Lecture Notes: Platform Technologies - OS and CPU Fundamentals

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering key OS and CPU topics from the notes.

Operating System

Fundamental software that manages hardware and software resources and provides an environment for programs; intermediary between user and hardware.

Process Management

Manages execution of running programs; allocates CPU time and supports multitasking (includes scheduling and termination).

Memory Management

Allocates/deallocates memory for programs; ensures each program has enough memory and prevents memory corruption.

File Management

Organizes/manages files and folders; handles creating, deleting, reading, and writing files; provides security and permissions.

Device Management

Manages hardware devices; uses device drivers to communicate with devices.

User Interface

Provides a way for users to interact with the computer.

Batch OS

An OS that processes jobs in sets without direct user interaction during execution.

Real-Time OS (RTOS)

Designed for systems with strict timing constraints and immediate response (e.g., robotics, air traffic control).

Distributed OS

Manages a group of independent computers and makes them appear as a single cohesive system.

Standalone Operating System

A complete, full-featured OS designed to run on a single, independent computer (desktop or laptop).

General-Purpose OS

An OS designed to provide a convenient UI and run applications in home or business environments with reasonable performance.

Multitasking OS

Allows multiple tasks to run simultaneously; common in most modern personal computers.

Multiprocessing OS

Utilizes more than one CPU within a single system to perform parallel computing; increases speed and throughput.

Single-Tasking OS

Executes only a single process at a time.

Cooperative Multitasking

OS gives CPU control to a process and waits for it to terminate or enter a waiting state.

Preemptive Multitasking

OS is in control of the computer at all times.

Single-User OS

Allows only one user at a time to interact with the OS.

Multiuser OS

Allows multiple users to sign in, start/stop processes, and access the local file system.

Client Operating System

Designed for a single end-user to perform daily tasks on devices like desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

Server Operating System

Designed to run on server computers and provide services to other computers over a network.

Boot Procedure

Series of steps from power up to a running system; starts CPU and hardware components.zeit

System Utilities

Tools/programs that help manage, maintain, and optimize the computer system's performance.

Shell

Outermost layer of the OS that acts as an interface between the user and the kernel.

Kernel

Core of the OS; bridge between applications and hardware; controls system resources.

Fault Tolerance

Ability of a system to recover from hardware or software failure.

Clustering

Two or more servers act as one.

Hot Swapping

Replacing or removing components (e.g., disks, memory, processors) without shutting down the system.

Hot Adding

Adding new components for scalability while the system is running.

Microsoft Disk Operating System

non-graphical, command-line interface OS.

Windows 1.0

Microsoft's first GUI version; introduced the mouse and tiled windows (no overlap).

Windows 3.0

First successful Windows; introduced Program Manager and File Manager.

Windows 95

Introduced Start menu and taskbar; foundational to the Windows experience.

Windows 98

Active Desktop; improved USB and DVD support.

Windows Me

System Restore and the first Windows Movie Maker.

Windows XP

New UI with NT kernel; improved security and multimedia; highly stable.

Windows Vista

Architectural overhaul focusing on security; introduced Windows Aero and UAC.

Windows 7

Refinement of Vista; better taskbar, Jump Lists, and HomeGroup.

Windows 8

Radical departure with touch-focused design; full-screen Start screen with live tiles.

Windows 10

Return-to-form with Start menu; live tiles; Cortana; Edge; virtual desktops.

Windows 11

Redesigned UI with central Start menu; Snap Layouts/Groups; Android app support.

macOS

Apple’s OS for Macintosh; user-friendly GUI; strong security; iCloud integration.

Linux

Open-source OS family based on the Linux kernel; highly customizable; widely used on servers and desktops.

ChromeOS

Google’s cloud-based OS for Chromebooks; uses Chrome browser; apps/data reside in the cloud.

Central Processing Unit

the brain of a computer that executes instructions and manages data flow.

ALU

Arithmetic Logic Unit; performs arithmetic and logical operations.

Control Unit

directs CPU activities, fetches/decodes instructions, coordinates components.

Registers

Small, high-speed memory locations within the CPU that hold operands and results.

Cache

Small, very fast memory storing frequently accessed data/instructions to speed up access.

Data bus

Bi-directional pathway that carries actual data between CPU, memory, and I/O devices.

Address bus

Unidirectional pathway that carries memory addresses to locate data.

Control bus

Bi-directional pathway that carries control signals and commands.

Instruction Cycle

Fetch → Decode → Execute → Write Back: sequence of completing an instruction.

Fetch

Retrieving an instruction from memory into the instruction register.

Decode

Control unit interprets the fetched instruction and determines actions.

Execute

Executing the instruction, usually by the ALU.

Write Back

Storing results back to a register or main memory.

Clock Speed

Measured in gigahertz (GHz); number of instruction cycles per second.

Cores

Individual processing units within a CPU; multiple cores enable parallelism.

Threads

Virtual components allowing a core to execute multiple instruction streams.

RISC

Reduced Instruction Set Computer; smaller, optimized set of instructions.