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Types of operating systems

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Introduction

Types of operating systems

When you boot up a desktop computer or a smart phone, you computer will (eventually!)  load an operating system. What kind of operating system that is boots up depends on the purpose of the computer system, but there are 2 main types:

  • Command Line Interfaces
  • Graphical User Interfaces

Types of operating system

CLI

Command Line Interface

Command line operating systems were the original interfaces that all computers used, until the invention of graphical user interfaces. The consist of text only screens and graphics could only displayed using a technique known as ASCII Art.

Advantages of CLIs

  • Quick and easy to program
  • Fast to use when you are experienced in the system
  • Very Reliable
  • Distraction free
  • Low resource usage – good for battery powered devices like UAVs and weather stations

Disadvantages of CLIs

  • Very difficult / un-intuitive for beginners ( you have to know the commands)
  • Can’t display graphics
  • Not good for multi-tasking
  • Not pretty looking

Command line interfaces are still widely used today in a number of specialist and technical areas, including:

  • Coding
  • Hacking
  • System restore interfaces
  • Micro-controller controlled devices
  • Servers

cli

GUI

Graphical User Interface

Graphical user interfaces were invented much later than CLIs but are now the most widely used type of interface. Users interact with the system with the combination of a keyboard and a mouse/point (or a touch screen).

Advantages of GUI

  • Can display images, videos and graphics
  • Because of the use of a pointer or touch screen they are far more beginner friendly
  • Pretty looking
  • Can have multiple windows open for multi-tasking

Disadvantages of GUI

  • Take longer to code
  • More prone to bugs
  • More resource intensive
  • Screen clutter can be distracting.
  • Can take longer to perform tasks than a CLI.

windows gui

 

Activity 1

Activity 1

Add 2 news slides to your Google Slides document, and write one slide on each – GUI and CLI. Make sure that you include:

  • What it is
  • Uses
  • Advantages
  • Disadvantages

notebook-1207548_640

Activity 2

Activity 2

Add 4 new empty slides to your Slides.

For each of the scenarios below, write a paragraph on each slide starting:
Which operating system type you would recommend and why

Scenario 1
A small gaming device for use by children ages 3 – 8

Scenario 2
A Weather balloon recording flight data over a 5 day flight

Scenario 3
A computer that customers can use to order food in a fast food restaurant

Scenario 4
A car performance diagnostics system.

notebook-1207548_640

Plenary


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