Introduction to Operating System

Definition and Purpose

 Definition of OS
 A program that manages all the resources of the
computer system.
 Software component of the computer system that is
responsible for the management and coordination
of activities and the sharing of all the resources of
the computer.
 It is a program that acts as an intermediary
between the user of the computer and the computer
hardware.
 It manages all communications among the different
components of the computer system, the different
application programs residing in the memory and
the user of the computer system.
 Definition of OS
 It controls the whole computer system and acts as
the supervisor that handles all activities within the
hardware.
 It is intimately involved with everything inside the
hardware like sending and retrieving data, keeping
everything in its proper place, and providing each
component with matching orders.
 Example: Steps performed by the OS when the
user saves the document she is doing

1. The user issues a save command while using an

application program such as word processor.
2. The word processing application signals the
operating system that a document must be saved
to disk.
3. The operating system communicates the
document to the disk device driver to saving.
4. The disk device driver controls the disk drive as
it saves the document.
 Purpose of Operating System
 To provide an environment within the hardware so that users
can execute their programs smoothly without mishaps or
glitches.
 It serves as a platform where other programs can run.
 For the user – the user-friendly environment OS provides
ease and accessibility.
- It acts as a host and provides stable and
consistent way for applications to deal with the hardware
without having to know all about the details of the hardware
(abstraction).
- It also handles the intricacies of the operation
of the hardware.
 Purpose of Operating System
 For the System – the OS sustains the efficiency in
the management and use of the computer system
and its resources.
- it organizes and controls the
hardware and software so that the devices
connected behave in a flexible but predictable way.
- it also ensures that the different
applications running at the same time do not
interfere with each other.
 OS as a Receptionist
 Handles the user interface.
 As the computer is booted, the first point of contact
will be the OS.
 It is considered as the welcoming committee which
assist the user all throughout his/her contact with
the hardware.
 OS as a Dispatcher
 It provides services for managing the queue of
programs scheduled for processing and activation.
 OS as a Security Guard
 It controls access to system and files.
 It prohibits unauthorized users access to the
system.
 It also prevents users from accidentally or
intentionally interfering with each other.
 OS as a Manager
 Handles the efficient allocation of resources.
 Resource – any object that can be allocated within
the system.
 Monitors resource continuously
 Enforces policies and decides which gets what, how
much and when
 Allocates the resources
 De-allocates the resources
 OS as a Traffic Officer

 It directs the passage of data through the CPU and

guide the CPU when to look in the memory, when
to read or write on the data storage and when to
display on screen the data or provide a hardcopy
using the printer.
 OS as an Accountant
 Monitors the users who logs-on to the system, what
kind of resources are utilized by each user, and what
resources are requested by each user.
 It keeps track on how a file has been accessed? Who
accessed it? What file? And when it was accessed?