AMS103

INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTING
Module 2
The Operating System
 Lecture 1: Operating System
Overvie
w:
Introduction
 The Operating System:
Learning Outcome
– acts as a host for other software that are
History of O/S
executed on the computer;
Types of O/S

User Interfaces
– handles the details of the operation of the
GUI hardware;
CLI – all computers, including most consumer
Summary electronics, desktop computers, supercomputers,
and even modern video game consoles, use an
operating system of some type;
– Examples: Microsoft Windows (Windows 10, 8,
7, Vista, and Windows XP), Apple's macintosh
OS, Chrome OS, BlackBerry Tablet OS, and
flavours of Unix and Linux;

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 2
 Learning Outcomes

Introduction At the end of this module, student should be

Learning Outcome
able to:
History of O/S

Types of O/S  Understand the history of Operating System;

User Interfaces

GUI
 Identify the different Operating Systems that are
CLI available;
Summary
 Classify Operating systems;

 Understand what is meant by a user interface

 Identify and understand the mode of operation of all

types of User Interface

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 3
 History

Introduction
Generation Date Feature/Capability
Learning Outcome First 1940- No O/S, hard-wiring, simple
History of O/S 1950’s calculations
Types of O/S

User Interfaces

GUI Second 1955-1965 1st O/S for IBM mainframes,

CLI Single-stream batch O/S
Summary

Third 1965-1980 Multiprogramming O/S for DEC-

PDP minicomputers

Fourth 1980-Date PC O/S, CE (embedded) O/S,

WIMP O/S, multi-tasking,
multiprogramming,
multiprocessor, interactive
programming

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 4
 Operating System Types (1)

Introduction
 Simple Batch Systems:
Learning Outcome
– No direct interaction between user and the
History of O/S computer;
Types of O/S – User submits job (written on cards or tape) to a
User Interfaces computer operator;
GUI – Operator places a batch of several jobs on an input
CLI
device;
Summary
– Jobs are batched together;
– Monitor manages the execution of each program in
the batch;

 Advantages:
– No interaction between user and computer;
– No mechanism to prioritise the processes

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 5
 Operating System Types (2)

Introduction
 Multiprogramming Batch O/S:
Learning Outcome – In this mode, the operating system picks up and
History of O/S
begins to execute one of the jobs from memory;
Types of O/S
– Once this job needs an I/O operation operating
User Interfaces

GUI
system switches to another job (CPU and OS
CLI
always busy);
Summary – Jobs in the memory are always less than the
number of jobs on disk (i.e., Job Pool);
– If several jobs are ready to run at the same time,
then the system chooses which one to run
through the process of job Scheduling.
– In Multiprogramming system, the CPU keeps on
processing and is never idle.

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 6
 Operating System Types (3)

Introduction
 Time Sharing O/S:
Learning Outcome – This O/S is very similar to Multiprogramming batch
History of O/S
systems;
Types of O/S
– Whereas minimizing the response time is the
User Interfaces
prime focus in time sharing O/S, maximizing the
GUI
CPU usage is the prime focus in multiprogramming
CLI
O/s.
Summary

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 7
 Operating System Types (4)

Introduction
 Multiprocessor System:
Learning Outcome
– consists of several processors that share a
History of O/S common physical memory;
Types of O/S – provides higher computing power and speed;
User Interfaces – all processors operate under a single operating
GUI
system;
CLI
– Multiplicity and interaction of processors are
Summary
transparent to the jobs;

 Advantages:
– Enhanced performance;
– increase in system's throughput without speeding
up the execution of a single task;
– Encourages multithreading and parallel processing
of tasks in different processors

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 8
 Operating System Types (5)

Introduction
 Desktop Systems:
Learning Outcome – Single user multitasking operating system;
History of O/S
– Specifically designed for PCs and personal use;
Types of O/S

User Interfaces – maximizing user convenience and

GUI responsiveness;
CLI
– low hardware costs make it easily affordable for
Summary
individuals;
– Normally included in PCs running Microsoft
Windows and Apple Macintosh

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 9
 Systems

Introduction
 Distributed O/S motivation:
Learning Outcome
– availability of powerful and inexpensive
History of O/S microprocessors;
Types of O/S – advances in communication technology;
User Interfaces

GUI  Advantages:
CLI
– users at one site can utilize the resources of
Summary
systems at other sites for resource-intensive
tasks since multiple systems are involved;
– Facilitates Fast processing;
– Puts Less load on the Host Machine

 A Distributed system may either be a client-

server of peer-to-peer

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 10
 Distributed Systems Types (1)

Introduction
 Client-Server Systems:
Learning Outcome The Figure below shows the general structure of a
History of O/S client-server system
Types of O/S

User Interfaces

GUI

CLI

Summary

 Compute Server systems:

– Provide a dumb terminal interface
 File Server systems:
– Provide local workstation interface
– increase
CEN 4010: inSoftware
Introduction to s Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 11
 Distributed Systems Types (2)

