What is an Operating System?

Saira Abdul WAheed
5 min readDec 18, 2022

--

An Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between computer hardware components and the user. Every computer system 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 its 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 to existence in 1985 when a GUI was created and paired with MS-DOS.

Types of Operating System (OS)

Following are the popular types of OS (Operating System):

Batch Operating System
Multitasking/Time Sharing OS
Multiprocessing OS
Real Time OS
Distributed OS
Network OS
Mobile OS
Batch Operating

Introduction to linux

Like other operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS, iOS, Google Android, and so on, Linux is an open-source system. The software that makes it possible for software and computer hardware to communicate is known as an operating system. It sends input to the processor, where it is processed, and output to the hardware, where it is displayed. An operating system’s fundamental function is to perform this. We won’t get into the many other crucial functions it performs.

We have Linux since the middle of the 1990s. From wristwatches to supercomputers, it can be used. It is present in our automobiles, laptops, computers, phones, and even refrigerators. It is extremely well-known among programmers and everyday computer users.

History

Due to its extensive distribution and support, Unix is one of the most widely used operating systems worldwide. In the middle of the 1970s, it was initially developed as a multitasking system for minicomputers and mainframes. Despite its sometimes confusing interface and lack of central standardization, it has since grown to become one of the most widely used operating systems worldwide.

Who create Linux?

Linus Torvalds, the Linux operating system’s creator, was born in Helsinki, Finland, on December 28, 1969. He had the opportunity to work with a Commodore VIC-20 that belonged to his grandfather; He already dabbled in programming at the age of ten.

Structure

The Linux design is to a great extent made out of components, for example, the Part, Framework Library, Equipment layer, Framework, and Shell capabilities. Kernel: One of an operating system’s fundamental components is the kernel. It is accountable for each of the Linux OS’s primary functions.

Components

Every operating system has components, and the Linux operating system also has the following components:
Bootloader. Your computer must go through a process known as booting to start.
The OS’s core....
Services for the background
The OS Shell
Server for graphics.
environment for the desktop...
Applications.

Advantages of linux

Linux has a lot going for it over other operating systems:

Software that is open-source and can be modified, improved, and contributed to by anyone. It can also be downloaded and used for free by users.

Windows operating systems are more secure and vulnerable than Linux. The application's administrator must enter a password in order to grant permission to each program. Linux reduces the likelihood that any virus will be executed in this manner.

Linux, which makes use of out-of-date systems like firewalls, backup servers, low-end systems, and so on, can be used to revive outdated computers.

Windows is slower and more difficult to update software than Linux.

Users can easily add or remove features as needed thanks to customization, which lets them add icon themes, wallpapers, and more.

Linux comes in a wide variety of distributions, or distros, including Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, Debian, Linux Mint, and others. These distros increment the component decisions accessible to clients.

Linux is used by a lot of programmers, so there is a lot of online help for errors or situations.

Unlike Windows, there is no need to restart after installing and uninstalling programs.

A slowdown or crash of a Linux system is extremely uncommon.

To protect users' privacy, Linux does not collect a lot of data from them.

Countless organizations and workstations can run at the same time without settling for less on proficiency.

Almost every possible file format can be used with Linux.

Low storage does not affect software or applications' performance.

facilitates multitasking.

Disadvantages

Regression testing in the Linux kernel—and, sadly, in other Open Source software as well—may be incomplete or absent, making new kernels unusable for some hardware configurations (software suspend does not work, crashes, unable to boot, networking issues, video tearing, etc.).

Uses

One of the most widely used operating systems in the world is Unix because of the extensive distribution and support it receives. It was initially developed as a multitasking system for minicomputers and mainframes in the middle of the 19s. Since then, it has grown to become one of the most widely used operating systems in the world despite having an interface that can be hard to understand at times and no central standardization.

--

--