Operating System

An operating system (OS) is the indispensable technical underpinning of each individual application, no matter whether it is a statistics program, database software or data processing program.

All individual applications are based on the operating system. The operating system is a control program and takes over basic functions without which regular work with the PC would not be possible, e.g

• start and finish of the operating system itself
• management of input, saving and output of data via the screen, printer
• kernel-functions for the management of hardware
• start, management, stopping and finishing of processes and applications
• user guidance for graphic interfaces
• administration of user specific rights

The operating systems Windows, Unix and diverse Linux-derivates (SuSE, Redhat etc.) MacOS, Novell-Netware, OS/2 and in the distant past OS. or MS-OS, have established themselves as the most important ones. The operating systems originally mostly dependent on command input on command line level can in the meantime be controlled by graphic interfaces.

Suggested reading:

--> next term: Pirate Copy

--> Customer References of usedSoft.