Processing operating system software#
Although much of the operating system functions are hidden from view, you will know when you are using an applications software package, and this requires that you invoke-call into action-the operating system.
Furthermore, all input and output operations, although invoked by an applications program, are actually carried out by the operating system. In particular, the first listed function, managing the computer's resources, is taken care of without the user being aware of the details. Keep in mind, however, that much of the work of an operating system is hidden from the user many necessary tasks are performed behind the scenes. Printers, (2) establish a user interface, and (3) execute and provide services for applications software. The supervisor controls the entire operating system and loads into memory other operating system programs (called nonresident) from disk storage only as needed.Īn operating system has three main functions: (1) manage the computer's resources, such as the central processing unit, memory, disk drives, and The most important program in the operating system, the program that manages the operating system, is the supervisor program, most of which remains in memory and is thus referred to as resident. Note that we said that an operating system is a set of programs. The CPU chapter), drivers, and service programs, which we will discuss briefly in this chapter (see Figure 2). System software does include the operating system, but it also includes the BIOS software (see Incidentally, the term system software is sometimes used interchangeably with operating system, but system software means all programs related to coordinating computer operations.
Conceptually the operating system software is an intermediary between the hardware and the applications software. An operating system is a set of programs that lies between applications software and the computer hardware. As shown in Figure 1, between the applications software and the hardware is a software interface - an operating system. Are we talking about applications software such as word processing or spreadsheet software? Partly.įigure 1: The Operating System in a Hierarchyīut an applications software package does not communicate directly with the hardware. The hardware needs software to make it work. When a brand new computer comes off the factory assembly line, it can do
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