Operating systems
- Operating systems are the interface between computer hardware and computer user. It gives general services for computer programs. The operating system performs all tasks like memory management, processing data, input and output, device controlling, file and task management, and connecting other external devices. Different types of hardware and various applications need different operating systems to run on. For example, Mac desktop and laptop use MacOS, while iPhones and iPads use iOS. The different graphical interface and types of software used makes one operating system unique from the other one. Operating systems are of various kinds, like, multiprocessing OS, real-time OS, network OS, mobile OS, multitasking OS, etcetera. Before selecting an operating system, the user will look for data security, licensing, freedom to access, online support, restrictions, automation, updating, and flexibility. Based on all these factors and qualities, the user will choose one operating system over the other, depending on his preferences and usage. Four most important factors while selecting an OS is storage management, software features, data processing, and data protection and security. The most frequently used operating systems are Microsoft Windows, IOS, Linux, BlackBerry OS, Android, Unix, Symbian OS, macOS, etcetera, out of which the most dominating desktop operating system is Microsoft Windows.
- Linux operating system is around us since the mid-1990s, and since then, it’s user base has expanded globally. Linux is everywhere, from phones, home appliances to thermostats, and stock exchanges. Linux is one of the best known and most used open-source operating systems. It works from underneath all the other software on a computer and receives requests for programs and relays the application on the computer’s hardware. Through time, Linux has proved to be one of the most reliable worry-free and secure operating systems available on this planet. It manages all of the hardware resources connected with laptop or desktop. It comprises of several different pieces, bootloader, kernel, init system, daemons, graphic server, desktop environment, and applications. Linux is dissimilar from other operating systems in several ways. Firstly and most importantly, Linux is open-source software, which means the code used to create Linux is free and available to the public to view, edit, and use. Hence, it’s contribution is a lot more as compared to the other operating systems. Secondly, Linux is incredibly customizable. Taking into consideration the reliability with zero cost of entry makes Linux a perfect platform. It is also free of obstacles like malware, crashes, licensing fees, and slowdowns. If one follows the regular recommended updates in Linux, stability is assured with a trouble-free experience.
- Unix is an operating system which is around us since the 1960s and has been under continuous developments ever since. It is a family of multitasking and multi-user functionality. It is used on desktops, laptops, and servers, as it’s graphic user interface is similar to Windows, which ease navigation and support environment. Its basic concept originated in the Multics project, which was a time-sharing system that allows multiple users to access a computer simultaneously. Unix system is built around the core kernel, which manages the network and other applications and processes. Several prominent features that make Unix different from other operating systems are, it’s a multi-user system, multitasking feature, hierarchical file structure, and it has a built-in network functionality. By the multi-user functionality in Unix, the same resource can be shared by different users, and the user can execute many processes at the same time, making it a multitasking operating system. It supports high-level language like C-language, which makes it easy to port to other machines with minimal adaptations requirements. By hierarchical file structure feature of Unix it is easy for the user to access, manage, and maintain data. Information can be exchanged quickly by different users by the built-in networking functionality. It is most commonly used in Internet services, and workstations, and PC is by Intel, Solaris, etcetera.
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- Android is a mobile operating system designed specifically for touch screen mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. It has been the best selling OS worldwide for smartphones and tablets, having over 2 billion monthly active users and one of the most extensive installing base of any operating system. It has a default user interface based on direct manipulation using the touch inputs like, swiping, pinching, tapping, reverse painting along with the virtual keyboard. An Android’s home screen is typically made up of applications icons and widgets like the weather forecast, email inbox, news ticker, etcetera. Android is better than the other operating systems because of its customizability, file transfer, widgets, internet browsing, languages, battery life, and file management. On Android, almost everything can be customized, while other operating systems have a limitation over customization. Photos and other data can easily be transferred without the use of any application on Android. Any browser application can be set up as a default browsing application where is in other operating systems; this option is minimal. More than hundred of languages is available on Android. It has large batteries and longer productive it a better life and Management, which attracts a lot of uses.
- MAC OS is a series of an exclusive graphical operating system, marketed and developed by Apple Inc. for its personal computers and workstations. MacBook, MacBook pro, iMac, pro all of these use MAC OS to manage files, connect to internet and running applications. After Microsoft Windows, it is the second most widely used desktop operating system. Currently, the most popular feature is the desktop interface, which has some 3D appearance characteristics. An essential quality of the MAC OS is security. Its security and data protection is the best as compared to the other operating systems, making it very accessible among IT professionals. It has an excellent computer hardware option, superior video editor, streaming music service, music composition applications, and better interface. As Apple Inc. makes both the hardware and software, there is never any drive crash as both the hardware and software work well together. It is a stable system to perform regular tasks as it is well integrated and ensures high performance. Mac OS is the best option for users who wants to do some top and sound and video editing and graphic designing. It provides some sophisticated high-end software, which makes it a little costly as compared to the other operating systems available.
- The Robot operating system is a robotics middleware. It is a framework for writing robot software. It means it simplifies the task of the complex robot behavior across various robotic platforms. The Robot operating system provides services for heterogeneous computer clusters such as low-level device control, hardware abstraction, package management, message-passing between processes, and implementation of commonly used functionalities. In simple words, it is an open-source, meta operating system for the robot. The robot operating system is not, in particular, an operating system, but it provides services that we expect from an operating system. It is not a real-time framework. The robot operating system is designed to be very thin so that the code is written can be collaborated with other software frameworks. It also gives language Independence as it is easy to implement in any modern programming language. Moreover, Robot operating system gives us an easy testing feature that makes it simple to bring up and tear down test fixtures. It best suits large runtime systems and more prominent development processes. Generally, common errors come while using Robot operating system, and sometimes it becomes extremely complicated for new users to use as it is more robust than the other operating systems.
