Introduction to Operating Systems Flashcards

30 vocabulary flashcards defining key operating system terms, functions, analogies, security mechanisms, and historical computing milestones from the lecture transcript.

Operating System (OS)

A program that acts as an interface between a computer user and computer hardware, controlling the execution of programs and managing memory, processes, devices, and files.

Primary Memory

Also called Main Memory, a large array of words or bytes (each with its own address) providing fast storage that can be accessed directly by the CPU.

Process Scheduling

The OS function in a multiprogramming environment that decides which process gets the processor, when, and for how much time.

Traffic Controller

The program responsible for keeping track of the processor and the status of processes during processor management.

I/O Controller

The program responsible for keeping track of all input and output devices during device management.

File System

An organization of directories and files used to keep track of information, location, status, and resource allocation.

Job Accounting

An operating system activity that keeps track of the time and resources used by various jobs and users.

Concurrent Systems

Systems designed to handle multiple users as well as multiple devices at the same time, necessary for modern multi-core architectures.

Process (House Analogy)

In the lecture's analogy, a house representing a complete place where many activities can happen.

Threads (People Analogy)

In the lecture's analogy, workers inside the house who do different tasks to keep everything running.

CPU Cores (Work Stations Analogy)

In the lecture's analogy, work stations where people (threads) physically perform their assigned tasks.

Concurrency (Single Core)

A single-core state where threads take turns using the work station to make progress, but not at the exact same time.

Parallelism (Multi-Core)

A multi-core state where multiple threads work across separate cores to make progress at the exact same time.

Authentication

An operating system security feature that verifies user identity.

Authorization

An operating system security feature that controls user access to specific system resources.

Access Control

An operating system security feature that restricts user actions and permissions.

Encryption

An operating system security feature that protects data from being read by unauthorized users.

Tails OS

A Linux-based operating system designed for privacy and anonymity, featuring no persistent storage by default and built-in Tor routing.

Qubes OS

A security-focused Linux operating system that achieves strong isolation by running each application in its own virtual machine.

Windows 11 (2026 Update)

An operating system equipped with security tools including TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and Virtualization-based Security (VBS).

Resource Sharing

An operating system design goal ensuring resources are shared correctly between multiple user processes.

Portable Operating Systems

Operating systems designed to be compatible across different hardware and machines.

Backward Compatibility

The ability of new operating systems to work with previous software or hardware models.

Charles Babbage

A computer pioneer (1791–1871) known as the father of the computer, who designed the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine.

Ada Lovelace

The daughter of Lord Byron (1815–1852) recognized as the world's first programmer, after whom the programming language Ada® is named.

Difference Engine No. 1

An automatic mechanical calculator designed in 1821 by Charles Babbage to calculate polynomial functions using finite differences and repeated addition.

Analytical Engine

A general-purpose programmable computing machine conceived in 1834 by Charles Babbage that used punched cards for programming.

Store

The component in Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine used as memory.

Mill

The component in Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine that performed the job of the arithmetic unit.

CP/M

A disk-based operating system developed by Gary Kildall for early microcomputers using processors like the Intel 8080.