CO2101 — Operating Systems, Networks and

Distributed Systems

History of operating systems

Tom Ridge (tr61)

7th October 2019

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 1 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Pre-mechanisation

Until the mid-20th century computer was a job-title.

Well-trained people would perform repetative calculationsfollowing detailed instructions.

The background image shows some “computers” working atNACA (later NASA) in 1949

See 2016 book (and film) Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 2 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Pre-mechanisation

Until the mid-20th century computer was a job-title.

Well-trained people would perform repetative calculationsfollowing detailed instructions.

The background image shows some “computers” working atNACA (later NASA) in 1949

See 2016 book (and film) Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 2 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Pre-mechanisation

Until the mid-20th century computer was a job-title.

Well-trained people would perform repetative calculationsfollowing detailed instructions.

The background image shows some “computers” working atNACA (later NASA) in 1949

See 2016 book (and film) Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 2 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Pre-mechanisation

Until the mid-20th century computer was a job-title.

Well-trained people would perform repetative calculationsfollowing detailed instructions.

The background image shows some “computers” working atNACA (later NASA) in 1949

See 2016 book (and film) Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 2 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Early “externally” programed machines

Early days (late WWII through to 1950 or so) involved construction ofnew and unique electronic devices.

Initially machines had to be laboriously re-configured (withswitches/plug-boards/etc.) for each new task (e.g. Colossus,ENIAC).

Punched cards/paper tape used to read in data; output typicallyvia teletype.

Background shows Colossus in operation

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 3 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Early “externally” programed machines

Early days (late WWII through to 1950 or so) involved construction ofnew and unique electronic devices.

Initially machines had to be laboriously re-configured (withswitches/plug-boards/etc.) for each new task (e.g. Colossus,ENIAC).

Punched cards/paper tape used to read in data; output typicallyvia teletype.

Background shows Colossus in operation

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 3 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Early “externally” programed machines

Early days (late WWII through to 1950 or so) involved construction ofnew and unique electronic devices.

Initially machines had to be laboriously re-configured (withswitches/plug-boards/etc.) for each new task (e.g. Colossus,ENIAC).

Punched cards/paper tape used to read in data; output typicallyvia teletype.

Background shows Colossus in operation

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 3 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

First “internally” stored program machines

Key development was to store the program internally alongside thedata (e.g. EDSAC, 1949)

Program (in primitive assembler) and data loaded in from tape orcards.

Used a special loader program (entered by hand) to initiateoperations.

Background shows the control console of EDSAC

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 4 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

First “internally” stored program machines

Key development was to store the program internally alongside thedata (e.g. EDSAC, 1949)

Program (in primitive assembler) and data loaded in from tape orcards.

Used a special loader program (entered by hand) to initiateoperations.

Background shows the control console of EDSAC

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 4 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

First “internally” stored program machines

Key development was to store the program internally alongside thedata (e.g. EDSAC, 1949)

Program (in primitive assembler) and data loaded in from tape orcards.

Used a special loader program (entered by hand) to initiateoperations.

Background shows the control console of EDSAC

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 4 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

First commercial machines; batch processing

In the late 1950s standard commercial machines started to beproduced and sold (e.g. Ferranti Mk1; LEO I; various IBM lines)

Standard subroutines produced and loaded at start-up and couldbe retained for successive jobs

Magnetic drums, tapes and later disk drives used for storage —and needed to be controlled

Assembly languages matured, then high level languages such asFORTRAN and Algol introduced

System provides compilers and other tools for programming

The loader program was enhanced into job control languageallowing sophisticated batch processing

Background shows an IBM 650; first computer to sell in the1000s.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 5 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

First commercial machines; batch processing

In the late 1950s standard commercial machines started to beproduced and sold (e.g. Ferranti Mk1; LEO I; various IBM lines)

Standard subroutines produced and loaded at start-up and couldbe retained for successive jobs

Magnetic drums, tapes and later disk drives used for storage —and needed to be controlled

Assembly languages matured, then high level languages such asFORTRAN and Algol introduced

System provides compilers and other tools for programming

The loader program was enhanced into job control languageallowing sophisticated batch processing

Background shows an IBM 650; first computer to sell in the1000s.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 5 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

First commercial machines; batch processing

In the late 1950s standard commercial machines started to beproduced and sold (e.g. Ferranti Mk1; LEO I; various IBM lines)

Standard subroutines produced and loaded at start-up and couldbe retained for successive jobs

Magnetic drums, tapes and later disk drives used for storage —and needed to be controlled

Assembly languages matured, then high level languages such asFORTRAN and Algol introduced

System provides compilers and other tools for programming

The loader program was enhanced into job control languageallowing sophisticated batch processing

Background shows an IBM 650; first computer to sell in the1000s.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 5 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

