Operating System

Introduction

Software

System Software Application Software

Operating System Language Processors

 System Software
• These are the programs required for the basic working of
the system
• It manages the computer system at a more fundamental
level.
• It provides tools and environment in which application
software can be created and executed.
• It manages and integrates a computer's capabilities but may
not directly perform tasks that benefit the user.
• The system software serves the application, which in turn
serves the user.
• It often interacts directly with the hardware and provides
more functionality than the hardware itself does.
• Examples – Operating systems, Drivers, etc.
 System Software
• Operating System
– It is the core of the computer’s system software.
– It acts as an interface between the user and the
system.
– It manages the computer resources such as memory,
I/O devices and provides an interface through which
an user can interact with the computer.
– It also allows an application program to interact with
other system resources.
• Language Processors
– These convert High Level language instructions to
machine language instructions(binary)
 Application Software
• An application software is the set of programs
necessary to carry out operations for a specified
task.
• It is used to solve the real world problems.
• Examples include accounting software, enterprise
software, graphics software, media players, etc.
OPERATING SYSTEM(Continued)
Human users

Application Software

Operating System

Other System Software

Hardware
 Operating System
• A computer generally has one OS that
becomes active and takes control when the
system is turned on.
• A computer can have two or more OS from
which the user chooses at the time of booting.
This configuration is often called DUAL BOOT
or MULTIBOOT system.
• However only one OS controls the computer
at any given point of time.
 Input & Output Human Computer
control Interface (HCI) Multitasking
Security (manages log on,
Passwords) Multiprogramming
Operating
Interrupt handling
System Batch Processing
routines

Real time processing Error Handling

Memory management Loading and running of

Applications / software
Processor management
File utilities (eg copy Management of
Save, sort, delete) user accounts
• http://www.tutorialspoint.com/operating_system/os_properties.htm
 Functions of operating system
• Memory Management
• Memory management refers to management of Primary
Memory or Main Memory.
• Operating System does the following activities for
memory management.
– Keeps tracks of primary memory i.e. which part of it is in use
by which process, which part is not in use.
– Allocates the memory when the process requests it to do so.
– De-allocates the memory when the process no longer needs it
or has been terminated.
– Prevents any overlap of memory between different processes
– Uses virtual memory in secondary storage if RAM becomes
full
 Functions of operating system
• Processor Management
• OS decides which process gets the processor
when and how much time.
• This function is called process scheduling.
• Operating System does the following activities for
processor management.
– Keeps tracks of processor and status of processes.
– Allocates the processor(CPU) to a process.
– De-allocates processor when processor is no longer
required.
 Functions of operating system
• Device/Peripheral Management
• OS manages device communication via their
respective drivers.
• Operating System does the following activities for
device management.
– Keeps tracks of all devices and their drivers.
– Appropriate drivers get loaded onto the RAM
– Decides which process gets the device when and for
how much time.
– Allocates the device to a process and De-allocates
– Uses interrupts and polling
 Functions of operating system
• File Management
• Uses file system to store, organize, manage files
and directories on a storage device
• Allocates memory for a file contiguously or non-
contiguously
• Keeps track of the locations of all pieces of
information for a file – File Allocation table
• Performs disk defragmentation
• Use RAID mechanism (use several disks with
redundant data) for backup and recovery
 Functions of operating system
• Other Important Activities
• Following are some of the important activities
that Operating System does.
– Security -- By means of username, password and
setting of access privileges, preventing unauthorized
access to programs and data.
– Error Reporting -- Producing error messages and log
appropriately.
 Functions of operating system
• Program execution
• Operating system handles many kinds of activities
from user programs to system programs.
• Each of these activities is encapsulated as a process.
• A process includes the complete execution context
(code to execute, data to manipulate, registers, OS
resources in use).
• Following are the major activities of an operating
system with respect to program management.
– Loads a program into memory.
– Executes the program.
 Functions of operating system
• Multitasking
• Multitasking refers to term where multiple jobs are
executed by the CPU simultaneously by switching
between them.
• Switches occur so frequently that the users feel that
all the processes are running simultaneously and
may interact with each program.
 Operating System
• OS manages resources and these resources
are often shared among the various programs
that want to use them.
• Multiple programs executing concurrently
share the use of main memory.
• They take turns using the CPU.
• They compete for an opportunity to use the
I/O devices.
• The OS acts as a playground monitor making
sure that everyone cooperates and gets a
chance to play.
 Operating System
• The OS is itself just a program that must be
executed.
• OS processes must also be managed and
maintained in the main memory along with
other system software and application
programs.
• The OS executes on the same CPU as the other
programs, and it must take its turn among
them.
 Loading OS
• Switch on – Power supply
• ROM chip containing fixed instructions to check
hardware, processor, RAM etc
• If no errors, OS is loaded onto RAM from hard disk

