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Operating systems are an important part of computing. They provide the environment in which users interact with their computers. Without an operating system, a computer would be unusable. In this blog post, we will discuss the history of the operating system. We will start with UNIX, which was one of the first operating systems ever created. Then, we will talk about Microsoft’s entry into the OS market and its subsequent success. Finally, we will explore some of the newer operating systems that are available today.
What is an operating system?
Most people would say that it is the software that runs on their computer, making it possible for them to use it. Operating systems have been around for a long time, and their history is fascinating.
The UNIX operating system was first created in 1969 by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie. UNIX was designed as a multitasking, multiprocessing operating system. It was originally used on minicomputers, but it soon began to be used on larger systems as well.
History of the Operating System
The History of the Operating System is divided into four generations. let us explore all of them in detail, one by one, in the following sections:
First-generation of Operating System: UNIX Operating System
The UNIX Operating System was the first generation of modern computer operating systems. It was designed in 1969 by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, a research division of AT&T Corporation. UNIX was originally written in assembly language for the DEC PDP-11 minicomputer.
Limitations of First-generation Operating System:
The first-generation operating systems were severely limited in their capabilities. They could only run on a single type of computer, and they couldn’t multitask- meaning that users could only run one program at a time. Additionally, these systems were not very user-friendly and required extensive technical knowledge to operate.
The second generation of Operating System: OS/360
The OS/360 operating system was developed in the early 1960s for IBM mainframes. It was a comprehensive, multi-user, multitasking system that supported virtual memory and provided an interface to a wide variety of peripherals.
Limitations of the Second generation of Operating System:
The second generation of the Operating systems was not very user-friendly and had a lot of limitations. It was difficult to use, which is why it did not become popular. In this generation, UNIX was the most popular operating system. Microsoft also came up with their own OS, which did not become very popular.
Third generation of Operating System: MS-DOS
Microsoft came up with their MS-DOS operating system in 1981. This was a single-user, single-tasking operating system that ran on IBM personal computers. MS-DOS was based on the CP/M operating system, which had been developed by Digital Research Inc.
The fourth generation of Operating System: Windows
Microsoft released their first version of Windows, Windows NT, in 1993. This was a multi-user, multitasking operating system that replaced MS-DOS on IBM personal computers. Windows NT was based on the UNIX operating system and provided a graphical user interface (GUI) and support for networking.
In today’s world, we use Microsoft Windows as our standard operating system. However, UNIX is still in use today and is the basis for many modern operating systems.
Advantages of Operating System:
-Allows multiple users to access the computer simultaneously
-Organizes and manages files
-Provides a platform for software applications
-Enables communication between computers and peripheral devices.
Disadvantages of Operating System:
-Can be expensive
-Can require significant hardware resources
-Vulnerable to malicious software attacks.
Conclusion
The history of the operating system is a long and winding road, with many different players coming in and out of the game. UNIX was one of the first successful operating systems, and Microsoft came up with their own OS soon after. In more recent years, mobile operating systems have taken over the market, with Android and iOS leading the way. There have been many different operating systems over the years, and each one has its own unique story. Hopefully, this article has given you a better understanding of the history of the operating system. Thanks for reading!