First commercial machines; batch processing

In the late 1950s standard commercial machines started to beproduced and sold (e.g. Ferranti Mk1; LEO I; various IBM lines)

Standard subroutines produced and loaded at start-up and couldbe retained for successive jobs

Magnetic drums, tapes and later disk drives used for storage —and needed to be controlled

Assembly languages matured, then high level languages such asFORTRAN and Algol introduced

System provides compilers and other tools for programming

The loader program was enhanced into job control languageallowing sophisticated batch processing

Background shows an IBM 650; first computer to sell in the1000s.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 5 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

First commercial machines; batch processing

In the late 1950s standard commercial machines started to beproduced and sold (e.g. Ferranti Mk1; LEO I; various IBM lines)

Standard subroutines produced and loaded at start-up and couldbe retained for successive jobs

Magnetic drums, tapes and later disk drives used for storage —and needed to be controlled

Assembly languages matured, then high level languages such asFORTRAN and Algol introduced

System provides compilers and other tools for programming

The loader program was enhanced into job control languageallowing sophisticated batch processing

Background shows an IBM 650; first computer to sell in the1000s.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 5 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Multi-programming and multi-tasking

Transistors and integrated circuits developed through the 1950s andin use in 2nd/3rd generation of computers from the early 1960s.

E.g. Atlas (in the background) supercomputer was among the 1stdesigned with an OS in mind: interrupts and virtual memory

CPU could switch between several jobs, allowing processing ofone while slow I/O was completed for others

Desire for quick response leads to time-sharing via on-lineoperations

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 6 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Multi-programming and multi-tasking

Transistors and integrated circuits developed through the 1950s andin use in 2nd/3rd generation of computers from the early 1960s.

E.g. Atlas (in the background) supercomputer was among the 1stdesigned with an OS in mind: interrupts and virtual memory

CPU could switch between several jobs, allowing processing ofone while slow I/O was completed for others

Desire for quick response leads to time-sharing via on-lineoperations

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 6 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Multi-programming and multi-tasking

Transistors and integrated circuits developed through the 1950s andin use in 2nd/3rd generation of computers from the early 1960s.

E.g. Atlas (in the background) supercomputer was among the 1stdesigned with an OS in mind: interrupts and virtual memory

CPU could switch between several jobs, allowing processing ofone while slow I/O was completed for others

Desire for quick response leads to time-sharing via on-lineoperations

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 6 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Time-sharing and online operation

Dominant usage model from the mid-1960s through to the late1970s.

A single central mainframe could support large numbers of usersonline at terminals simultaneously

Interactive use required new tools to allow the user to controltheir processes.

Ultimately lead to the development of the shell as a userinterface (UNIX, 1970)

The operating system now had to handle potential conflictbetween users — need for protection and fairness.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 7 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Time-sharing and online operation

Dominant usage model from the mid-1960s through to the late1970s.

A single central mainframe could support large numbers of usersonline at terminals simultaneously

Interactive use required new tools to allow the user to controltheir processes.

Ultimately lead to the development of the shell as a userinterface (UNIX, 1970)

The operating system now had to handle potential conflictbetween users — need for protection and fairness.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 7 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Time-sharing and online operation

Dominant usage model from the mid-1960s through to the late1970s.

A single central mainframe could support large numbers of usersonline at terminals simultaneously

Interactive use required new tools to allow the user to controltheir processes.

Ultimately lead to the development of the shell as a userinterface (UNIX, 1970)

The operating system now had to handle potential conflictbetween users — need for protection and fairness.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 7 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Time-sharing and online operation

Dominant usage model from the mid-1960s through to the late1970s.

A single central mainframe could support large numbers of usersonline at terminals simultaneously

Interactive use required new tools to allow the user to controltheir processes.

Ultimately lead to the development of the shell as a userinterface (UNIX, 1970)

The operating system now had to handle potential conflictbetween users — need for protection and fairness.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 7 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Rise of networking

Until the late 1950s communication between computers did notreally exist on any scale

Basic telex technology (1920s) allowed text messages to betransmitted/received

Mainframes had multiple terminals as peripherals

Packet switching networks developed through the 1960s andallowed the modern notion of a digital network

First 5 nodes of ARPANET connected in 1969

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 8 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Rise of networking

Until the late 1950s communication between computers did notreally exist on any scale

Basic telex technology (1920s) allowed text messages to betransmitted/received

Mainframes had multiple terminals as peripherals

Packet switching networks developed through the 1960s andallowed the modern notion of a digital network

First 5 nodes of ARPANET connected in 1969

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 8 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Rise of networking

Until the late 1950s communication between computers did notreally exist on any scale

Basic telex technology (1920s) allowed text messages to betransmitted/received

Mainframes had multiple terminals as peripherals

Packet switching networks developed through the 1960s andallowed the modern notion of a digital network

