Operating System and Terms

32-bit:

A 32-bit operating system is one that cannot only run on 32-bit processors but can utilize the capabilities of the processor fully. While this may sound simple, the truth of the matter is that it took many years after the 32-bit processor became available before operating systems (which were 16-bit at the time) were able to utilize their features. Just as you should not drive racecars on a country road, you cannot mix 64-bit software with 32-bit hardware.

64-bit:

A 64-bit operating system is one that is written to utilize the instructions possible with 64-bit processors. Originally, these were more common with servers than desktops, but they have now become ubiquitous in the market with both Intel and AMD processors. As mentioned earlier, you cannot mix 64-bit software with 32-bit hardware (but you can run most 32-bit software on 64-bit hardware).

Graphical user interface (GUI):

A graphical user interface, or GUI , is a method by which a person communicates with a computer using graphical images, icons, and methods other than text. GUIs allow a user to use a mouse, touchpad, or another mechanism (in addition to the keyboard) to interact with the computer to issue commands.

Network:

A network is any group of computers that have a communication link between them. Networks allow computers to share information and resources quickly and securely.

Shell:

A shell is a program that runs on top of the OS and allows the user to issue commands through a set of menus or another interface (which may or may not be graphical). Shells make an OS easier to use by changing the user interface.

Version

A version is a particular revision of a piece of software, normally described by a number that tells you how new the product is in relation to other versions of the product.

proprietary

A word often used interchangeably with closed source is.

Cooperative multitasking:

Cooperative multitasking is a multitasking method that depends on the application itself to be responsible for using the processor and then freeing it for access by other applications. This is the way very early versions of Windows managed multiple applications. If any application locked up while using the processor, the application was unable to free the processor to do other tasks and the entire system locked, usually forcing a reboot.

Multithreading:

Multithreading is the ability of a single application to have multiple requests in to the processor at one time. This results in faster application performance because it allows a program to do many things at once.

Preemptive multitasking:

Preemptive multitasking is a multitasking method in which the OS allots each application a certain amount of processor time and then forcibly takes back control and gives another application or task access to the processor. This means that if an application crashes, the OS takes control of the processor away from the locked application and passes it on to the next application, which should be unaffected. Although unstable programs still lock, only the locked application will stall—not the entire system. This is what is used today in modern operating systems.

Source

The source code is the actual code that defines how a piece of software works. Computer operating systems can be open source, meaning that the OS can be examined and modified by anyone, or they can be closed source, meaning that only an owner or developer can modify or examine the code.

x64:

The term x64 is commonly used to denote operating systems that can run on 64-bit processors. This is also commonly referred to as AMD64 since AMD defined the 64-bit instruction set used today.

x86:

The term x86 is commonly used to refer to operating systems intended to run on the Intel processor because Intel initially identified its 32-bit processors with numbers ending in 86 prior to switching to the Pentium line.