Introduction of Operating System

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.

An operating system is a piece of software that manages the allocation of computer hardware. The coordination of the hardware must be appropriate to ensure the correct working of the computer system and to prevent user programs from interfering with the proper working of the system.
Example: Just like a boss gives order to his employee, in a similar way we request or pass our orders to the Operating System. The main goal of the Operating System is to thus make the computer environment more convenient to use and the secondary goal is to use the resources in the most efficient manner.

What is Operating System?

An operating system is a program on which application programs are executed and acts as a communication bridge (interface) between the user and the computer hardware.

 

The main task an operating system carries out is the allocation of resources and services, such as allocation of: memory, devices, processors and information. The operating system also includes programs to manage these resources, such as a traffic controller, a scheduler, memory management module, I/O programs, and a file system.

Functionalities of Operating System

Operating System can manage the following tasks easily.

• Process Management: When we perform multiple tasks like word, Photoshop, or C program. Then OS manage all these tasks through CPU scheduling algorithms.
• Process synchronization: OS also control the Parallel co-operative processes.
• Resource Manager: It is mostly important at server system. When multiple processes are requesting for same source, then OS allocate them resource.
• CPU Scheduling: There are lot of CPU scheduling algorithms available to schedule the process. Discuss later.
• File Management: OS manage all files of computer system. It includes he process of creating, editing, updating, and deleting the files.
• Memory Management: OS Load the processes in RAM and manage the Allocation and de-allocation.
• Storage Management (Hard Disk Management): OS tells us, How to manage the data on Hard disk. As NIFS (common internet file system), CIFS and NFS (Network file system).
• Security: Although OS provide security for data. But it also provides security for all processes, so that they cannot interfere with each other. if one process interferes with other process then that will be blocked.

Operating System services

1.      Program Execution: The Operating System is responsible for execution of all types of programs whether it be user programs or system programs. The Operating System utilizes various resources available for the efficient running of all types of functionalities.

2.      Handling Input/output Operations: The Operating System is responsible for handling all sort of inputs, i.e., from keyboard, mouse, desktop, etc. The Operating System does all interfacing in the most appropriate manner regrading all kind of Inputs and Outputs.

For example, there is difference in nature of all types of peripheral devices such as mouse or keyboard, then Operating System is responsible for handling data between them.

3.      Manipulation of File System: The Operating System is responsible for making of decisions regarding the storage of all types of data or files, i.e., floppy disk/hard disk/pen drive, etc. The Operating System decides as how should the data should be manipulated and stored.

4.      Error Detection and Handling: The Operating System is responsible for detection of any types of error or bugs that can occur while any task. The well-secured OS sometimes also acts as a countermeasure for preventing any sort of breach to the Computer System from any external source and probably handling them.

5.      Resource Allocation: The Operating System ensures the proper use of all the resources available by deciding which resource to be used by whom for how much time. All the decisions are taken by the Operating System.

6.      Accounting: The Operating System tracks an account of all the functionalities taking place in the computer system at a time. All the details such as the types of errors occurred are recorded by the Operating System.

7.      Information and Resource Protection: The Operating System is responsible for using all the information and resources available on the machine in the most protected way. The Operating System must foil an attempt from any external resource to hamper any sort of data or information.

All these services are ensured by the Operating System for the convenience of the users to make the programming task easier. All different kinds of Operating System more or less provide the same services.