• Simple devices with embedded microprocessors

may not have OS
• Input (Button press) directly activates the
hardware.
 Application Software
• An application software is the set of programs necessary to carry out operations for a
specified task.
• Word Processors
– Software to compose and edit written material.
– Example: Microsoft Word, Pages
• Spreadsheets - characteristics
– Software to compose and analyse data in a table form. can make graphs and calculations with
formulae.
– Made up of rows and columns used to organize data;
– Automatically (re)calculates results when data is entered/changed;
– Helps people to get various results/many combinations quickly;
– Built in graphs, charts allow easier and faster interpretation of data;
– Example: Microsoft Excel, Numbers
• Database management systems
– Software used for storing and retrieving large sets of data and run operations on the data.
– Example: Oracle, MS Access, MySQL
• Email
– Software to send and receive mails with other facilities like attachments, filtering, contact lists
– Example: Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes
• Web browsers
– Software to send the request to the web servers and load the webpages in response
•
Word Processing
Word processing is the phrase used to describe using a computer to create, edit, and print
documents.
• A word processor software enables you to create a document, store it electronically, display
it on a screen, modify it by entering commands and characters from the keyboard, and
print it on a printer.
• Basic Features
– Editing – cut, copy, paste
– Formatting – Page size, margins, fonts
– Word Wrap
– Search and Replace
– Graphics
– Headers and Footers
– Spell Check, Grammar Check
– Each word in the text file is compared with words in a dictionary (held in memory/online); If the
word is found in the dictionary it is correctly spelt / if the word is not found in the dictionary,
spellchecker will recognize that it is incorrectly spelt;
– Mail merge facility - Template created in the word processor; Lists created with ID; Linked to
details in database; Appropriate details merged/inserted into template; Email lists created and
sent / letters printed and sent;
– Table of contents, Index
– Multiple Windows
– Thesaurus
 Spreadsheets
• A spreadsheet is a table of values arranged in rows and columns.
• Spreadsheet Applications
• Spreadsheet applications (sometimes referred to simply as spreadsheets) are computer
programs that let you create and manipulate spreadsheets electronically.
• In a spreadsheet application, each value is in a cell.
• You can define what type of data is in each cell and how different cells depend on one
another.
• The relationships between cells are called formulas
• Examples - AppleWorks, Microsoft Excel, Google Spreadsheets
• Features
– Graphs and Charts
– Formulae
– Sorting
– Absolute and relative referencing
– Locking cells
– Automatic re-calculation
– Conditional formatting
– Import / Export support
– Searching and filtering
 DBMS
• A general-purpose DBMS is designed to allow the definition, creation,
querying, update, and administration of databases.
• Well-known DBMSs include MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle.
• Features
– A command language that allows you to create, delete and alter the database (data
description language or DDL)
– A way of documenting all the internal structures that make up the database (data
dictionary)
– A language to support the manipulation and processing of the data (data
manipulation language)
– Support the ability to view the database according to the requirements of the user –
(Views)
– Provide some level of security and access control to the data

• The simplest DBMS may be designed with a single user in mind e.g. the
database is 'locked' until that person has finished with it.
• On the other hand an enterprise level DBMS can support a huge number of
simultaneous users with thousands of internal tables and complex 'roll back'
capabilities should things go wrong.
 Email Software
• Client based email or Web mail
• Client-based email is often used by business users and involves the email
being downloaded from a server to an application (such as Microsoft Outlook
or Mozilla Thunderbird) on the user’s computer.
• Webmail is accessed through a web browser and can be accessed from any
computer with an Internet connection.
• Features of email
– automatic reply to messages
– auto forward and redirection of messages
– facility to send copies of a message to many people
– automatic filing and retrieval of messages
– files, graphics or sound can be sent as attachments, often in compressed formats
– Filtering messages, message folders
– addresses can be stored in an address book and retrieved instantly
– notification if a message cannot be delivered
– emails are automatically date and time stamped
– signatures can be attached
– Spam detection
 Web Browsers
• Features
– Access information/resources from WWW
– Contact the web server through links/URLs
– Interpret HTML and display the web page
– Execute the web scripts (eg Java scripts)
– Multiple windows, multiple tabs
– Pop up blocker
– Bookmarks / Favourites
– Privacy and security (HTTPs and proxy server)
– Web cache, download history, search history, cookies, and browsing
history
– Plug ins / browser extension is a computer program that extends the
functionality of a web browser.
 Computer aided design (CAD)

• Software to digitally design and edit parts to be manufactured.

