Functions and concept of operating systems

Since the advent of computers, not much time has passed by the standards of human history. But the operating systems, which manage them, have moved far ahead. This is not even related to the developments of Bill Gates, who proposed to use the Windows system. In fact, everything happened much earlier. The concept of operating systems should be considered from a short digression into the history of programming. And that is not all. Moreover, the concept of the operating system, OS classification and other terms can not do without this simply.

Computers at the dawn of creation

If we consider computers since their inception, then operating systems as such were then absent altogether. Old computers were a common computing complex, capable of processing some mathematical operations.

The simplest solution for data I / O at that time was punched cards and punched tapes. The first had special empty cells, the alternation of which allowed to enter information in the desired order. The second at the output displayed the processed result. Naturally, this method was extremely inconvenient, therefore, in the course of time, automated systems began to appear capable of quickly responding to data entry and obtaining results.

Programming languages of entry level

The concept and functions of the operating system can not be imagined even without the basic knowledge of programming languages.

Once upon a time, Basic was considered one of the easiest to understand and write programs. He was taught even in high school. Applying it to write programs, you could create graphic images, play notes (true, only with the use of system dynamics), etc. There was no question of what we have today. The concept and purpose of the operating system came much later.

The fact is that even primitive programming languages no longer cope with the I / O functionality assigned to them. To solve this issue it was necessary to approach much more seriously.

Transformation

As you know, the simplest programming language of the environment, in which any user could work, did not give everything that we have for the moment. Over time, more complex language packs began to emerge, which, by the way, are still used (the same Assembler or Delphi).

Although Assembler does not currently write operating systems, nevertheless many applications can use this language. But here for the creation of a full-fledged operating system (or, as now it is customary to say, OS), such languages did not fit initially. That is why the basic concepts of operating systems have changed somewhat over time.

It became clear that the operating system itself should become a kind of connecting link between the computer "iron" components, programs and user. So for the first time there were control programs, which can be called the first operating systems. They, however, were very far from today.

Use of the first systems in telephone exchanges

The first company that started using the basic concepts of operating systems was the American telephone company AT & T.

This is understandable, at that time, engineers and technicians tried to maximize the automation of telephone communication between subscribers. If anyone remembers, even in the movies of those years, you can see operators that connect subscribers by using special plugs that are inserted into a specific cell corresponding to the number of the outgoing and incoming call.

The concept of operating systems in this case was reduced only to the creation of a fully automated process of connecting subscribers without the participation of operators. In the world of computer technology, it is believed that the programs used by AT & T have become a kind of prototype for modern UNIX-based systems (which, incidentally, many favorite Linux also belong to).

Windows: how it all began

What is the operating system today? The concept, the main functions - all this can not be ignored without understanding what revolution in the computer world was made by the corporation Microsoft in the person of then its leader Bill Gates. He was the first to offer a comprehensive approach to understanding the connection between the computing capabilities of computers and the user who watches the result of his actions on the monitor.

So the DOS system was created. It worked, however, only with the help of commands entered manually, but the "old man" Norton tried to do something unified so that the entire environment could be managed in full.

Now the concept of the operating system (OS) is not without knowledge of such a unique product as Norton Commander, because many applications such as file managers are created exactly in the image and likeness of "grandfather Norton".

Yes, take at least such well-known applications as Windows Commander or Total Commander, which in the interface have the same two panels borrowed from Norton, in combination with function keys that can have a direct purpose or perform other actions while simultaneously pressing with Shift or Ctrl .

Object-oriented programming

Over time, the notion of operating systems has changed again. Using the simplest commands and a meager interface led to the fact that Microsoft has developed a completely new concept of the approach to communication between computers and the user.

The very same Bill Gates gave the user a graphical interface, behind which he hid the execution of system or other software processes. In this case, the Windows operating system, the concepts of which are quite complex from the point of view of the programming language (C + / C ++), could fully work with all the "iron" components of computers, installing special microprograms for their correct and correct functioning, today called drivers. So it became possible to connect absolutely any devices (even peripherals).

The simplest example could be the same printers, video cards, removable media , etc.

But it was not always so. That's why the software developers created a special "bridge", called DirectX. Manufacturers of new equipment also began to produce equipment using the Plug & Play standard (plug and play). Now it was enough just to install the device driver so that it worked properly in the system.

Starting with Windows'98, the drivers of the most common and popular devices began to be included in the operating system installation package itself. Not surprisingly, now you can install drivers manually, even for mobile gadgets.

The concept of a multitasking operating system

Many users of computer systems do not understand a bit about what the multitasking of the system is related to. In simple words, this can be explained by the execution of several processes at the same time or by the possibility of performing a multitude of actions that are envisaged in the arsenal. Thus, the "operating system" itself turns into a powerful tool for performing certain actions, launching third-party programs, the execution of which is not provided by default, etc.

Operating systems: concept, classification

As for modern OS, today there are a lot of them. Microsoft's direct competitor is Apple, which produces computers and mobile devices. In contrast to Windows, it represents the operating system Mac OS X, which (oddly enough) is created in the image and likeness of "Windows".

The only thing that is worth noting is that today this OS is the most secure in the world. For her, not that viruses are not created, they just do not work in this environment.

Operating systems for mobile devices

Manufacturers of mobile equipment, too, did not stay aloof. The concept and functions of the operating system from this point of view should be based solely on what set in the OS the developer himself has invested. It is clear that on the same smartphones or tablets you will not find the usual screen with the same button "Start", as in Windows (although after the "Seven" and refused it).

But the concept of the operating system here is reduced only to the use of widgets or icons, when you click on which you can call an application, function or program.

The most common in this respect can be called "OSes" such as Android, iOS, Windows Mobile, Blackberry and some others. As you can see, even the grandees of the computer world left no idea what the concept of the operating system is, the classification by type of executable (or available for execution) applications, and so on.

In general, now there are even OS, capable of restoring other "OSes." They do not require installation on the hard drive and can work with any removable media. The concept of operating systems in this case can not be avoided without mention of such a unique software product as BeOS. Many people do not know it, nevertheless, by downloading such "OSes" from a disk or a flash drive, you can fix many problems in the same Windows systems. On startup, it simply bypasses the boot sector of Windows (provided that the BIOS loads the appropriate type).