- Operating systems tend to differ depending on the ability to run on different hardware. Apart from that, they are designed and manufactured for different types of applications. Forex, Mac desktop, and laptops use macOS; they are used for only Mac Company and not for any other company. On the other hand, iOS is manufactured for tablets of iPad. Therefore, from this approach, it can be easily said that operating systems tend to differ based on their level of performance. At times, it has also been observed that a computer or a smartphone or tablet is equipped with an OS; however, another system can easily be installed in a particular device. Certain qualities are required to be taken care of by the user before using an OS. Stability and robustness can be described as an essential quality to be possessed by an operating system. It is because an OS is required to be stable enough to provide a favorable outcome to the customers of an organization. If the OS tends to get crash by continuous usage, it is required by the operation department to take the matter seriously to buy a new system. Before using an OS, it is required by the user to look into the matter that the capacity of the system is high.
- Linux software is referred to as the best and the most widely used operating software. It can be said that it is the software that surpasses all other software in the market. It tends to receive requests from other programs and helps to respond to the claims promptly. Linux was first released on 17 September 1991 by Linus Torvads; it was developed originally for PCs, but gradually started to operate in various other platforms in other operating systems. It is the leading operating system at present and is expected to be in the same position in the future. It is available in both free and open-source software platforms. One of the primary prime features of Linux is that it is an open-source operating system for which the user has the freeness to change the source code if a situation arises for the same. This means that Linux provides the opportunity to the user to change, modify, or edit content whenever necessary. It has resulted in a lot of distros being available in the market. Another significant point is that there are many variations of Linux, which uses different software applications. As a result, the user experiences the chance to have a variety for using the software service.
- UNIX is an operating system that has been in constant development since its establishment in 1960. It is a machine-independent hardware device that is not limited to a particular computing device. It was first developed at the Bell Labs by Joe Ossanna, Brian Karnighan, Douglas Mcllroy, and Ken Thompson. At first, it was designed for programmers working on software development rather than non-programmers. However, as the system tends to develop, it found application in academic purposes, and as a result, it has been launched to be used by non-programmers as well. On the date, the operating system has a wide base of users belonging to a variety of background. Unix differs from other OS in the sense that they consist of a set of simple tools to perform various functions in a unique file system. The software is also helpful as it is used as the primary means of communication and provides a favorable outcome to the workforce. Unix also uses the C programming language, which helps the system to function in numerous platforms at the same time. Therefore, looking at the above feature, it can thus be stated that UNIX software is unique and provides certain features which are not provided by any other software.
- Android is the operating system software that has mainly been developed for mobile phones. It is a version of the Linux system and is a type of open-source software. Though it is prepared for mobile phones to be specific, it is used most of the time in touchscreens such as tablets or smartphones. Open Handset Alliance developed it, and its actual marketer or dominator or dealer is Google. Android has gone through various modifications and versions since its release in 2005. The current version is Android 10, which was modified on 3rd September 2019. The Android OS is also used in various other platforms such as digital cameras, PCs, and gaming consoles. The simplicity that it comes with makes it extremely user-friendly. At present, it is the most famous operating system which is used widely by almost all the manufacturers of smartphones and tablets. Such worldwide usage is due to the convenience that this operating system comes with. It can be easily customized as per the user requirements. Apart from that, any app that can be run on the system is always available on Play Store and can be downloaded at any time. Also, in some phones, most of the apps are installed by default and compared to it, Windows have not become so famous and in the position to lose ground in the market.
- Mac OS is a series of a graphical operating system that was developed and marketed by Apple company. Established in the year 2001, the system was primarily operated by the Mac computers of Apple. At present, it is the second most widely used operating system after Windows, which is commonly used in PCs and laptops. Mac OS is the upgraded version of the Macintosh Operating System. The first version in this series includes classic Mac OS, which was first established in 1984. The latest version in this series is Mac OS Catalina, which was released in October 2019. Apple has gone through various modifications of its variants and has sold a different set of OS known as Mac OS X Server from 1999 to 2009. Mac OS is the costliest operating system in the market at present. This price difference provides the Windows operating system with a competitive edge in the market. Mac OS fails in another aspect that it is not as user-friendly as the Windows OS is. A majority of people prefer using Windows in the case of desktop or laptop computers as it is the most convenient operating system to be used anywhere and on any platform.
- ROS is the acronym for Robot Operating System and has been used as a middleware to robotics. It has been providing certain services to all its customers, and it can be said that the system is inclined to the UNIX operating system. The primary purpose of the ROS is to feed in commands in a way that the robots can understand. However, a particular factor arises in this context in the sense that the ROS operating system does not possess the ability to work on different platforms. It also provides a series of various computer applications such as package management, low-level device control, and hardware abstraction. Another negative side of the ROS is that it requires firm technical knowledge to be able to use it. Someone with no prior programming language may find it hard to handle. It is because the OS is more of an open-source framework that acts as robot skeleton software. In such a situation, UNIX is considered better than ROS. However, the ROS is famous for serving the purpose it has been developed for. With the operating system, operating on robotic platforms has been transformed to a whole new level in the present times and is expected to advance even more in recent future.