Operating systems

Operating systems

1. Providing an interface

   • GUI
     • Has a graphical representation of a computer's functions
     • Typically takes up more processing power
   • CLI
     • Shows the functions as individual console lines
     • Takes up less processing power
       • Good for something like a server as it is less likely to crash
   • Functions
     • File management
       • Copying
       • Moving
       • Sorting
       • Deleting
       • Searching
     • System settings and Customization
       • Allows different resolutions, and other technical features
       • Allows different colour schemes and backgrounds, etc.
     • Multi-Tasking
       • Allocates processing power to different programs
     • Error messages and support
       • Lets the user know what went wrong rather than just breaking
     • Task management
       • Allows users to kill and manage unresponsive tasks

2. Managing resources

   • Peripherals
     • Input + Output devices
       • Keyboard
       • Mouse
       • Drivers
         • Uses a small amount of code to connect Operating systems to new hardware
       • The programmer won't need to know what specific device is used
   • Printing
     • Spooling
       • The operating system makes sure that print jobs won't start at the same time, and one will only start when the previous is finished
   • Backing store
     • Will create files to back up deleted items
   • File compression
     • Will store the same data in differing ways in order to take up less space
       • For example: EEEEEFFFFFBBCCCFFFFF would go to 5E5F2B3C5F
   • Security
     • Manages what systems can look at data
       • Separates the memory according to system, so important data in third party systems can't be read either