What is an Operating System?

 An Operating System(OS) is a software that manages and handles

hardware and software resources of a computing device.
 Responsible for managing and controlling all the activities and
sharing of computer resources among different running
applications.
 A low-level Software that includes all the basic functions like
processor management, memory management, file management,
etc.
 It mainly acts a government for your system that has different
departments to manage different resources.
 Examples are Linux, Unix, Windows 11, MS DOS, Android, macOS
and iOS.
 What is an Operating System?

An operating
system acts as an
intermediary
between the user
of a computer and
computer
hardware. In short
its an interface
between
computer
hardware and
user.
 What is an Operating System?
 The purpose of an operating system is to provide an environment in
which a user can execute programs conveniently and efficiently.
 An operating system is software that manages computer hardware
and softwares. The hardware must provide appropriate mechanisms
to ensure the correct operation of the computer system and to
prevent user programs from interfering with the proper operation of
the system.
 Operating system is a program running at all times on the computer
(usually called the kernel), with all else being application programs.
 Concerned with the assignment of resources among programs e.g.
memory, processors and input / output devices.
 Short History of Operating System?
Era Key Developments Examples
The first Operating System was GN-NAA I/O in 1956
1956 by Genera; Motors. GM-NAA I/O (1956)

The first Operating System was GN-NAA I/O in 1956

1956 by Genera; Motors. GM-NAA I/O (1956)

Unix popularized simplicity and multitasking; rise of Unix (1971), CP/M

1970s personal computers with basic OSs. (1974)
GUI-based OSs gained traction; networking features Apple Macintosh (1984),
1980s became standard. Windows (1985)
Open-source Linux emerged; GUIs in Windows and Linux (1991), Windows
1990s Mac OS improved. 95 (1995)
2000s- Mobile OSs dominated; cloud and virtualization iOS (2007), Android
Present technologies advanced computing. (2008)
 Some Common Operating Systems
Windows OS
 Developer : Microsoft
 Key Features : User-friendly interface, software compatibility,
hardware support, Strong gaming support.
 Advantages : Easy to use for most users, Broad support from third-
party applications ,Frequent updates and support.
 Typical Use Cases : Personal computing, Business environment,
Gaming.
 Examples: DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows
Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 8.1,
Windows 10.0, Windows 11
 Some Common Operating Systems
macOS (mac for Macintosh)
 Developer : Apple.
 Key Features : Sleek, intuitive user interface, Strong integration
with other Apple products, Robust security features, High
performance and stability.
 Advantages : Optimized for Apple hardware, Seamless experience
across Apple ecosystem, Superior graphics and multimedia
capabilities.
 Typical Use Cases : Creative industries (design, video editing,
music production), Personal computing, Professional environments.
 Examples: system 1, system 2,……macOS 8, macOS 9……
 Some Common Operating Systems
Linux
 Developer : No specific developer, it is Community-driven (various
distributions). First developed by Linus Torvadls in Finland
 Key Features : Open-source and highly customizable, Robust
security and stability, Lightweight and can run on older hardware,
Large selection of distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian).
 Advantages : Free to use and distribute, Strong community
support, Suitable for servers and development environments.
 Typical Use Cases : Servers and data centers, Development and
programming, Personal computing for tech enthusiasts.
 Some Common Operating Systems
 Linus Torvalds is the founder and Chief
Architect of the Linux operating system.
 He studied computer science at the
University of Helsinki and wanted to create
a more powerful and freely distributable
operating system than MS-DOS.
 He invested in a better computer with a
386 processor and began learning the
assembly language for the processor. He
coded a number of advanced software
projects, including a floppy disk driver and
software assembler.
 In 1990, Linus Torvalds began learning Unix when the university purchased a
MicroVAX system. He decided to start writing his own Unix kernel for personal
computers and spent half of a year in front of the PC coding.
 From 1997 to 2003, Linus Torvalds worked for Transmeta Corporation. He currently
works for Open Source Development Labs in Beaverton, Oregon. In 2004 he was
named one of the world’s most influential.
 Some Common Operating Systems
Unix
 Developer: Originally AT&T Bell Labs, various commercial and
open-source versions available
 Key Features: Multiuser and multitasking capabilities, Strong
security and stability, Powerful command-line interface, Portability
across different hardware platforms
 Advantages: Reliable and robust performance, Suitable for high-
performance computing and servers, Extensive support for
networking
 Typical Use Cases: Servers and workstations, Development
environments, Research and academic settings
 Examples: Unix 1, Unix 2, Unix 3, ……., 1BSD, 2BSD, ……Solaris, HP
 Functionalities of Operating System
 Resource Management: When parallel accessing happens in the
OS means when multiple users are accessing the system the OS
works as Resource Manager, Its responsibility is to provide hardware
to the user. It decreases the load in the system.
 Process Management: It includes various tasks like scheduling
and termination of the process. It is done with the help of CPU
Scheduling algorithms .
 Storage Management: The file system mechanism used for the
management of the storage. NIFS , CIFS , CFS , NFS , etc. are
some file systems. All the data is stored in various tracks of Hard
disks that are all managed by the storage manager. It included Hard
Disk .
 Functionalities of Operating System
 Memory Management: Refers to the management of primary
memory. The operating system has to keep track of how much
memory has been used and by whom. It has to decide which
process needs memory space and how much. OS also has to
allocate and deallocate the memory space.
 Security/Privacy Management: Privacy is also provided by the
Operating system using passwords so that unauthorized applications
can’t access programs or data. For example, Windows
uses Kerberos authentication to prevent unauthorized access to
data.
 Device Management: The operating system keeps track of all the
devices. So, it is also called the Input/Output controller that decides
 Fundamental goals of Operating System
The fundamental goals of operating system are
 Efficient use: Ensure efficient use of a computer’s resources.
 User convenience: Provide convenient methods of using a computer
system.
 Non interference: Prevent interference in the activities of its users.
Efficient use
An operating system ensures efficient use of key computer resources
such as memory, CPU, and I/O devices. Inefficiency occurs if a program
fails to utilize its allocated resources. Monitoring resource usage can
improve efficiency but also adds overhead, which may reduce overall
performance. To balance this, operating systems either focus on
optimizing a few critical resources, like CPU and memory, or avoid
monitoring entirely, instead managing programs and resources in a way
 Fundamental goals of Operating System
User convenience:
In the early days of computing, user convenience was minimal, with the ability
to run high-level programs being sufficient. Initially, fast response times were
the primary concern. Command-line interfaces required users to have
significant training, which was acceptable since most users were scientists or
professionals. However, as computers became more widely used, simpler
interfaces were needed. This led to the development of graphical user
interfaces (GUIs), which used icons and mouse interactions for ease of use.
The transition to GUIs is comparable to how driving skills became more
accessible over time, requiring less specialized training.
Non interference
Execution of a user program can be disrupted by actions of other persons, or
the OS services. The OS prevents such interference by allocating resources for
exclusive use of programs and OS services, and preventing illegal accesses to