Experiment No 1

Title: Demonstrate giving brief history of Operating System, types of Operating

Systems in use these days and how it is necessary for a computer functioning .

Operating systems make it easier for a user to run a program and communicate with the software.
It creates an interface between the user and the computer system. The operating system helps
manage files, memory, input/output, and software/hardware resources.
An operating system (OS) is a crucial piece of software that acts as an interface between users
and computer hardware. It manages various critical functions, including file management, task
scheduling, memory management, and more. Here’s a brief overview of the historical evolution of
operating systems:
1. First Generation (1940 to early 1950s):
o During this period, early computers didn’t have built-in operating systems.
o Programmers wrote machine code directly for specific tasks.
o Basic mathematical calculations were performed without the need for an OS.
In this generation, operating systems were not introduced therefore the instruction was
directly given to the computer systems. All the code was included to communicate with the
connected hardware and the system.
Electronic computers were introduced during the 1940s when there were no operating systems
therefore the code was written in machine language where they were just used to solve simple
mathematic problems.
Example - to control the machine functions plug boards were used using the wiring.

2. Second Generation (1955 – 1965):

o The first operating system, GMOSIS, was developed in the early 1950s for IBM
computers.
o Batch processing systems grouped similar jobs and executed them sequentially using
punch cards.
o Operators sorted jobs with similar requirements into batches.
o Limited interaction with the computer directly.
GMOS (General Motos operating system) was the first operating system that came into the
picture in the 1950s which was developed for IBM computers. IBM was the first one that bought an
operating system into the world. In the second generation, around the 1960s the first UNIX
Operating system was developed that was available for free for a few years. Also, the batch
processing system, where all the similar jobs are collected in groups by the system, and then all the
jobs are submitted to the operating system using a punch card to execute all jobs in a machine.
Example - Type of operating system and Batch OS.

3. Third Generation (1965 – 1980):

o Mainframes introduced large, professionally operated machines.
o Multiprogramming allowed simultaneous execution of multiple tasks.
o Operating systems enabled CPUs to be active at all times.
o Minicomputers like the DEC PDP-1 contributed to growth and development.
In the third generation, the concept of multiprogramming was introduced in which multiple
tasks could be performed in a single computer i.e., operating system. Due to performing multiple
tasks at a time, multiprogramming allows the CPU to be busy every time multiple tasks are
performed on the same computer. With the DEC PDP-1 in 1961, the development of
minicomputers' phenomenal growth was introduced.

