operating system

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In computing, a program that controls the basic operation of a computer. A typical OS controls the peripheral devices such as printers, organizes the filing system, provides a means of communicating with the operator, and runs other programs.

Many operating systems are written to run on specific computers, but some are available from third-party software houses and will run on machines from a variety of manufacturers. Examples include Apple's Macintosh OS X, Microsoft's Windows, and Unix.

Unix (developed at AT&T's Bell Laboratories) is the standard on workstations, minicomputers, and supercomputers; it is also used on desktop PCs and mainframes. The relatively recent Linux is rapidly increasing in popularity.

The star, which was added to the flag in 1793, initially had more than five points. The star may represent the Morning Star mentioned in the Koran. Effective date: 5 June 1936. >>