Operating system

Purpose of an operating system

• The purpose of an operating system is to provide an interface between the user and the hardware.
• This means that we can use the computer and write programs for it, without needing to understand the inner-workings of the hardware.

What does the operating system manage?

• Memory
• Processes
• hardware devices
• File systems
• Security
• A user interface (though this may be a separate utility program)

Examples of operating systems

• Linux
• FreeBSD
• macOS
• Windows