Operating environment: Difference between revisions
Guy Harris (talk | contribs) Undid revision 597059528 by Thumperward (talk) - the only one of those that's a Windows shell is, err, umm, Windows. |
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{{Short description|Environment in which users run application software}} |
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{{Hatnote|This page is about software operating environments. Wikipedia has no articles about hardware, oil and gas recovery, military or other operating environments.}} |
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{{About|computer user's applications environments|operating system process environments|Environment variable}} |
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{{distinguish|Programming environment}} |
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{{More citations needed|date=June 2012}} |
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⚫ | In [[computer software]], an '''operating environment''' or '''integrated applications environment''' is the environment in which users run [[application software]]. The environment consists of a [[user interface]] provided by an '''applications manager''' and usually an [[application programming interface]] (API) to the applications manager. |
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⚫ | In [[computer software]], an '''operating environment''' or '''integrated applications environment''' is the [[Deployment environment|environment]] in which users run [[application software]]. The environment consists of a [[user interface]] provided by an '''applications manager''' and usually an [[application programming interface]] (API) to the applications manager. |
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⚫ | An operating environment is |
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⚫ | An operating environment is ''not'' a full [[operating system]], but is a form of [[middleware]] that rests between the OS and the application. For example, the first version of [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Windows 1.0]], was not a full operating system, but a [[GUI]] laid over DOS albeit with an API of its own. Similarly, the [[IBM U2]] system operates on both [[Unix]]/[[Linux]] and [[Windows NT]]. Usually the user interface is [[text-based user interface|text-based]] or [[graphical user interface|graphical]], rather than a [[command-line interface]] (e.g., [[DOS]] or the [[Unix shell]]), which is often the interface of the underlying operating system. |
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⚫ | In the mid 1980s, [[text-based user interface|text-based]] and [[graphical user interface|graphical]] user interface operating environments such as [[IBM TopView]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Digital Research]]'s [[GEM Desktop]] and [[Quarterdeck Office Systems]]'s [[DESQview]] surrounded [[DOS]] operating systems with a [[shell (computing)|shell]] that turned the user's [[computer monitor|display]] into a [[menu (computing)|menu]]-oriented "[[desktop metaphor|desktop]]" for selecting and running [[IBM PC compatible|PC]] applications. |
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In the mid 1980s, [[text-based user interface|text-based]] and [[graphical user interface|graphical]] user interface operating environments surrounded [[DOS]] operating systems with a [[shell (computing)|shell]] that turned the user's [[computer monitor|display]] into a [[menu (computing)|menu]]-oriented "[[desktop metaphor|desktop]]" for selecting and running [[IBM PC compatible|PC]] applications. These operating environment systems allow users much of the convenience of [[integrated software]] without locking them into a single package. |
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=="The environment" and environment variables== |
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{{Main|Environment variable}} |
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Some operating systems have an area of memory called "the environment" which can contain [[environment variable]]s which tell processes about such matters as where the particular computer system expects temporary files to be stored, i.e., some details of the operating environment. |
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== |
== History == |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | In the mid 1980s, [[text-based user interface|text-based]] and [[graphical user interface|graphical]] user interface operating environments such as [[IBM TopView]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Digital Research]]'s [[GEM Desktop]], [[GEOS (16-bit operating system)|GEOS]] and [[Quarterdeck Office Systems]]'s [[DESQview]] surrounded [[DOS]] operating systems with a [[shell (computing)|shell]] that turned the user's [[computer monitor|display]] into a [[menu (computing)|menu]]-oriented "[[desktop metaphor|desktop]]" for selecting and running [[IBM PC compatible|PC]] applications. These programs were more than simple menu systems—as alternate operating environments they were substitutes for integrated programs such as [[Framework (office suite)|Framework]] and [[Lotus Symphony (DOS)|Symphony]], that allowed [[context switch|switching]], [[windowing system|windowing]], and [[cut-and-paste]] operations among dedicated applications. These operating environment systems gave users much of the convenience of [[integrated software]] without locking them into a single package. Alternative operating environments made [[terminate-and-stay-resident]] pop-up utilities such as [[Borland Sidekick]] redundant. Windows provided its own version of these utilities, and placing them under central control could eliminate memory conflicts that [[RAM]]-resident utilities create.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Operating in a New Environment|magazine=PC Magazine|date=February 25, 1986|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UFvuOLZA2D0C&pg=PA108}}</ref> In later versions, Windows evolved from an operating environment into a complete operating system with DOS as a bootloader ([[Windows 9x]]) and a complete operating system, [[Windows NT]], was developed at the same time. All versions after [[Windows ME]] have been based on the Windows NT kernel. |