• Often includes a Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) module to be able to
use the model to directly produce a prototype.
• Features
– greater accuracy (it is possible to work to within 1/72 of an inch)
– objects and drawings can be created in 2D, 3D
– images can be viewed from any angle
– powerful scaling, rotation and reflection options
– libraries of engineering components which can be imported
– links to packages to calculate costs
• Benefits
– Support design/layout/development/rapid prototyping in
engineering/manufacturing /biomechanics/architecture;
– Save time/costs associated to drawing/development;
– Photorealistic rendering/photo simulation in architecture/video games/visual
effects/simulators; eg shading, radiosity, reflection, refraction, illumination for
modelling and simulation;
– Increases productivity for the designers
 Application Software

• Painting packages
• A painting application allows freehand drawing and colouring, usually with a
mouse.
• Generally the features are:
– a palette from which the user can choose colours
– freehand pens and brushes offering different styles and line thickness
– a range of standard shape tools such as rectangles and circles
– colour fill tools
– spray cans and eraser tools
– cut, copy and paste
– zoom (to work in finer detail)
• Bitmap graphics
• Bitmap graphics made with painting packages consist of many tiny dots called
pixels. It is possible to edit each individual pixel.
• Since the computer has to store information about every single pixel (the
colour for example) in the image, the file size of a bitmap graphic is often
quite large.
• Photo editing
• Photo editing software allows the user to edit and adjust photographs.
• Digital photos are bitmap images.
• There is a large range of photo editing software available, eg Adobe
Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, GIMP and Paint.NET.
• Features
• Crop – cut off sides of an image to make it a suitable size or remove
unwanted areas.
• Adjust contrast and brightness.
• Remove red-eye.
• Layers - you can have several different elements of the graphic as
separate layers. These layers can be made invisible or even deleted at any
time.
• Special effects & filters – the effects vary from one piece of software to
another but usually include:
– Artistic effects - for example, making a picture look like an oil painting.
– Geometric effects - for example, making an image appear to be on the surface
of a ball.
– Colour adjustments - for example, turning a photo into greyscale or brightening
 Common features of applications
• Toolbars
– A set of icons which enables you to use the operations built by a program
• Menus
– A set of commands such as file, save, print, etc. usually located above the toolbar
• Dialogue Boxes
– A pop-up that appears in response to the user. It is more user-friendly since they typically only contain two
commands such as ok or cancel.
• Graphical User Interface with buttons, ribbons
• Templates and Wizards
• Help
• Possibility to terminate the application
• Possibility to save current working
• Common features improve usability for a wide range of users.
• Some features are provided by the application software and some by the operating system.
(toolbars, menus, dialog boxes, windows)
– Saves time for the programmers
– Improves usability (same kind of UI)
• Improvements associated with developments in application software. Various tools available to
build your own apps and software
– Saves time and effort
– Easy storage and retrieval of information
• Use of GUI components of OS in application
programming
– Application developers do not have to implement basic
GUI components.
– All applications use the same basic GUI elements
resulting in a better user experience.
– The operating system coordinates GUI elements for all
applications reducing the need for developers to do so.
– Application code is much smaller since all the GUI-
related code is in a standard library.
 Macros
• A macro is a way to automate a task or procedure which you perform on a regular
basis.
• A macro is a series of instructions and/or actions that can be recorded and then set to
run whenever you need to perform the same task in the future
• Examples of macro use
• - Producing a graph from a table of data
• - Importing data from another program e.g. prices from a spreadsheet into a flyer
• - Exporting data to another program
• - Sorting data in a table
• - Saving the contents of a worksheet as an archive file and then clearing the worksheet
ready for the next day/week
• - Printing a workbook / invoice
• Features of macros
• - Keystrokes or mouse clicks can be recorded to make the macro
• - The actions are saved as Visual Basic code which can be edited by hand.
• - Shortcuts keys can be allocated to macros
• - Macros can be assigned to a button. When the button is pressed, the macro will run.
• Macros

Advantages