[W/K] :: operating system

  operating system
       n : (computer science) software that controls the execution of
           computer programs and may provide various services [syn:
           OS]

  operating system n. [techspeak] (Often abbreviated `OS') The
     foundation software of a machine; that which schedules tasks, allocates
     storage, and presents a default interface to the user between
     applications. The facilities an operating system provides and its
     general design philosophy exert an extremely strong influence on
     programming style and on the technical cultures that grow up around its
     host machines. Hacker folklore has been shaped primarily by the
     {Unix, {ITS}, {TOPS-10}, {TOPS-20}/{{TWENEX}}, {WAITS},
     {CP/M, {MS-DOS}, and {Multics} operating systems (most
     importantly by ITS and Unix).
  
  

  operating system
       
           (OS) The low-level software which handles
          the interface to peripheral hardware, schedules tasks,
          allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the
          user when no application program is running.
       
          The OS may be split into a kernel which is always present
          and various system programs which use facilities provided by
          the kernel to perform higher-level house-keeping tasks,
          often acting as servers in a client-server relationship.
       
          Some would include a graphical user interface and window
          system as part of the OS, others would not.  The operating
          system loader, BIOS, or other firmware required at boot
          time or when installing the operating system would generally
          not be considered part of the operating system, though this
          distinction is unclear in the case of a rommable operating
          system such as RISC OS.
       
          The facilities an operating system provides and its general
          design philosophy exert an extremely strong influence on
          programming style and on the technical cultures that grow up
          around the machines on which it runs.
       
          Example operating systems include 386BSD, AIX, AOS,
          Amoeba, Angel, Artemis microkernel, BeOS, Brazil,
          COS, CP/M, CTSS, Chorus, DACNOS, DOSEXEC 2,
          GCOS, GEORGE 3, GEOS, ITS, KAOS, Linux, LynxOS,
          MPV, MS-DOS, MVS, Mach, Macintosh operating system,
          Microsoft Windows, MINIX, Multics, Multipop-68,
          Novell NetWare, OS-9, OS/2, Pick, Plan 9, QNX,
          RISC OS, STING, System V, System/360, TOPS-10,
          TOPS-20, TRUSIX, TWENEX, TYMCOM-X, Thoth, Unix,
          VM/CMS, VMS, VRTX, VSTa, VxWorks, WAITS.
       
          FAQ
          (ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/comp.os.research).
       
          Usenet newsgroup: news:comp.os.research.
       
          [{Jargon File]
       
          (1999-06-09)