First 5 nodes of ARPANET connected in 1969

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 8 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Rise of networking

Until the late 1950s communication between computers did notreally exist on any scale

Basic telex technology (1920s) allowed text messages to betransmitted/received

Mainframes had multiple terminals as peripherals

Packet switching networks developed through the 1960s andallowed the modern notion of a digital network

First 5 nodes of ARPANET connected in 1969

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 8 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Rise of networking

Until the late 1950s communication between computers did notreally exist on any scale

Basic telex technology (1920s) allowed text messages to betransmitted/received

Mainframes had multiple terminals as peripherals

Packet switching networks developed through the 1960s andallowed the modern notion of a digital network

First 5 nodes of ARPANET connected in 1969

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 8 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

GUIs, WIMPS and micro-computers

User interface concepts developed in the 1960s includedwindows, icons, mouse pointer and the desktop metaphor

Needed the advent of personal computers (1980s onward) basedon micro-processors, plus high resolution bit-mapped displays

Graphical user interfaces started to be widely used

Less expertise needed, and development of “business”applications (word-processing, spread-sheets) results in first PCexplosion

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 9 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

GUIs, WIMPS and micro-computers

User interface concepts developed in the 1960s includedwindows, icons, mouse pointer and the desktop metaphor

Needed the advent of personal computers (1980s onward) basedon micro-processors, plus high resolution bit-mapped displays

Graphical user interfaces started to be widely used

Less expertise needed, and development of “business”applications (word-processing, spread-sheets) results in first PCexplosion

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 9 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

GUIs, WIMPS and micro-computers

User interface concepts developed in the 1960s includedwindows, icons, mouse pointer and the desktop metaphor

Needed the advent of personal computers (1980s onward) basedon micro-processors, plus high resolution bit-mapped displays

Graphical user interfaces started to be widely used

Less expertise needed, and development of “business”applications (word-processing, spread-sheets) results in first PCexplosion

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 9 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

GUIs, WIMPS and micro-computers

User interface concepts developed in the 1960s includedwindows, icons, mouse pointer and the desktop metaphor

Needed the advent of personal computers (1980s onward) basedon micro-processors, plus high resolution bit-mapped displays

Graphical user interfaces started to be widely used

Less expertise needed, and development of “business”applications (word-processing, spread-sheets) results in first PCexplosion

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 9 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Evolution of networking

By 1980s widespread use of Local Area Networks to connectmicro-computers on a site to share data and programs

Beginnings of The Internet as academic, scientific and largebusinesses connected: use of email, file transfer/sharing,terminal access to remote systems

Development of http and the World Wide Web at CERN in early1990s kick-started the internet explosion.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 10 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Evolution of networking

By 1980s widespread use of Local Area Networks to connectmicro-computers on a site to share data and programs

Beginnings of The Internet as academic, scientific and largebusinesses connected: use of email, file transfer/sharing,terminal access to remote systems

Development of http and the World Wide Web at CERN in early1990s kick-started the internet explosion.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 10 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Evolution of networking

By 1980s widespread use of Local Area Networks to connectmicro-computers on a site to share data and programs

Beginnings of The Internet as academic, scientific and largebusinesses connected: use of email, file transfer/sharing,terminal access to remote systems

Development of http and the World Wide Web at CERN in early1990s kick-started the internet explosion.

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 10 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Recent trends

Ubiquitous network (wifi, 4G, consumer broadband)

Powerful personal network devices (phones, tablets, etc.)

Cloud based services: social media, e-commerce, informationservices

Processing is massively distributed

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 11 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Recent trends

Ubiquitous network (wifi, 4G, consumer broadband)

Powerful personal network devices (phones, tablets, etc.)

Cloud based services: social media, e-commerce, informationservices

Processing is massively distributed

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 11 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Recent trends

Ubiquitous network (wifi, 4G, consumer broadband)

Powerful personal network devices (phones, tablets, etc.)

Cloud based services: social media, e-commerce, informationservices

Processing is massively distributed

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 11 / 12

Overview of Operating Systems Brief history of Operating Systems

Recent trends

Ubiquitous network (wifi, 4G, consumer broadband)

Powerful personal network devices (phones, tablets, etc.)

Cloud based services: social media, e-commerce, informationservices

Processing is massively distributed

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 11 / 12

Attributions

Picture attributions

EDSAC console: CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=432939

By Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, Texas A&M - Flickr: IBM Processing Machine,CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17397582

By Iain MacCallum - “email from my father, Iain MacCallum,” CC BY 3.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18776249

By Jason Scott - Flickr: IMG-9976, CC BY 2.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29457452

CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18061

By Christian Heilmann - Flickr: The first Google computer at Stanford, CC BY 2.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30041591

By ScotXW - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47075153

tr61 CO2101 — History 7th October 2019 12 / 12