Most people use them, but not many people think how they came into being. What is an operating system? In short, an operating system is software that makes hardware user-friendly. The software uses technology to manage resources, assigning system resources such as central processing units, input and output devices, and other software. The operating system also schedules jobs and coordinates resources. It monitors all computer activities and keeps a log of pertinent information. One of the greatest features the operating system is that the user doesn’t need to know how to code to use computers.
Although computers have been around for quite a while, the first operating system didn’t come into being until 1956. By the 1980s, with a variety of computer companies vying for the buyer’s attention, operating systems evolved at a quicker pace. A few operating systems stood out as leaders of the pack.
Microsoft Windows is an operating system commonly found on personal computers. It originated in 1981 and was released to the public in 1985. In addition to running on personal computers, it also runs on servers. UNIX was created by Ken Thompson written in CPL. Now it’s like family of interrelated operating systems. The operating systems are used for servers in business environments as well as engineering and academic environments.
Mac OS X is an operating system that was developed by Apple Inc. The original Mac operating system originated in 1984. OS X was released in 1999. It consists of a line of partially proprietary graphical operating system. There is also a server edition popular for its cymbal like access to network services and its workgroup management tools. Linux is another popular operating system used in devices ranging from wristwatches to supercomputers. It is open source so anyone can modify its code.
Operating systems continue evolve with ever-changing hardware. The prices of different operating system range from costly to free. The common denominator is software that makes hardware work.