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The operating system is the most
important part of any computer or network. Its main role is as an interpreter between
the hardware itself - the processor, hard disks, video system, network
cards, and so on - and the applications that are running on the computer
which need access to those resources, such as e-mail programs, spreadsheets
and databases. Thus the operating system (often abbreviated to os) must be
able to speak the complex language of the chips that make up the human
operators can understand.
This simple explanation belies the
complexities of modern operating systems such as windows, MacOS and
linux, which now have an extraordinary level of technical
sophistication As well as its responsibilities for managing the hardware and
its peripherals (printers, cd-rom drives, and so on ), the os
must look after files, prevent programs from crashing each other, control
network traffic and enforce security. This last item is a particularly
important consideration in networked environments, where computers are
susceptible to attack by crackers, viruses and other malicious entities.
Unsurprisingly, operating systems are prime targets for certain crackers,
who delight in exposing flaws in the code, especially of Microsoft's
Windows. Some operating systems have also acquired a significant political
importance. |
