Short History Of Operating Systems

2007-11-03 Word Count: 461 Category: Software

Computers need and use certain functions for most applications and programs that are provided by the operating systems (OS). Apart from this the OS provides certain necessary linkages to control and synchronization of the computers hardware. Earlier there was no operating system in computers and to run correctly and perform every program needed full hardware specification. The user had to come with all the data and program and then loaded it into the machines. The programs were generally debugged with the help of a front panel using switches and lights.

Manchester Mark 1 was an old machine of whom Alan Turing was a master and was believed to derive the conception of operating system from the principles of Universal Turing Machines. This growing complexity application program and hardware necessitates the formation of operating systems. After this first period, to assist the operations such as input and output, machines are provided with support code. But still a machine could not operate more than one job at a time. With the passage of time machines became more powerful but the time needed to accomplish a program and to hand off the equipment became large by comparison.

More number of features began to use in computers that ignite for the development of a fully capable operating system. The early operating systems were different from each other and are specific to their particular hardware. They had different operating procedures, different models of command and different debugging aids. The System/360 machines developed by IBM in the 1960 used the same instruction architecture. Since a single operating system could not operate enormous performance across the range a bunch of systems were developed. In the 1960s and 70s operating systems such as OS/360, KRONOS and NOS were developed. GECOS (General Comprehensive Operating System) was developed by General electric and MIT when the computer business of general electric was acquired by Honeywell.

The UNIX operating systems were also developed by AT&T Bell Laboratories in the late 1960s. It was widely accepted because of it is easily obtainable and modified. UNIX was able to port in new machine architecture because it was written in high level language. For operating system introduction of mouse was considered as the beginning. Microsoft’s Windows 3.1 and the Apple OS 7 was some of operating systems which were used for business use and desktop publishing and graphic design. Within the next 20 years various progresses recorded in both Apple and Microsoft operating systems. In 2006 Intel CPUs were used by Apple computers and even run windows. The future of interface devices also looks bright as touch screen facility is widely used. The use of iPhone without the help of mice, trackball and keyboards is possible by using touch screen.

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