Operating Systems

Operating Systems (OS) provide a human friendly way to interact with microprocessors and other computer components, like disks and screens

Applications like spreadsheets and email use the Operating System to do standard tasks, like name and save a file in a folder.

The most common OSs are Windows and Linux

Windows servers are for people developing with Microsoft products only and generally used by large companies.

Linux, a branch of UNIX which predated Windows, is popular especially with smaller organisations because it is often free and they can use software from different sources ie Open Source. Free versions are maintained by dedicated individuals, the nerdier members of society, under strict quality controls.