Operating System Design & Theory

  This course enabled me to better understand the fundamental functions, designs, and objectives of operating systems (OS).  Initially, I had a limited perception of an operating system as software that made a computer’s hardware usable.  However, my knowledge on the topic has significantly expanded. I now see an operating system as a robust and structured system managing hardware resources, overseeing user and program interactions, and ensuring the computer environment’s security.  This blog post summarizes the concepts and fundamentals underpinning operating systems and how I will employ that knowledge in subsequent academic and professional pursuits. I learned that an operating system isn't a single, unbreakable unit; instead, it has a modular structure to provide flexibility, performance, and scalability.  Typical operating system structures are the monolithic kernel, microkernel, modular, and layered.  For example, a monolithic system like Linux provid...