The Operating Systems

CRITIQUE 1

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Introduction

Operating systems are diverse and it is necessary that computer scientists understand all about them to be able to carry out various work activities that relate to computers’ operating systems. This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the 7th edition of William Stallings, OPERATING SYSTEMS: Internals and Designs Principles.

Critique

Problem addressed

The OPERATING SYSTEMS: Internals and Designs Principles clearly addresses operating systems in regard to their mechanism, structure, and concept. Particularly, Stallings dwells on UNIX and Windows 7 operating systems. Windows 7 is an operating system that is used in servers, PCs (Personal Computers), and work stations respectively (Stallings, 2012). UNIX on the other hand is a multiuser operating system that is used in a wide range of machines, even super computers, but it had been originally intended for minicomputers. UNIX’s open-source version, Linux, is the one that is commonly used.  

Prior research

There are elements that help to define a computer’s operating system. Its main components comprise of the processor, the input/output modules, the system bus, and the memory. These elements are linked so as to help the computer perform its intended functions. Basically, they help in the execution of the computer programs (Stallings, 2012). The operating system can therefore be defined as the program that controls the execution of application programs; it also acts as an interface between the computer hardware and the applications. Mainly, the OS (Operating System) serves the purpose of enhancing the user’s convenience, efficiency, and its ability to evolve so that it can allow the development of new systems. The end user relies on the applications embedded within the operating system, which are built by the programmers (Stallings, 2012). The OS is what gives the programmer the interface for working with the system by providing services in areas such as: program execution, program development, system access, access to I/O devices, and controlled access to files, among others

Being that the operating system is in charge of moving, storing, and processing data to allow for proper functioning of the computer, it must depend on the processor more often to enable it to get back control of the computer’s basic functions. The OS is the one that is responsible for providing instructions to the processor in the use of the other systems resources as well as in the timing of its execution of other programs (Love, 2010). As mentioned earlier, the operating system is designed in a way that it can be further developed. Over the years, it has evolved through several phases to reach time-sharing systems. The time-sharing systems are used in today’s systems because they are more efficient. How so? This system allows for multiprogramming to be utilized to perform several interactive jobs simultaneously. The Compatible Time Sharing System (CTTS) was among the first time-sharing system to be developed by the IBM. More evolution on the structure and performance of the operation system has transpired over the years. The modern systems that have been developed intend to support the new software and hardware developments and to deal with security threats (Parziale, 2006). These systems also bring forth faster processor speeds, several memory storage devices, as well as increased storage size, not forgetting the high-speed network attachments that come with them. The OS designed may be attributed to the internet, and has created more convenience in terms of security threats by creating more sophistication.