An operating system is a program that managaes a coputer’s hardware. Operating systems do act as an intermediary between the user of a comouter and computer hardware. The purpose of operating system is to provide an environment; in which a user can execute programs in a convenient and efficient manner.
Introduction –
Lets see what is the role of operating system in overall computer system. Computer system is divide into four component; hardware, the operating system, the application programs and users.
The hardware the central processing unit (CPU), the memory, and the input/output (I/O) devices. They provides the basic computing resources for the system. The application program such as word processors, spreadsheets, compilers and web browsers; define the ways in which these resources are used to solve users computing problems. The operating system controls the hardware and co-ordinates its use among the various application program for the various users.
The operating system provides the means for proper use of these resources in the operation of the computer system. An operating system is similar to a government. Like a government, it performs no useful function by itself. It simply provides an environment within which other programs can do useful work.
Users View –
The users view of the computer varies according to how the use . The goal is to maximize the work that the user is performing. In such case the operating system is design mostly for ease of use. With some attention paid to the performance and none paid to resource utilization.
In other case, user sits at workstations connectes to networks of other workstations and servers. They share their resources such as networking and servers, including file, compute, and print servers. Therefore, their operating system is design according compromise individual usability and resource utilization.
Systems view –
Operating is the program most intimately involve with the hardware. A computer system has many resources that may be requires that may be requir to solve a problem. The operating system acts as the manager of these resources. The operating system must decide how to allocate them to specific programs users; so that it can operate the computer system efficiently and fairly.
