Operating Systems

Everyone in today’s world is using a type of computer in form of a desktop, laptop, smartphone and tablet. All these devices perform the actions as instructed by a user. But the brain or soul of all these devices is the Operating System.

It can be said that operating is the most common software in all the devices mentioned above. There are around 9 billion devices (the world’s population is around 7.8 billion) that use any type of operating system. An operating system acts as an interface between humans and electronic gadgets. It decodes input or query by a person and reflects the desired output.

The operating system of a computing device helps the device to run different applications on it. Windows, Linux/Unix, OSX, iOS, ChromeOS and Android are the most popular operating systems. Some of these operating systems, such as Windows, Linux/Unix and OSX, run primarily on traditional computers, while others run on phones and tablets.

Seeking the current demand and demand of operating systems in future, candidates can choose this field as a career. This article below hopes to enlighten its readers on prospective career paths that one can embark upon in the operating system arena along with other important details.

Operating System Highlights

Readers can check some of the important highlights of Operating Systems and its courses from the table given below:

What is an Operating System?

An operating system (OS) is the most important software that runs on a computer. It is system software that manages computer hardware, other software and acts as a bridge between hardware, software and the user.

Most of the time, there are several different computer programmes running simultaneously, and they all need to access your computer's central processing unit (CPU), memory, and storage. The operating system coordinates all of this to make sure each programme runs properly.

It also allows users to communicate with the computer and its peripheral devices. Without an operating system, a computer is useless.

Operating System Courses: Eligibility Criteria

The basic eligibility requirements to pursue Operating System courses are:

Certificate:

• Students must have passed class 10 or above
• Candidates must have basic knowledge of computers

UG Diploma:

• Students must have passed class 12 or above
• Candidates must have basic knowledge of computers

PG Diploma:

• Students must have passed bachelor’s degree with computers as a subject

Courses required to become an Operating System Specialist

Operating Systems are continuously changing, so such professionals need to keep up with the latest developments. Every such specialist has to take courses throughout their careers and attend information technology (IT) conferences to keep up with the latest technology. Certification programmes are generally offered directly from vendors or from vendor-neutral certification providers. Interested candidates can do any of the following courses to have a good working knowledge of the language:

• Operating Systems Courses from MIT
• Operating Systems Lessons from Virginia Technical University
• Operating System Courses from Kent University
• NPTEL: High-Performance Computing
• Berkeley CS 162 Operating Systems

Every aspiring Operating System specialist must keep in mind that they must begin with the basic course. After expertise in basics, they can do advanced courses

Skills required for an Operating System Specialist

Skills required by an operating system specialist are of two types: Technical and Soft. Candidates aspiring to become an operating system specialist must have the following skills:

Operating System Specialist: Job Role

Operating system specialists help maintain, install, and troubleshoot computer and information systems. These specialists usually work in an indoor environment. They help determine any computing system’s hardware, software, and data needs and make recommendations based on this information.

They also monitor current operating system related trends and analyse the upgradation required in the operating system as well. Operating systems specialists generally work within a department filled with other specialists for larger companies. Listed below are some job responsibilities in the Operating System field:

• Assist in installation and configuration of operating systems
• Assist in evaluating, testing and troubleshooting operating systems
• Manage system maintenance and security based on company policies and procedures
• Manage system back-up and restore operations
• Determine system capacity and compatibility based on system performance results
• Determine compatibility and performance impact of system changes and provide corrective actions
• Implement disaster recovery methodologies for computer systems
• Perform regular security monitoring to identify any possible intrusions

Operating System Professionals: Job Profiles

After completing a course in operating systems, candidates may work as Software Engineer. Renowned companies such as Microsoft, Google, Apple, etc. hire operating system professionals. Some of the popular job profiles with job descriptions and salaries are given in the table below

Which industries hire Operating System specialists?

Operating System specialists are required by the big companies in the software industry. Such professionals are not usually hired by companies in other industries. Usually, the other industries hire system engineers that take care of the operating system related problems and also other assigned tasks. But, one should not think that the operating systems specialist are not in demand. These specialists are in great demand as the number of computing devices is growing rapidly.

Top Recruiters for Operating System Specialist

• Microsoft
• IBM
• Google
• Apple
• HP
• AT&T
• LINUX

FAQs Regarding Career in Operating System

Q. What are the prerequisites before pursuing a course in Operating Systems?

Q. Name a few good websites to pursue operating system courses?

Q. What are some jobs for someone who is interested in operating systems?

Q. Are there still jobs for Operating System Developers?

Q. What should be the path for someone interested in systems programming?

Q. What is the scope of a career in operating systems?

Q. Why do people work in niche fields like operating systems?

Q. What is the best book on operating systems?