Example - Concept of multiprogramming and types of operating systems used in

multiprogramming.
4. Fourth Generation (1980 – Present Day):
o Personal computers emerged during this era.
o The fourth generation OS evolved alongside personal computers.
o Minicomputers and personal computers shared similarities.
o Today, Windows, macOS, and Linux dominate the market.
The evolution of computers aka operating systems came under the fourth generation. Every user
is using their personal computers in this generation. The concept of personal computers is similar to
the minicomputer that was introduced in the third generation. The birth of the Microsoft Windows
operating system was in 1975 and then Bill Gates took the personal computers to next level by
launching MS-DOS in 1981, but due to the cryptic commands, it was difficult for a user to get hold
of the commands. In this generation, people were also introduced to Graphic User Interface(GUI).
Today, Windows is the most popular operating system and has evolved from Windows 95,
Windows 98, Windows XP, and Windows 7. The most used Windows operating system was
Windows 7 and Windows 10. In 2021, Windows 11 was introduced with major changes. Apple also
introduced its operating system known as MacOS which is also as popular as Windows these days.
Types of Operating Systems
There are several types of operating systems, each serving specific purposes. Let’s explore some of
them:
The syllabus of an operating system course typically covers various types of operating systems,
including:
1. Batch Operating Systems: These systems process batches of similar jobs without user
interaction. The syllabus may cover their design, scheduling algorithms, and resource
management techniques.
2. Multiprogramming Operating Systems: These systems allow multiple programs to run
simultaneously by keeping several programs in main memory. Concepts like process
scheduling, memory management, and I/O handling may be covered.
3. Time-sharing Operating Systems: Also known as multitasking systems, they allow multiple
users to interact with a computer simultaneously. The syllabus might include topics like CPU
scheduling, process synchronization, and deadlock handling.
4. Real-time Operating Systems (RTOS): RTOS are designed to handle tasks with strict timing
requirements. The syllabus may cover real-time scheduling algorithms, task synchronization,
and inter-process communication in the context of RTOS.
5. Distributed Operating Systems: These systems manage a group of independent computers
and make them appear to be a single computer system. The syllabus might include concepts
like distributed file systems, distributed process management, and distributed
synchronization.
6. Network Operating Systems: These systems manage network resources and provide services
to clients over a network. Topics such as network protocols, client-server architecture, and
network security may be covered.
7. Mobile Operating Systems: With the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, mobile
operating systems like Android and iOS have become important. The syllabus may include
mobile device architecture, mobile app development, and mobile security considerations.
8. Embedded Operating Systems: These operating systems are designed to run on embedded
devices with limited resources, such as microcontrollers and IoT devices. Concepts like real-
time constraints, low-power operation, and device drivers may be part of the syllabus.
9. Virtualization: Virtualization allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical
machine. The syllabus may cover virtual machine technology, hypervisors, and
containerization techniques.
10. Cloud Operating Systems: Cloud OSes manage resources and provide services in cloud
computing environments. Topics such as virtualization in the cloud, cloud storage systems,
and cloud security may be included.
Why Is an Operating System Necessary?
the necessity of an operating system is typically highlighted due to several key reasons:

1. Resource Management: Operating systems efficiently manage hardware resources such as

CPU, memory, disk space, and peripherals. This includes scheduling tasks, allocating
memory, managing file systems, and controlling input/output operations. Understanding
these mechanisms is crucial for efficient utilization of resources in computer systems.
2. Abstraction: Operating systems provide a layer of abstraction between hardware and
software, allowing applications to run without needing to know the underlying hardware
details. This abstraction simplifies application development and enhances portability across
different hardware platforms.
3. Process Management: Operating systems manage processes, which are programs in
execution. This involves creating and terminating processes, scheduling them for execution,
and providing mechanisms for inter-process communication and synchronization.
Knowledge of process management is essential for understanding concurrency and
parallelism in computing systems.
4. Memory Management: Operating systems oversee memory allocation and deallocation to
ensure efficient utilization of available memory. This includes techniques such as virtual
memory, which allows processes to use more memory than physically available, and
memory protection to prevent unauthorized access. Understanding memory management is
crucial for optimizing system performance and preventing memory-related errors.
5. File System Management: Operating systems organize and manage files stored on storage
devices such as hard drives and solid-state drives. This involves creating, reading, writing,
and deleting files, as well as providing mechanisms for file access control and directory
management. Knowledge of file system management is essential for data organization,
storage, and retrieval in computing systems.
6. Device Management: Operating systems control and coordinate access to input/output
devices such as keyboards, mice, displays, and network interfaces. This includes device
drivers for interfacing with hardware components, as well as providing a uniform interface
for applications to interact with devices. Understanding device management is crucial for
ensuring proper communication between software and hardware components.
7. Security: Operating systems enforce security policies to protect system resources and data
from unauthorized access, malicious software, and other security threats. This includes user
authentication, access control mechanisms, encryption, and intrusion detection/prevention
systems. Knowledge of security principles is essential for designing and implementing secure
computing systems.
8. User Interface: Operating systems provide user interfaces for interacting with the computer
system, ranging from command-line interfaces to graphical user interfaces (GUIs). This
includes shell programs, window managers, and desktop environments that facilitate user
interaction with applications and system settings. Understanding user interfaces is crucial
for providing a user-friendly computing environment.