Chapter 1: Basic Concepts of Operating Systems - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 1: Basic Concepts of Operating Systems.

Program

A sequence of instructions that enables a computer to carry out a specific task.

Source program

The program in its original text form before translation to machine language.

Machine language program

The translated binary code that the computer executes.

Linking

The process of combining object modules into a single executable.

Loading

Placing an executable into memory for execution by the processor.

System software

Programs that control hardware, provide programming tools, and create an environment for application software.

Application software

User programs that solve specific problems and run under the OS.

Types of software systems

System software and application software.

Operating System (OS)

A large, complex software component that manages hardware/resources and provides services to user programs; intermediary between user and computer.

User interfaces

The methods users interact with the OS: GUI (graphical), shell/command-line, and system calls from user programs.

Shell

Program that handles user interaction; command-line interpreter; types: graphical and character-oriented.

System call

The API that programs use to request OS services.

Kernel

The core, resident part of the OS that manages hardware and core services.

Process manager

Component that creates, schedules, and terminates processes.

Memory manager

Component that allocates and protects memory for processes.

Resource manager

Coordinates access to shared resources like I/O devices and CPU.

File manager

Handles file creation, deletion, organization and access.

Device manager

Controls and interfaces with hardware devices.

System programs

Programs outside the kernel that provide OS functionality (e.g., web browser, email).

External view

Set of interfaces of the computer system as seen by users/applications.

Internal view

OS architecture focusing on resource management and core components.

Layered structure

OS organized into layers; each layer uses services from the layer below.

Abstract views of an OS

Conceptual representations (external vs internal views, kernel, GUI, etc.).

Layered OS components

Top to bottom: Users/AUI, API, Kernel.

API (Application Programming Interface)

Set of interfaces (system calls, libraries) that allow programs to request OS services.

Jobs and processes

Job: unit of work submitted; Process: execution instance of a program.

Batch systems

OS category where a set of jobs are submitted in sequence for processing.

Time-sharing / Interactive systems

Systems that support online interactive computing for multiple users.

Real-time systems

OS with very tight timing constraints for critical tasks.

Hybrid systems

OS that supports both batch and interactive computing.

Small and specialized OS

Mobile OS for mobile devices; compact and focused on connectivity.

Embedded OS

OS for embedded systems; compact, efficient, often real-time.

History of OS generations

G1: no OS; G2: batch with loaders; G3: multiprogramming/timesharing; G4: network/distributed.

Modern Operating Systems

Examples: Windows, Linux, MacOS, Solaris, etc.

64-bit OS

OS designed for 64-bit processors and architectures.

Mechanisms

Implementation techniques used to perform OS tasks.

Policies

Rules deciding what services are provided by the OS.

Separation of policy and mechanism

Principle that separates how something is done from what is done, for flexibility.

System implementation

OS can be written in high-level languages or assembly; benefits include faster development and portability.

Portability

Ease of moving an OS to different hardware, often achieved by using high-level languages.