CMPS 002 - Computer Literacy

Prof. Paulo Franca

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System Software

Examples:

  • Before OS: Manual Operation
    • operator loads computer program
    • computer will run one program at a time
    • operator loads data cards and tapes
    • operator starts the computer
    • when program is done, do same for next program
    • time wasted waiting for I/O
    • programmer keeps track of disk use
    • programmer controls I/O directly
    • error messages difficult to understand
  • DOS (old time for PC's)
    • command line interface (text) no graphics
    • user must remember commands and how to use them
  • Microsoft Windows
    • GUI (Graphic user interface), Drag/drop interface
    • User may be able to figure out what to do
    • Nearly a Monopoly with PC machines
    • Developed and sold by Microsoft
  • Mac System X
    • Apple introduced OS with GUI commercially.
    • Developed and sold by Apple
  • Unix
    • Initially developped by programmers at Bell Labs and made available to schools and research institutions.
    • Significantly improved by contributions of leading Universities, noticeably UC Berkeley
    • Originally, Unix has a text interface, but currently supports X Windows
    • Currently several systems are available based on UNIX
      • Solaris (SUN)
      • BSD (Berkeley)
    • Why is is so popular?
      • It was free to schools and anyone could learn how it was built;
      • It was designed by three programmers (no committees, etc.)
      • Simple, efficient design
  • Linux
    • Linus Torvalds transported UNIX so that it could be run on PC's. Made it available for free.
    • Other programmers around the world contributed extensions to Linux
    • Linux itself is free. You can copy, you can modify it.
    • Linux distributions are sold by several companies. The charge is mainly due to the effort they put to simplify the installation. Cost ranges from free to a few hundreds. You can install in as many computers as you like.
    • There are less books, experts and application software that runs on Linux than windows, but this may change.
    • Originally, Linux has a text interface, but currently supports X Windows.
    • Open Source standards
  • Others
    • What others?