Evolution of Operating Systems

Evolution of Operating Systems

Introduction

An operating system is defined as a program used to develop a means of interaction between computer and its user or it simplifies the interaction to an easily understandable level. An operating system controls the communication between computer and peripheral devices such as keyboards, monitors, mouse and printers. OS also controls the interaction between application software and the computer. OS follows different protocols to interact with the machine, store data in an organized manner, retrieve it when required, evaluate answers to intricate arithmetic problems and present the solutions in an understandable manner before the user. Operating systems evolved exponentially or dramatically with the passage of time; today use of computer without an operating system cannot be imagined, though, early computers were hardwired and had to be rewired for different set of instructions.

In this paper, different phases of evolution of operating system will be discussed, starting from the first breed of operating systems and the steps that led to the operating system we use today. The architecture and operations of different OS will be discussed along with their benefits and drawbacks. The progress of operating systems with respect to their features and specifications will be cited. Differences between Command Line Interface (CLI), Single-User Operating Systems and Graphical-User Interface (GUI) will be discussed.

Discussion

Evolution of Operating Systems

The origins of an operating system dates back to 1950s. It was the time when the first internally storable programs and memory systems were developed. The memory system used the method of addressing to a lot different bytes, words or locations in memory sectors different data. At that time, these memory sectors comprised of two main parts, the first containing the data and the second one containing the address to the instructions or next memory locations. Therefore, a computer became able to perform calculations and tasks in sequential manner automatically. Gradually, computers became more complex and intricate and direct interaction to the hardware for a programmer became harder and therefore, these programs were written on punch cards and highly trained professionals would set up the bulky systems accordingly. Therefore, at this time, when one configuration was adopted data was processed in the form of batches and then stored into the memory devices.

Spooling or Multiprogramming

Soon, computer developers designed methods to interrupt or pause on going programs and run other programs like printing. Once the second program was complete, the first program was continued from the exact byte it was left and therefore, the name multiprogramming by a computer came to be known. Today, this is more commonly known as spooling.

Time Sharing

After multiprogramming came time sharing which is defined as the use of a single computer system to perform tasks of different users. This means that the tasks of each user were multiplexed or divided in a series of micro chunks of time which repeated themselves so often that it looked as if all the tasks are being performed simultaneously.

The First Operating Systems

The invention of time sharing became the turning ...