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Types of Operating Systems

Single-user and multi-user, multitasking, real-time, embedded, server and mobile operating systems.

The Main Types

Batch processing — jobs are collected and run together without a user waiting, for example a bank processing all of a day's transactions overnight, or payroll at the end of the month. Time-sharing — many users at terminals share one powerful computer, each getting short time slices. This is the idea behind modern multi-user systems.

General-purpose vs real-time

$General-purpose OS (e.g. Windows)$	$Real-time OS$
$Aims to be fast on average$	$Guarantees a maximum response time$
$A short delay is annoying but harmless$	$A late response could be dangerous$
$Runs many different applications$	$Usually runs one dedicated control task$

Practice

Which system most needs a real-time operating system?

The Main Types