An overview of Operating System

It is a system software that may be viewed as an organized collection of software, consisting of procedures for the processing of operations in a computer and providing an environment for execution of other programs.

An operating system is an essential component of the computer system. it is a large collection of software that manage the resources of the computer device. the main function of os is to manage hardware and provide an interface for users to interact with it. In general, we can say that os provides a beautiful interface of ugly hardware. the os provides an interface in two types:

GUI - Graphical User Interface

Most modern operating systems provide a graphical user interface that includes windows, icons, menus, and buttons. Users can interact with the OS by clicking on icons, using the mouse to navigate, and running applications through graphical elements.

CLI - Command Line Interface

An alternative to the GUI, the CLI allows users to interact with the OS through text-based commands. Users type specific commands into a terminal or command prompt, and the OS executes the corresponding actions.

The main functions of the Operating system are:

1. Program Execution
2. I/O Operation
3. File Management
4. Resource Allocation
5. User Interface
6. Security
7. Error Detection
8. Process Management
9. Memory Management
10. Task Scheduling

Goals of Operating System

The primary goal of an operating system is to act as an intermediary between the computer hardware and the software applications running on the system. It provides a set of essential services and functionalities to manage and control computer resources effectively. The following are the main goals of an operating system:

1. Resource Management: The OS aims to efficiently manage computer resources, such as CPU, memory, disk space, and input/output devices, to ensure optimal utilization and fair allocation among different processes or applications.
2. Abstraction: Operating systems abstract the complexities of the hardware from software developers and users. It presents a simplified and consistent interface for programming and interacting with the hardware.
3. Process and Task Management: The OS handles the creation, scheduling, and termination of processes and tasks, allowing multiple applications to run concurrently and share resources efficiently.
4. Memory Management: It controls the allocation and deallocation of memory, managing both physical RAM and virtual memory, to provide uniform memory space for applications and protect them from interfering with each other's memory.
5. File Management: The OS provides a file system that organizes and stores data on storage devices, enabling users and applications to create, access, and manage files easily.
6. Device Management: It handles communication and interaction with input/output devices, such as printers, keyboards, and monitors, ensuring data exchange between hardware and software.
7. Security: Operating systems enforce security policies to protect the system and user data from unauthorized access, viruses, and malware.
8. User Interface: The OS offers a user-friendly interface to interact with the computer system, simplifying interactions through graphical user interfaces (GUIs) or command-line interfaces (CLIs).
9. Error Handling: It detects and manages errors, faults, and exceptions that might occur during system operation or application execution, attempting to recover gracefully when possible.
10. Interprocess Communication (IPC): Operating systems facilitate communication between different processes, allowing them to share data and collaborate.

Overall, the ultimate goal of an operating system is to provide a stable, secure, and efficient environment for users and applications to utilize computer resources effectively and achieve their tasks without having to worry about the underlying hardware complexities.