Lecture №3. Software.

Operating systems
Lecture purpose: to study basic concepts of operating systems and their
classification.
Lecture content: types of software, its purpose and characteristics. Basic OS
concepts. Evolution of operating systems. Classification of operating systems,
including for mobile devices and desktop applications.

3.1 Software types

The software is a set of programs of information processing system and
program documents necessary for operation of these programs (GOST 19781-90)
or a set of programs, procedures and rules, as well as documentation relating to
functioning of a data processing system (ST of ISO 2382/1-84).
According to the destination, the software is divided into system, application-
oriented and instrumental; according to the method of distribution and use – into
closed (paid, or limited by access rights) and open, i.e. free which can be
distributed, installed and used on any computers without restrictions.
System software represents a complex of programs providing effective
control of components of a computing system –processor, random access memory,
input-output channels, network equipment, being an intermediate interface
between the equipment and applications of a user. The system software does not
solve specific application-oriented objectives, but only ensures functioning of other
programs; it controls hardware resources of the computing system, etc.
Application software is software which consists of separate application
programs and application program packages intended for the decision of different
tasks of users; automated systems which are created on the basis of these (packets)
of application programs.
The application software can include databases, e-mail servers, network and
safety management, text editors, electronic spreadsheets, client programs for e-
mail and blogs, personal information systems and media editors, as well as media
players, web browsers, auxiliary browsers, etc.
The instrumental software is intended for the development of new programs
and program complexes. The set of different applications on the computer is
created by means of languages and programming systems. A programming
language is the formalized language of algorithms description, which are used for
the decision of different problems on the computer. During the formation and
development of an ADP equipment programming languages were also developed.
Some of them were changed, transformed, integrated with others. Some
disappeared at all. Today, there is a rich arsenal of programming languages:
Assembler, Basic, C ++, Delphi, Fortran, Java, Pascal, etc. Each of these
programming languages has a number of modifications (for example, Basic, Q-
Basic, Visual Basic, etc.), which differ significantly in their capabilities and
properties.

3.2 Basic Concepts of Operating Systems

 An operating system is an interface between a user and a computer. In
addition, OS allows controlling all components of the computing system, realizing
the ordered and controlled distribution of resources between programs.
The evolution of OS had several stages:
1) 1945-1955. Appearance of electron tubes, cross-connect patch panel. Libraries
of mathematical and system programs were applied as the system software.
2) 1955-1960. Appearance of transistors. OS is a batch processing system.
3) 1960-1980. Appearance of integrated microcircuits and multiprogramming.
Multiprogramming systems included implementation of protective mechanisms
between programs, use of exclusive programs, memory protection, and
interruptions.
4) 1980-up to nowadays. Appearance of big integrated circuits and systems for
operation in networks and distributed OS.
The basic concept of OS consists in John von Neumann's principle i.e. the
program consisting of a command set, and its basic data are stored in a total
memory each cell of which has the unique address; each command together with
data is extracted from the memory and executed by the processor. The selection of
the command is carried out by means of the special instruction counter, which
comprises the address of the command executed at present; the commands are
located in memory one by one, at the expense of what the sequential selection of a
chain of commands from the memory is organized. Therefore, there are three
principal components of a computer system: processor, basic memory and
input/output devices (figure 3.1).

Figure 3.1 – Components of computer systems

The processor controls computer operations and performs the function of
data processing according to the program. In modern systems there can be one and
more central processors.
The basic memory stores programs and data. As a rule, it is temporal
(information is saved while powering).
Input/output devices serve for data transfer between the computer and an external
surrounding consisting of peripheral devices including external bulk memory,
communication equipment and terminals.
The mentioned components of a computing system are grouped together
with the help of a system bus. These are structures and mechanisms providing
interaction between the processor, basic memory and input/output devices.
 Operating systems are divided into:
- single-task (for example, MS-DOS, MSX);
- multitask (OC EC, OS/2, UNIX, Windows 95);
- single-user (MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, early OS/2 versions);
- multi-user (UNIX, Windows NT);
- non-preemptive multitasking (NetWare, Windows 3.x);
- preemptive multitasking (Windows NT, OS / 2, UNIX);
- multi-threaded OS;
- multiprocessor (Solaris 2.x, Open Server 3.x, OS / 2, Windows and NetWare
4.1).

3.3 Classification of operating systems for mobile devices

Symbian is an open OS, refers to multitask OS, supports Java, and has good
implementation of packet data transmission, as well as high reliability, resistance
to falling and separate errors. It has also a completely object-oriented architecture
and API demarcation.
Windows Mobile is an open, multitask OS, has great opportunities for
extension, oriented to the operation with multimedia applications. It is compatible
with Windows and basic set of applications, developed with Microsoft Win32 API
usage; it is demanding of operational memory
Linux/Android is a free OS, has general availability of a code, but also poor
multimedia opportunities.
PalmOS (development is stopped, Palm on Linux kernel now): low needs for
a random access memory and energy consumption. Poor multimedia opportunities,
is a single-task and has a closed API. Palm OS was used by many companies
among which there is Lenovo, Legend Group, Janam, Kyocera and IBM.
Apple iOS is a multitask OS; there is no Flash and Java support.
Blackberry OS is developed by RIM Company for Blackberry line of
smartphones. It has the stylish interface, original design of phone and keypad
QWERTY. As well as at Apple, BlackBerry OS is not available to any other
manufacturers. Is very a reliable OS having immunity to many viruses.
Bada is a convenient and effective operating system of Samsung Company,
but is not used in wide scale; there are only 3 phones which work at Bada OS, they
are: Samsung Wave, Samsung Wave 2 and Samsung Wave 3.

3.3 Classification of desktop applications

The desktop application is the computer program intended for daily user
tasks. Such an application is started usually directly from a desktop of the
computer or a notebook and does not require access to the network therefore, it is
not the web application (i.e. does not work in the browser or via the browser). Any
word processor or graphics editor, many games can serve as an example of such
application. The browser itself is the desktop application.
To create desktop applications it is possible to use the following programming
languages and technologies:
- С/C ++, Delphi, C ++ Builder, SQL, etc.;
- Java. NET/WPF;
- Adobe AIR;
- Windows Forms.

Control questions
1 What is an operating system?
2 What is software?
3 How can software be classified?
4 What types of software exist for mobile applications?
5 What are principal components of operating systems?
6 What is a programming language?
7 What is a desktop application?
8 What does the principle of multitasking of OS consist of?