Discuss any five (5) functions of an operating system. (10 marks)
1. Memory management: The operating system is responsible for managing the computer's memory resources, ensuring that each program and process has enough memory to run efficiently. It allocates memory when needed, deallocates memory when it is no longer in use, and ensures that different programs do not interfere with each other's memory space.
2. Process management: The operating system manages all running processes and ensures that they are able to run efficiently. It controls the execution of processes, scheduling them to run on the CPU, and handling interruptions and errors that may occur during execution.
3. File system management: The operating system is responsible for managing the computer's file system, including organizing and storing files on storage devices such as hard drives. It provides a way for users to access, create, modify, and delete files, as well as ensuring that files are stored in a reliable and secure manner.
4. Device management: The operating system controls the computer's hardware devices, such as printers, disk drives, and network interfaces. It provides a consistent interface for applications to interact with these devices, handling tasks such as device initialization, input/output operations, and error handling.
5. User interface: The operating system provides an interface for users to interact with the computer, allowing them to run programs, access files, and control system settings. This interface may take the form of a graphical user interface (GUI) with windows, icons, and menus, or a command-line interface where users type commands to perform tasks. The operating system also manages input devices such as keyboards and mice, as well as output devices such as monitors and printers.