WHAT IS OPERATING SYSTEM?

Let’s understand more about an operating system

OPERATING SYSTEM(OS)

• An operating system is a software program that empowers the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software.
• An operating system, or OS for short, is the main software that runs on a computer or other electronic device and manages its hardware and software resources. It acts as a bridge between the user and the computer, allowing the user to interact with the computer and run applications. The operating system handles tasks such as managing memory, running programs, managing input and output devices, and controlling the flow of data between hardware components and software programs. It is essential for the proper functioning of a computer or electronic device.

• An operating system (OS) is the most fundamental software that controls and manages the hardware resources of a computer system, providing a user-friendly interface for the user to interact with the system. It acts as an intermediary between the user, the application programs, and the computer hardware, providing a consistent and efficient way for them to communicate with each other.

• The primary functions of an operating system include managing the computer's memory and processing power, controlling input and output devices such as printers and keyboards, managing files and directories, providing a user interface for users to interact with the system, and facilitating communication between the various hardware components and software applications.

Operating Systems for Personal Computers 

01)Disk Operating System (DOS)

DOS (Disk Operating System) was the dominant operating system for microcomputers in the 1980's and the early 1990's. For working with DOS the user needs to know how to input the commands using the Command Prompt Window

02)Windows

Windows is a series of operating systems that are designed by Microsoft. The first two versions of the Windows operating system, introduced 7 in 1985 and 1987 respectively, were primitive. Windows is the most commonly used operating system

03)Mac OS 

Apple Corporation’s registered operating system is called Mac OS.

04)Chrome OS 

Chrome OS is an open-source operating system created by Google to create a better computing experience for people who spend most of their time on the web.

05)UNIX 

UNIX was trademarked in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs as a multitasking, and multi-user computer operating system.

06)Linux 

 Linux is an open-source, portable, multi-user (multiple users can access system resources like memory/RAM/ application programs at the same time), multiprogramming, operating system. It is very similar to other operating systems, such as Windows and a source code is available to the public.

Introduction to GNU/Linux (GNU Not Unix)

GNU/Linux is a family of operating systems that are created by various companies, organizations, and individuals. It is created by using Free Software Philosophies. This means that GNU/ Linux operating systems are usually free of charge, free to distribute, and they are open source. Open Source is when a person can view and modify the code for a piece of software. This is important because by having the ability to look and audit the code, user can be sure that the program does not perform malicious tasks. It also allows the user to program their own features, or fix problems, and help the developers. This results in higher quality code and more secure programs. This is why GNU/ Linux is used as the predominantly backbone of the Internet. Most websites that user visits run on GNU/Linux. In fact, as of 2018, all the world’s fastest 500 computers run Linux.

Ubuntu is one of the most popular GNU/Linux distribution

There are two main ways to interact with the computer : The GUI (Graphical User Interface) and the 

CLI (Command Line Interface)

Graphical User Interface (GUI) 

The graphical user interface is when the user interacts with the computer using images, icons, and dialog boxes. The Fig. no. 4 shows what the Ubuntu 18.04 looks like. This GUI is called GNOME. There are a lot of GUI's (Or desktop environment) that user can install, but this is the default. The left bar is called the Panel. There are shortcuts to programs, as well as currently open programs. The top bar has the date and time. If it is clicked a menu will pop up with the calendar and notifications. Fig. no. 4 shows that the top right side will show user the battery information, if on a laptop, network information (such as Wi-Fi, or Ethernet), and options for logging in, restarting, and shutting down the computer. At the bottom left, there is an icon for the app menu. Clicking on it will show a list of all the apps installed on the computer. The search option is used for quick search of the application. The home folder is where all the personal documents and settings are stored, and every user has their own home folder.

Command Line Interface (CLI)

The command line interface is when user interacts with the computer using text. This is done by typing commands into a terminal. The default CLI on Ubuntu 18.04 is called 'bash'. It is a command processor that runs in a text window where the user types commands that causes actions. The commands are programs that are run when user types command name. There are number of different commands that user can use.