Operating Systems Overview – TMU 1013 (Learning Unit 3)

A comprehensive set of 45 question-and-answer flashcards covering key terms, concepts, historical developments, system functions, and challenges related to operating systems as presented in Learning Unit 3.

What is software in the context of computing?

A set of instructions that tells a computer what to do.

Which two broad categories make up computer software?

System Software and Application Software.

Give one example of system software.

Operating Systems (e.g., Windows, Linux, macOS).

What is the primary purpose of application software?

To help users perform specific everyday tasks such as word processing or web browsing.

Define a software license.

A legal framework that specifies the rights and restrictions for using a piece of software.

Name three common types of software licenses.

Proprietary, Open Source, and Freeware.

Why is understanding software licensing important for organizations?

It ensures legal compliance, clarifies user rights, and influences software selection and budgeting.

What is a program in computer science?

A sequence of instructions describing how to perform a specific task.

Why is a programming language needed?

To serve as an intermediate language that translates human instructions into machine language.

List four popular programming languages mentioned in the lecture.

Python, Java, JavaScript, and C#.

What is an operating system (OS)?

Software that acts as an interface between computer users and hardware, providing a user-friendly environment to run programs.

State two reasons why the OS hides hardware complexity from users.

To simplify user interaction and to allow programmers to develop software without dealing with low-level hardware details.

In the user view, what does the user expect from an operating system?

A friendly interface that allows monopolizing resources to get work done efficiently.

In the system view, how is an OS described?

As a resource allocator and manager that controls hardware and software execution.

Name the four main resource-management tasks of an operating system.

Processor Management, Memory Management, Device Management, and File Management.

Give three basic functions an OS performs when starting a computer.

Booting the system, managing peripherals, and providing a user interface.

What is multiprogramming?

A technique where the CPU switches between processes so that it is never idle during I/O operations.

What historical development allowed multiple users to interact with a main computer simultaneously?

Time-sharing systems in the 1970s.

Identify five common types of operating systems covered.

Simple Batch, Multiprogramming (Time-sharing), Multiprocessor, Distributed, and Real-time Operating Systems.

Which Windows version introduced the NT architecture?

Windows NT (1993).

Name three Unix-based or Linux distributions listed in the slides.

Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Fedora (others include Debian, CentOS, SUSE).

What is a process?

A program in execution.

List the five main states of a process.

New, Ready, Running, Waiting, and Terminated.

What determines which process gets CPU time next?

Process Scheduling.

Define a thread.

A lightweight process that can run concurrently, sharing process resources while having its own execution context.

Why are threads beneficial on multiprocessor systems?

They allow parallel execution, leading to faster processing and better CPU utilization.

What is virtual memory?

A technique that uses secondary storage to emulate additional RAM so large programs can run with limited physical memory.

State two benefits of virtual memory.

It lets more large programs run concurrently and reduces physical memory requirements.

List three typical file attributes managed by a file system.

Name, Size, and Protection (others: Type, Location, Date, Ownership).

Give two common file access methods.

Direct Access and Sequential Access.

Name three file system types and the OS they are associated with.

NTFS (Windows), APFS (macOS), EXT4 (Linux).

What percentage of the mobile OS market did Android hold in March 2025?

Approximately 71.9%.

Mention three performance metrics used to evaluate operating systems.

Latency (response time), Throughput, and Overhead.

What are two major security concerns for OS design?

System security (protection from attackers) and data privacy.

Which future OS capability is highlighted that relies on artificial intelligence?

AI-enabled assistants such as Windows Copilot, Apple Intelligence, and Google Gemini.

What was a common method of loading programs into early computers before modern OSes?

Manually using punched cards, switches, or paper tape.

Explain the concept of a distributed operating system.

An OS that coordinates multiple independent computers connected via a network to perform tasks like a multiprocessor system, but at lower cost.

What is a real-time operating system (RTOS) used for?

Critical operations that must complete within strict time constraints.

Name two challenges related to OS reliability.

Reliability (does it work as intended?) and Availability (percentage of time the system is operational).

What does ‘fairness’ mean in OS performance metrics?

Equal distribution of resources and performance among users or processes.

List three device categories that rely on modern operating systems besides PCs.

Smartphones, Embedded Systems, and Virtual Machines (others: Tablets, Smart TVs, Smart Watches, Servers).

What are DLLs in the Windows architecture?

Dynamic-Link Libraries that provide reusable code and resources for applications.

Identify one major component of the Linux operating system stack.

The Linux kernel (others: GNU coreutils, Gnome/KDE GUI, Apache web server, etc.).

What are the strengths traditionally associated with macOS, Windows, and Linux respectively (per the conclusion slide)?

macOS – User Friendly; Windows – You Wish (ease of use & broad compatibility); Linux – Stable & Customizable.