Booting

A Practical Guide to Operating Systems An operating system (OS) is the software layer that helps apps talk to hardware. It manages CPU time, memory, storage, and I/O devices so programs run smoothly. For most users, the OS stays in the background, turning clicks and keystrokes into actions and keeping the system stable. Two core parts shape every OS: the kernel and user space. The kernel runs in high privilege. It handles processes, memory, files, and devices. User space holds everyday programs. The OS schedules tasks, allocates memory, and keeps programs isolated to prevent one crash from affecting others. ...

Understanding Operating Systems: A Practical Introduction An operating system, or OS, is the software that coordinates a computer’s hardware and runs applications. It provides a stable place for programs to run and keeps devices working together. In short, an OS is the manager of memory, time, and access to the disk. Core components Kernel: the central piece. It runs with high privileges and handles memory, processes, devices, and system calls. ...

From Boot to User Space: A Practical tour of Operating Systems When you turn on a computer, you see a short sequence before applications appear. This path from power on to a usable desktop is called the boot process. It starts with firmware (BIOS or UEFI) that checks hardware and finds a bootloader on storage. The bootloader then loads the kernel into memory and hands control to it. From this moment, the operating system begins its careful dance with hardware. ...