What is an operating system (OS)?

In the simplest definition, an operating system (OS) is a set of instructions (software) that controls some hardware. These instructions are layered over the kernel accessing the hardware directly and the user interface (command line interface or graphic user interface) for the user (normally a human being) to interact with it. These instructions are written (coded) using in different languages from low level languages (like machine language and assembler) to high level languages (like C++).

Operating systems have evolved from their early days and surprisingly most modern operating systems are made a good time ago like MVS in 1964, Unix in 1969, BSD in 1977, DOS in 1980, Macintosh (or Mac) in 1984, Windows in 1985 and Linux in 1991.

In the past couple of years, a different approach to operating systems and management of resources is using terminals accessing all resources from a server through a web browser. Also this is similar to devices like the Nintendo Wii game console that uses Opera for Devices to allow users access the internet.

At the same time, computers have shrunk from huge systems that would normally fit in a loft (like an IBM 360 mainframe) to machines that fit in your pocket like any of today's mobile phones. Computers are used worldwide for various purposes from web browsing to going to outer space. This site takes a high level look of the different operating systems used worldwide.

Use this site as a source of information on different operating systems at your own discretion. I offer no warranties that the information in this site is fully accurate and you are welcome to correct any errors that you find. You can copy and/or steal the contents for your school reports. Do not publish it on other websites or other media and say that you wrote this information. The latter would not be nice and is considered plagiarism. You can credit VintageOS and give this site a link (thanks in advance).

Technology is great and gives us access to a lot of nice toys that must be used carefully especially with children, like the internet. I am trying to write white papers that you can share with friends and family on technology. Of course, I have not had enough time to do so. For the time being, you can read the white paper on how to protect children on-line and my experiences with PC-BSD (though a bit outdated).