Lecture 2 - More OS Classifications
Ralph Tambala
MUST . CSIT
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Outline
1 Overview
2 Mode of Use
3 User Interface
Command-line Interface
Graphical User Interface
4 Available Operating Systems
Windows
Mac OS
Linux
5 Additional Resources/Info
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Overview
Overview
Last week we tried to define what an operating system is, we looked
at a classification (types) of OS based on their processing method,
and we also discussed functions of OS.
In this lecture, we are going to discuss OS classifications based on the
mode of use and also the user interface.
We are also going to briefly look at common examples of OS in use.
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Mode of Use
Mode of Use
Operating systems can also be classified into 3 types according to their
mode of use:
Single-user, single-task operating systems enable a single user to
focus on just one task at a time. An example of this is the OS used
by personal digital assistants (PDAs), also known as handheld
computers.
Single-user, multi-tasking operating systems enable a single user to
run multiple programs on their machine at the same time. This is the
type of operating system used on the majority of personal computers,
both desktop and laptop. The most common single-user,
multi-tasking operating systems are Windows, Macintosh, and Linux.
Multi-user operating systems allow multiple users to simultaneously
use the resources on a single computer. An example of such an OS is
Unix.
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User Interface
User Interface
All operating systems provide some form of user interface. The most
common user interfaces used are graphical user interface (GUI) and
command-line interface (CLI).
Figure 1: Graphical user interface (left) and command-line interface (right)
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User Interface
User Interface cont...(2)
A command-line interface (CLI) allows the user to interact with
the computer by typing in commands. The computer displays a
prompt, the user keys in the command and presses enter or return.
Commands must be typed correctly and in the right order or the
command will not work.
A graphical user interface (GUI) was a window system with a
mouse that serves as a pointing device to direct I/O, choose from
menus, and make selections and a keyboard to enter text. The
functions (or user actions) are carried out by clicking or moving
windows buttons, icons and menus by means of a pointing device.
Other kinds of GUI have surfaced, for example, mobile systems such
as phones and tablets provide a touch-screen interface, enabling users
to slide their fingers across the screen or press buttons on the screen
to select choices.
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User Interface Command-line Interface
Command-line Interface
Pros
The following are some advantages of CLI:
A lot faster and efficient than any other type of interface. It can also
handle repetitive tasks easily.
Ability to store scripts to automate regular tasks
Requires fewer resources; does not use much memory, does not use
much CPU processing time and can use a low-resolution monitor
unlike other interfaces.
Cons
The following are some disadvantages of CLI:
Less user-friendly
Steeper learning curve associated with memorizing commands and
complex syntax
Commands vary in different platforms. This means that commands
on Windows CLI may not be understood on Linux CLI.
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User Interface Graphical User Interface
Graphical User Interface
Pros
The following are some advantages of GUI:
Easy to use for a beginners, for instance, simple navigation with
WIMP (windows, icons, menus, pointer) interface.
Not a requirement to learn commands
Getting benefits from WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
Cons
The following are some disadvantages of GUI:
Uses more resources than CLI. GUIs take up a much larger amount of
hard disk space, need significantly more memory, and more processing
power than other types of interface.
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Available Operating Systems
Available Operating Systems
There are numerous OS out there, but in this section, we are going to
briefly discuss a few among the commonly used ones:
Windows - the family of operating systems created by the Microsoft
Corporation
Mac OS - the family of operating systems developed by Apple Inc.
Linux - the family of operating systems developed by Linus Torvalds
who was at the time student at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
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Available Operating Systems Windows
Windows
Microsoft Windows was first released in 1985 as a graphical user
interface (GUI) for DOS, a command-line interface operating system.
In order to communicate with the computer, DOS users must type
commands at the command prompt, and then the command-line
interpreter executes the commands. The term ”DOS” is frequently
used as a synonym for Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS).
In 1991, Windows 3.1 was released. In 1995, Microsoft launched
Windows 95. People purchased the operating system because it was
so well-marketed and in such high demand. Microsoft’s popularity
grew with each new update, from Windows 98 to Windows 2000 to
Windows XP. The most recent release was Windows 10 in 2015.
Almost every new personal computer now comes with the Windows
OS preinstalled. Windows can be installed on almost any brand of
personal computer.
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Available Operating Systems Mac OS
Mac OS
The family of Macintosh operating systems is developed by Apple Inc
since 1984.
Mac OS includes the graphical user interface-based operating systems
it has designed for use with its Macintosh series of personal
computers.
The most recent ones include macOS Mojave (2018), High Sierra
(2017), Sierra (2016). El Capitan (2015), and Yosemite (2014).
Mac OS is very popular because it is stable, clean, simple, and easy to
use.
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Available Operating Systems Linux
Linux
Linux, first released in 1991, is a UNIX variant that runs on several
different hardware platforms.
The kernel, at the heart of all Linux systems, is developed and
released under the General Public License (GNU), and it is
open-source. There are now hundreds of companies, organizations,
and individuals that have released their own versions of operating
systems based on the Linux kernel.
Linux is mostly used as a server platform around the world. It is
becoming more popular as a desktop operating system at home and
in the office. Linux is also being embedded directly into microchips
and devices.
Example: Android OS is a Linux-based mobile operating system that
primarily runs on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, etc.
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Additional Resources/Info
Additional Resources
1 GUI is pronounced “gooey”
2 Those interested in stats on OS market share follow this link -
Operating Operating System Market Share Worldwide
3 Figure 1 source: Medium
4 Next lecture, we will introduce Process Management
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