An Operating System (OS) is software that acts as an interface between computer hardware components and the user. Every computer must have at least one operating system to run other programs. Applications like Browsers, MS Office, Notepad Games, etc., need some environment to run and perform their tasks.
The OS helps you to communicate with the computer without knowing how to speak the computer’s language. It is not possible for the user to use any computer or mobile device without having an operating system.
History Of OS
- Operating systems were first developed in the late 1950s to manage tape storage
- The General Motors Research Lab implemented the first OS in the early 1950s for their IBM 701
- In the mid-1960s, operating systems started to use disks
- In the late 1960s, the first version of the Unix OS was developed
- The first OS built by Microsoft was DOS. It was built in 1981 by purchasing the 86-DOS software from a Seattle company
- The present-day popular OS Windows first came into existence in 1985 when a GUI was created and paired with MS-DOS.
Objectives of OS
The primary goals of an operating system are as follows:
- Convenience – An operating system improves the use of a machine. Operating systems enable users to get started on the things they wish to complete quickly without having to cope with the stress of first configuring the system.
- Efficiency – An operating system enables the efficient use of resources. This is due to less time spent configuring the system.
- Ability to evolve – An operating system should be designed in such a way that it allows for the effective development, testing, and introduction of new features without interfering with service.
- Management of system resources – It guarantees that resources are shared fairly among various processes and users.
Goals of the Operating System
There are two types of goals of an Operating System i.e. Primary Goals and Secondary Goals.
- Primary Goal: The primary goal of an Operating System is to provide a user-friendly and convenient environment. We know that it is not compulsory to use the Operating System, but things become harder when the user has to perform all the process scheduling, and converting the user code into machine code is also very difficult. So, we use an Operating System to act as an intermediate between us and the hardware. All you need to do is give commands to the Operating System and the Operating System will do the rest for you. So, the Operating System should be convenient to use.
- Secondary Goal: The secondary goal of an Operating System is efficiency. The Operating System should perform all the management of resources in such a way that the resources are fully utilized and no resource should be held idle if some request to that resource is there at that instant of time.
How an Operating System Works
The workflow of a computer begins when you press the power button on your PC or even your phone. Once the power button is pressed the OS is the first program that runs.
In a real real-life scenario, we can compare an OS to the government in a particular country. Just like the way governments offer different directives on services and regulations to run different departments the same way OS controls program executions in a machine.
Another scenario to describe this: If you were to travel to a place that you had never been to before, where they speak a language that you are not familiar with, how will you communicate with the locals? Obviously, you will need a translator’s help. That’s exactly what an OS does in your computer. It converts the computer language into a human-understandable language.
Without the help of an OS, it will be difficult to run even a single program on a machine actually it will be very complex to execute a single task. With this simple understanding, you are able to understand that one of the OS’s roles is to organize and control hardware and software so that the device it lives in does not only behave in a flexible but also predictable way.
Global market share held by operating systems for desktop PCs, June 2022:
| Windows | 76.33% |
| macOS | 14.64% |
| Linux | 2.42% |
| Chrome OS | 1.71% |
| Others | 4.89% |
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows, also called Windows and Windows OS, computer operating system (OS) developed by Microsoft Corporation to run personal computers (PCs). Featuring the first graphical user interface (GUI) for IBM-compatible PCs, the Windows OS soon dominated the PC market. Approximately 90 percent of PCs run some version of Windows.
Developed by Microsoft, It is the most used OS among computer users. Its latest release is Windows 11, with some of its older versions including Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and Vista. XP and Windows 2000.
Mac OS
macOS, formerly (1984–2001) Mac OS and (2001–2016) Mac OS X, operating system (OS) developed by the American computer company Apple Inc. The OS was introduced in 1984 to run the company’s Macintosh line of personal computers (PCs). The Macintosh heralded the era of graphical user interface (GUI) systems, and it inspired Microsoft Corporation to develop its own GUI, the Windows OS. This OS comes pre-installed on all Macintosh computers.
