OVERVIEW ON

OPERATING SYSTEM
An Operating System (OS) is an interface between a computer
user and computer hardware. An operating system is a software
which performs all the basic tasks like file management, memory
management, process management, handling input and output, and
controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
An operating system is software that enables applications to interact
with a computer's hardware. The software that contains the core
components of the operating system is called the kernel.
The primary purposes of an Operating System are to enable
applications (softwares) to interact with a computer's hardware and
to manage a system's hardware and software resources.
Some popular Operating Systems include Linux Operating System,
Windows Operating System, VMS, OS/400, AIX, z/OS, etc. Today,
Operating systems is found almost in every device like mobile
phones, personal computers, mainframe computers, automobiles,
TV, Toys etc.
0th Generation: The term 0th generation is used to refer to the period of development of computing when
OPERATING
Charles Babbage invented the Analytical SYSTEM
Engine and GENERATIONS
later John Atanasoff created a computer in 1940. The
hardware component technology of this period was electronic vacuum tubes. There was no Operating System
available for this generation computer and computer programs were written in machine language. This computers
in this generation were inefficient and dependent on the varying competencies of the individual programmer as
operators.

First Generation (1951-1956): The first generation marked the beginning of commercial computing including
the introduction of Eckert and Mauchly’s UNIVAC I in early 1951, and a bit later, the IBM 701.
System operation was performed with the help of expert operators and without the benefit of an operating system
for a time though programs began to be written in higher level, procedure-oriented languages, and thus the
operator’s routine expanded. Later mono-programmed operating system was developed, which eliminated some
of the human intervention in running job and provided programmers with a number of desirable functions. These
systems still continued to operate under the control of a human operator who used to follow a number of steps to
execute a program. Programming language like FORTRAN was developed by John W. Backus in 1956.

Second Generation (1956-1964): The second generation of computer hardware was most notably
characterized by transistors replacing vacuum tubes as the hardware component technology. The first operating
system GMOS was developed by the IBM computer. GMOS was based on single stream batch processing system,
because it collects all similar jobs in groups or batches and then submits the jobs to the operating system using a
punch card to complete all jobs in a machine. Operating system is cleaned after completing one job and then
continues to read and initiates the next job in punch card.
Researchers began to experiment with multiprogramming and multiprocessing in their computing services called
the time-sharing system. A noteworthy example is the Compatible Time Sharing System (CTSS), developed at MIT
during the early 1960s.

Third Generation (1964-1979): The third generation officially began in April 1964 with IBM’s announcement
of its System/360 family of computers. Hardware technology began to use integrated circuits (ICs) which yielded
significant advantages in both speed and economy.
Operating system development continued with the introduction and widespread adoption of multiprogramming.
The idea of taking fuller advantage of the computer’s data channel I/O capabilities continued to develop.
Another progress which leads to developing of personal computers in fourth generation is a new development of
minicomputers with DEC PDP-1. The third generation was an exciting time, indeed, for the development of both
computer hardware and the accompanying operating system.
Memory Management:
 Memory management refers to management of Primary
Memory or Main Memory. Main memory is a large array of
words or bytes where each word or byte has its own address.
 Main memory provides a fast storage that can be accessed
directly by the CPU. For a program to be executed, it must in
the main memory.

Processor Management:
 In multiprogramming environment, the OS decides which
process gets the processor when and for how much time. This
function is called process scheduling. An Operating System
does the following activities for processor management −
 Keeps tracks of processor and status of process. The program
responsible for this task is known as traffic controller.
 Allocates the processor (CPU) to a process.
 De-allocates processor when a process is no longer required.
Device Management:
 An Operating System manages device communication via their
respective drivers. It does the following activities for device
management −
 Keeps tracks of all devices. Program responsible for this task is known
as the I/O controller.
 Decides which process gets the device when and for how much time.
 Allocates the device in the efficient way.
 De-allocates devices.

File Management:
 A file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation
and usage. These directories may contain files and other directions.
 An Operating System does the following activities for file
management −
 Keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc. The collective
facilities are often known as file system.
 Decides who gets the resources.
 Allocates the resources.
 De-allocates the resources.