Lecture- 1- Introduction To Operating System

Introduction: Operating System

Definition:

• An Operating System(OS) is a program that acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware and controls the execution of all kinds of programs.
• 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.
•  An operating system is a software which performs all the basic tasks like file management, memory management, process management, handling input and output, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

System Software: 

• System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computer's hardware and application programs. If we think of the computer system as a layered model, the system software is the interface between the hardware and user applications.
• Any computer software which manages hardware so that application software can perform task.
• Example : Operating System, Device Driver etc.

Application Software:

• Application software is a term which is used for software created for a specific purpose. It is generally a program or collection of programs used by end users. It can be called an application or simply an app.
• In fact all the software other than system software and programming software are application software.
• A software which is developed to help the user to perform specific tasks is called application software.
• Example: Ms-Word, Mp3 Player, Video Player etc..

Applications Of Operating System:

Following are some of the important activities that an Operating System performs −

• Security: By means of password and similar other techniques, it prevents unauthorized access to programs and data.
• Control over system performance: Recording delays between request for a service and response from the system.
• Job accounting: Keeping track of time and resources used by various jobs and users.
• Error detecting aids: Production of dumps, traces, error messages, and other debugging and error detecting aids.
• Coordination between other softwares and users: Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters, assemblers and other software to the various users of the computer systems.