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== See also == |
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* [[Desktop environment]], the graphical user interface to the computer |
* [[Desktop environment]], the graphical user interface to the computer |
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* [[File manager]] |
* [[File manager]] |
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* [[Integrated development environment]], a type of computer software that assists computer programmers in developing software |
* [[Integrated development environment]], a type of computer software that assists computer programmers in developing software |
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* [[Runtime environment]], a virtual machine state which provides software services for processes or programs while a computer is running |
* [[Runtime environment]], a virtual machine state which provides software services for processes or programs while a computer is running |
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* [[X Window System]] |
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==References== |
== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Operating Environment}} |
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[[Category:Computing terminology]] |
[[Category:Computing terminology]] |
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[[Category:Middleware]] |
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[[Category:Operating system APIs]] |
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[[Category:User interfaces]] |
[[Category:User interfaces]] |
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{{desktop-environment-stub}} |
Latest revision as of 14:51, 23 January 2023
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2012) |
In computer software, an operating environment or integrated applications environment is the environment in which users run application software. The environment consists of a user interface provided by an applications manager and usually an application programming interface (API) to the applications manager.
An operating environment is not a full operating system, but is a form of middleware that rests between the OS and the application. For example, the first version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 1.0, was not a full operating system, but a GUI laid over DOS albeit with an API of its own. Similarly, the IBM U2 system operates on both Unix/Linux and Windows NT. Usually the user interface is text-based or graphical, rather than a command-line interface (e.g., DOS or the Unix shell), which is often the interface of the underlying operating system.
In the mid 1980s, text-based and graphical user interface operating environments surrounded DOS operating systems with a shell that turned the user's display into a menu-oriented "desktop" for selecting and running PC applications. These operating environment systems allow users much of the convenience of integrated software without locking them into a single package.
History
[edit]DOS operating environments
[edit]In the mid 1980s, text-based and graphical user interface operating environments such as IBM TopView, Microsoft Windows, Digital Research's GEM Desktop, GEOS and Quarterdeck Office Systems's DESQview surrounded DOS operating systems with a shell that turned the user's display into a menu-oriented "desktop" for selecting and running PC applications. These programs were more than simple menu systems—as alternate operating environments they were substitutes for integrated programs such as Framework and Symphony, that allowed switching, windowing, and cut-and-paste operations among dedicated applications. These operating environment systems gave users much of the convenience of integrated software without locking them into a single package. Alternative operating environments made terminate-and-stay-resident pop-up utilities such as Borland Sidekick redundant. Windows provided its own version of these utilities, and placing them under central control could eliminate memory conflicts that RAM-resident utilities create.[1] In later versions, Windows evolved from an operating environment into a complete operating system with DOS as a bootloader (Windows 9x) and a complete operating system, Windows NT, was developed at the same time. All versions after Windows ME have been based on the Windows NT kernel.
See also
[edit]- Desktop environment, the graphical user interface to the computer
- File manager
- Integrated environment
- Integrated development environment, a type of computer software that assists computer programmers in developing software
- Runtime environment, a virtual machine state which provides software services for processes or programs while a computer is running
- X Window System
References
[edit]- ^ "Operating in a New Environment". PC Magazine. February 25, 1986.