History of Operating Systems

Photo from the Computer History Museum

In this class, we'll be following the development of the operating system through time.  Many of the concepts introduced here are foundational to the topics we will learn and the discussions we will have throughout the semester.  This study is also a useful exploration of how the OS affects hardware design and how hardware design affects the OS.

Learning Objectives

We've learned that the operating system performs three roles in the system: referee, illusionist, and the glue.  Here, we'll see the development of those roles over the course of time.

Upon completion of this topic , you will be able to: 

• Describe the basic trajectory of OS development
• Consider how software changes drove hardware changes and vice versa
• Evaluate how these changes to the operating system affected the user experience

Learning

• Video: The Beginnings (25 minutes)
• Video: Multiprogramming (14 minutes)
• Video: Interactive Timesharing (12 minutes)
• Video: Today (12 minutes)
• Slides that were presented in the videos
  

Note that these videos have embedded formative assessments---you'll want to watch the videos and complete those before class, so that you can earn participation credit.

Fun Insights

• Women in Computing Timeline
• Picture of the IBM System/360
• The DOS Empire Strikes
• They Write the Right Stuff (NASA Shuttle Group)
• Computer History Museum
• GE Commercial: What's the Matter with Owen?
• Microsoft and the Blue Screen of Death at CES (1998)

From Class

Slides
9a OS History Resources
11a OS History Resources

Evaluating Your Understanding

We are providing these rubrics for each topic so that you can better understand what is expected and evaluate your understanding against those expectations.  The hope is that, if you find yourself earning a 3 or below, you will continue to enhance your understanding until you find yourself earning a 4 or a 5.