Evolution of Operating Systems didn’t just appear overnight; they’ve evolved alongside computers. The first ones emerged in the 1950s with massive mainframes, where punch cards fed instructions to machines. Back then, OSes were basic batch systems, processing jobs one by one, like a single-line checkout at an old grocery store—efficient for factories but slow for individuals.
The 1960s brought multitasking OSes, inspired by pioneers like Multics, which influenced Unix in the 1970s. Unix was a game-changer: portable, secure, and designed for multiple users, much like how modern apartments share utilities without one tenant hogging the hot water. Today, we see descendants like Linux, powering everything from servers to smart fridges.
Fast-forward to personal computing in the 1980s: Microsoft’s MS-DOS ruled early PCs, but graphical interfaces changed the game. Apple’s Macintosh introduced the mouse and windows in 1984, making computers feel intuitive, not intimidating. Windows followed suit, and now mobile OSes like Android and iOS dominate. For beginners, this evolution shows how OSes shifted from clunky command-line tools to touch-friendly powerhouses. Advanced users might note key milestones, like the kernel’s role in Unix, which separates user tasks from system ones for stability—crucial for avoiding crashes in high-stakes environments like stock trading systems.