ENV100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Application Software, Application Programming Interface, Network Operating System
Chapter 5 Summary
Operating System Fundamentals
• System software consists of two primary types of programs:
- operating system (OS) is a group of programs that controls
how your computer functions
- utility program is a small program that performs many of the
general housekeeping tasks for your computer, such as system
maintenance and file compression
• user interface – the desktop icons, and the menus that let you
communicate with your computer
Real-Time Operating Systems
• Machinery that performs a repetitive series of specific tasks in an
exact amount of times requires a real-time operating system
(RTOS) (also referred to as embedded systems)
Operating Systems for Networks, Servers, and Mainframes
• A multiuser operating system (also known as a network operating
system) lets more than one user access the computer system at a time
by handling and prioritizing requests from multiple users
• UNIX is a multiuser, multitasking OS that is used as a network OS,
primarily with mainframes, although it’s also often found in PCs
Operating Systems for Personal Computers
• What are the most popular operating systems for personal
computers?
- Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux (an open source OS) are the
top three operating systems for personal computers
• Mac OS was the first commercially available OS to incorporate a
graphical user interface, or GUI, with user-friendly point-and-click
technology
• Linux is an open source OS designed for use on personal computers
and as a network OS. It is gaining popularity among computer
manufacturers (Android, the tablet and phone OS, is Linux based)
• The combination of an OS and a specific processor is referred to as a
computer’s platform
The User Interface
• A command-driven interface is one in which you enter commands to
communicate with the computer system
• The command-driven interface was improved by incorporating a menu-
driven interface, which is one in which you choose commands from menus
displayed on the screen
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ENV100H1 Full Course Notes
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