Objectives of Operating System (JNNC Technologies)

The objectives of the operating system are −

• To make the computer system convenient to use in an efficient manner.
• To hide the details of the hardware resources from the users.
• To provide users a convenient interface to use the computer system.
• To act as an intermediary between the hardware and its users, making it easier for the users to access and use other resources.
• To manage the resources of a computer system.
• To keep track of who is using which resource, granting resource requests, and mediating conflicting requests from different programs and users.
• To provide efficient and fair sharing of resources among users and programs.

Characteristics of Operating System

Here is a list of some of the most prominent characteristic features of Operating Systems −

• Memory Management − Keeps track of the primary memory, i.e. what part of it is in use by whom, what part is not in use, etc. and allocates the memory when a process or program requests it.
• Processor Management − Allocates the processor (CPU) to a process and deallocates the processor when it is no longer required.
• Device Management − Keeps track of all the devices. This is also called I/O controller that decides which process gets the device, when, and for how much time.
• File Management − Allocates and de-allocates the resources and decides who gets the resources.
• Security − Prevents unauthorized access to programs and data by means of passwords and other similar techniques.
• Job Accounting − Keeps track of time and resources used by various jobs and/or users.
• Control Over System Performance − Records delays between the request for a service and from the system.
• Interaction with the Operators − Interaction may take place via the console of the computer in the form of instructions. The Operating System acknowledges the same, does the corresponding action, and informs the operation by a display screen.
• Error-detecting Aids − Production of dumps, traces, error messages, and other debugging and error-detecting methods.
• Coordination Between Other Software and Users − Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters, assemblers, and other software to the various users of the computer systems.