Linux
Linux is a computer operating system created in the early 1990s by Finnish software engineer Linus Torvalds and the Free Software Foundation (FSF).
While still a student at the University of Helsinki, Torvalds started developing Linux to create a system similar to MINIX, a UNIX operating system. In 1991 he released version 0.02; Version 1.0 of the Linux kernel, the core of the operating system, was released in 1994. At about the same time, American software developer Richard Stallman and the FSF made efforts to create an open-source UNIX-like operating system called GNU. In contrast to Torvalds, Stallman and the FSF started by creating utilities for the operating system first. These utilities were then added to the Linux kernel to create a complete system called GNU/Linux, or, less precisely, just Linux.
It is an Open-Source software, which has resulted in many distributions over the past years. It is considered to be used by people who know their way around working with the command line.
Some of its distributions include Ubuntu, Parrot, Debian, Arch, Linux Mint, Fedora, Kali Linux, and more.
Other rising OS in the computer field include: Chrome OS & Android
Advantages and Disadvantages of Operating Systems
By this point, it is evident that OS plays a big role in our day-to-day life. It is within our midst either your phone or even your laptop or the PC back at the office.
The different types we have all have their benefits and downsides, and that’s why there will always be new versions released time after time. Let’s have a look at some of the pros and cons of an OS.
Advantages
- Resource Sharing
Operating System allows for an opportunity to share resources with other users via services like printers, fax, over the network, etc… some of the most commonly shared resources include: files documents, videos, images and apps, and emails. - Security
With the large amount of data stored in the computers, it’s the responsibility of an OS to make sure all the data present is secure. A good example of an OS actively securing user data is Microsoft’s Windows Defender, it detects malicious and harmful files and removes them or denies access to install. - User Friendly
The interface provided by the GUI is much more user-friendly compared to a command line interface. It comes with various symbols, buttons, menus, and other graphical representations which all make them easily understandable. As a result, users can interact and communicate with the machine easily. - Multitasking
By using an operating system, users can perform different tasks simultaneously. There is no need to close one window to open another.
Disadvantages
- Cost
Unless it is an open-source operating system like Linux and its distros, most Operating Systems are considered to be expensive. Even though users can choose free versions of them, they typically have limited features. - Virus Attacks
Just like any other software out there, the risk of viruses is always higher in an operating system. Sometimes users can unknowingly download malicious programs, visit malicious websites, or open email attachments containing viruses, all which can make a computer vulnerable to viruses. - Complexity
The languages used to develop the OS are more complex for people without programming knowledge. So you can’t always quickly resolve problems in the OS just by looking you will have to look for a specialist to help hence maintenance cost rises. - System Failure
An operating system is the heart of the computer system, and if by any chance, due to any reason, it stops functioning, then the whole system will crash. Meaning without an OS your machine can not function at all.
How to Choose an Operating System
Knowing what to look for when choosing an OS, will have a big impact on your daily interaction with the computer. It is always advised to shop keeping in mind the budget at hand and the features you are aspiring for this also depends on your career.
Here are the common actors to consider:
- User-friendliness
Each OS has a new thing it has to offer, especially for beginners. Be sure the OS you choose has an easier learning curve and you can easily adapt to it. Linux and its distributions have always been considered less user-friendly to beginners with OS like windows being more friendly. - Software Compatibility
Be sure to chore an OS that supports installation of the software you use on daily basis or even plan to use. A good example is the windows system supports a wide variety of commercial software, unlike Mac which mostly supports software from its library only. - Hardware Configuration
You’ll want to make sure that you’ll have access to the software that you use in service delivery. You just need the software that will help you deliver your services. Pick the operating system that has everything that you need with full support and updates. - Cost & Support
You will need to make sure that the price range is within your budget. Mac generally costs more than most of the others. It is possible to get a cheaper or free OS that effectively serves every purpose you’ll need it to serve. - Security
As discussed in the disadvantages since an OS is just like any other software it’s vulnerable to attacks. Be sure to choose an OS that has high-security measures. Usually, Windows is considered to be more vulnerable due to it’s wide market share while Linux distros are considered less vulnerable