Introduction
 Peer-to-Peer Systems:
Learning Outcome
– consist of a collection of processors that do not
History of O/S share memory or a clock;
Types of O/S – each processor has its own local memory;
User Interfaces
– The processors communicate with one another
GUI
through high-speed buses or telephone lines;
CLI
– usually referred to as loosely coupled systems
Summary

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 12
 Operating System Types (7)

Introduction
 Clustered Systems:
Learning Outcome – Like parallel systems, they gather together multiple
History of O/S CPUs to accomplish computational work;
Types of O/S – Unlike parallel systems, they are composed of two
User Interfaces or more individual systems coupled together;
GUI
– Clustering is usually performed to provide high
CLI
availability;
Summary
– A layer of cluster software runs on the cluster
nodes;
– Each node can monitor one or more of the others;
– In the case of failure, the monitoring machine takes
ownership of its storage and restart application(s)
that were running on the failed machine;
– While the machine remains down, users and clients
of the application would only see a brief interruption
of service
CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 13
 Clustered System Types (1)

Introduction
 Asymmetric Clustering:
Learning Outcome – A machine is in hot standby mode while the other
History of O/S is running the applications;
Types of O/S – standby host (machine) only monitors the active
User Interfaces
server;
GUI
– standby host becomes the active server if there
CLI

Summary
is a failure;

 Symmetric Clustering:
– two or more hosts simultaneously run
applications, and monitor each other;
– Ensures more efficient cluster as it uses all of the
available hardware;

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 14
 Clustered System Types (2)

Introduction
 Parallel Clustering:
Learning Outcome – allows multiple hosts to access the same data on
History of O/S a shared storage;
Types of O/S
– most operating systems lack support for this
User Interfaces
simultaneous data access by multiple hosts;
GUI

CLI
– usually accomplished by special versions of
Summary software and special releases of applications

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 15
 Operating System Types (8)

Introduction
 Real-Time Operating System is:
Learning Outcome – an operating system that gives maximum
History of O/S
time for each of the critical operations that
it performs, like OS calls and interrupt
Types of O/S

User Interfaces

GUI
handling;
CLI
– a Real-time O/S that guarantees maximum
Summary
time for critical operations and complete
them on time is a Hard Real-Time O/S;
– a Real-time O/S with no assurance of
completing it in a defined time is a Soft
Real-Time O/S

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 16
 Operating System Types (9)

Introduction
 Handheld Systems:
Learning Outcome – include Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
History of O/S like Palm-Pilots or Cellular Telephones with
Types of O/S connectivity to a network such as the Internet;
User Interfaces – are usually of limited size, a small amount of
GUI
memory, slow processors and small display
CLI
screens;
Summary
– return all allocated memory back to the memory
manager once no longer in use;
– do not use virtual memory techniques, making
application developers to work within the confines
of limited physical memory;
– Use web clipping to deliver and dosplay web
pages on its screen;
– Use Bluetooth technology for connectivity and
works with cameras and MP3
CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 17
 Interfaces (1)

Introduction
 A User interface (UI):
Learning Outcome
– facilitates communication between an application
History of O/S and its user by acting as an intermediary
Types of O/S between them;
User Interfaces – takes inputs from the user;
GUI
– provides output to the user;
CLI

Summary
– O/S user interface can be classified into one of
two types as shown below:
Graphical user
interface (GUI)

Command line user

interface (CLI)
CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 18
 Interfaces (2)

Introduction
 Graphical user interface (GUI):
Learning Outcome – enables users’ interaction with the O/S by
History of O/S
means of point-and-click operations;
Types of O/S

User Interfaces
– contains several icons such as a file,
GUI

CLI
directory, and device;
Summary
– can be manipulated by using a suitable
pointing device such as a mouse, trackball,
touch screen and light pen
– devices like keyboard can also be used to
manipulate the graphical icons

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 19
 Interfaces (3)

Introduction
 Advantages of GUI-based O/S:
Learning Outcome – easy to understand, enabling new users to
History of O/S
operate them on their own;
Types of O/S
– visually acknowledges and confirms each
User Interfaces

GUI
activity performed by users. E.g., asking for
CLI
confirmation before deleting a file;
Summary – enables users to perform a number of tasks at
the same time; i.e., multitasking.

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 20
 Interfaces (4)

Introduction
 Command line Interface (CLI) O/S:
Learning Outcome – is a type of UI that enables users’ interaction
History of O/S
with the O/S through specific commands;
Types of O/S
– uses command line interpreter to process user
User Interfaces

GUI
commands;
CLI – requires users to remember lots of commands
Summary to interact with the operating system.
– not considered very friendly from the users
perspective

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 21
 Summary of Module 5

Introduction

Learning Outcome
In this module we:
History of O/S

Types of O/S
 Learnt that operating system is the bedrock of
User Interfaces any computer system;
GUI

CLI
 Noted that the O/S serves as a shield to avoid
Summary
having to program for a particular device or
platform when developing an application;
 examined the various characteristics of an
operating system;
 explored the user interface as a gateway to
giving instructions to the computer and for
getting feedback from the computer.

CEN 4010: Introduction to Software Engineering First Lecture on Jan. 10, 2005 22