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types of software

1. user interafce

   • Operating systems need to provide a means of communicating with them.
   • This means making it possible for the user to issue commands.
   • The user interface is the way in which users interact with computer hardware.
   • Can be either Graphical (GUI) or Command Line.

2. multitasking

   • Most systems commonly have several programs loaded into memory at the same time.
   • The operating system will also be running lots of background tasks just to manage the computer itself.
   • A processor can only execute one instruction at a time (assuming it only has one core).
   • The operating system has to mange all the programs running to make sure each one gets enough processor time.

3. security

   • Operating systems usually allow the authentication of users, i.e. they can be set up to check that users are who they say they are.
   • his normally involves users having user ids and password.
   • Operating systems also handle file privileges, these are right assigned to users and group. This control who can read / write and execute files.

4. peripheral management