operating systems perform the following tasks-
 Allocating/de-allocating memory to store programs.
 Deciding the amount of memory that should be allocated to the program.
 Memory distribution while multiprocessing.
 Update the status in case memory is freed
 Keeps record of how much memory is used and how much is unused.

When a computer starts up, the operating system loads itself into memory and then
manages all the other running programs. It checks how much memory is used and how
much is available and makes sure that executing programs do not interfere with each
other.

5. Job Accounting:

An operating system’s (OS) job accounting feature is a powerful tool for tracking how
your computer’s resources are being used. This information can help you pinpoint and
troubleshoot any performance issues and identify unauthorized software installations.
Operating systems keep track of which users and processes use how many resources.
This information can be used for various purposes, including keeping tabs on system
usage, billing users for their use of resources, and providing information to system
administrators about which users and processes are causing problems.

The operating system does the following tasks:

 Keeps record of all the activities taking place on the system.

 Keeps record of information regarding resources, memory, errors, resources, etc.
 Responsible for Program swapping(in and out) in memory
 Keeps track of memory usage and accordingly assigns memory
 Opening and closing and writing to peripheral devices.
 Creating a file system for organizing files and directories.

Conclusion:

 Operating systems play a vital role in our lives, and they perform a variety of
functions to make our lives easier. Operating systems are an essential part of our
daily lives, from managing our files and applications to connecting us to the
internet. We hope this article has given you a better understanding of the
different functions of operating systems and how they can benefit your life.
Operating systems are constantly evolving and improving, so staying up to date
with the latest releases is essential.