What are operating systems for?

The operation of any computing devices is impossible without control programs. They are operating systems. What is a computer? This is a complex system, consisting of a large number of different specialized units-nodes, called accessories. For example, the power supply unit converts the AC voltage of 220 volts into a series of permanent components required for the operation; The video card processes images and displays them on the monitor screen; The central processor deals with calculations, etc. In other words, the computer system is a set of hardware components that are combined into a single device. To coordinate the work of all nodes, you need operating systems. An important point: any of them can be installed on the computer (with regard to bit depth and other requirements).

To simplify understanding of the term "operating systems", you can use the analogy with a person: the hardware of the computer is the body; Control programs are the nervous system and the brain with a set of reflexes; And the application program is represented by thought, intention, idea. A command hierarchy is formed: thought - reflexes - body (action). Of course, this explanation is correct only with reservations, but it allows you to "on your fingers" to explain what operating systems are. In fact, they represent a kind of buffer between the program, components and the user.

No application can run outside of the operating system. Even at the dawn of computing, when in Windows, Linux, Mac OS, work was possible thanks to DOS. By the way, this abbreviation stands for a disk operating system.

By the way of work all such solutions can be divided into three groups: real time, with separation, batch tasks. In the first, the user (or external signals) can interfere with the calculation process. Accordingly, the result is changed. Time sharing involves several tasks, but with a fast switching of the processor between them, which creates the illusion of continuity. Intervention is also possible. But batch processing consists in creating a list of tasks and sending them to execution. Correct the data can only be in between the packets.

Any operating system provides three types of interaction: the user and applications, programs and hardware components, data flows among themselves. For the convenience of the user, a graphical interface was created - a set of intuitively understandable pictograms, working with which a person forms commands for the system (in automatic "transparent" mode). All modern solutions are graphical. These include the Windows family, Linux and the Apple operating system. Work through the command line is now most often implemented as an add-on. The exception is highly specialized devices.

Since most users are not at all interested in exactly how the operating system installed on the computer works, the choice is made, first of all, for the convenience of interaction with the interface. It differs not only in appearance, but also in language. Thus, the Russian operating system is more popular in the countries of the former Union.