Operating Systems for Programmers WGU C191

operating system - -is a program that manages a computer's hardware. It also provides a basis for application programs and acts as ann intermediary between the computer user and the computer hardware. An amazing aspect of operating systems is how they vary in accomplishing these tasks. Mainframe operating systems - -are designed primarily to optimize utilization of hardware. Personal computer (PC) operating systems - -support complex games, business applications, and everything in between ...

OS - -a program that acts as an intermediary between a user of a computer and the computer hardware. Goals: Execute user programs, make the comp. system easy to use, utilize hardware efficiently. Computer system - -Hardware ↔ OS ↔ Applications ↔ Users (↔ = 'uses') resource allocator - -decides between conflicting requests for efficient and fair resource use control program - -Controls execution of programs to prevent errors and improper use of computer Kernel - -the one program r...