Process - Revision history

Jnc: +cat

2018-12-16T21:13:26Z

+cat

Jnc: Proper cat

2018-10-20T16:27:57Z

Proper cat

Jnc: Lilnks

2018-06-20T03:12:20Z

Lilnks

Jnc: An OK start

2017-09-23T22:02:23Z

An OK start

New page

A '''process''' is the most common computational abstraction on a [[multitasking]] [[operating system]]. It is effectively a 'virtual computer' (but not in the sense of a [[virtual machine]]), to which the OS provides resources ([[main memory|memory]], computing time, I/O, etc) as required.

The virtual computer is basically a restricted version of the underlying [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]], but also enhanced with other capabilities, provided by the OS (e.g. I/O to a [[file system]], as well as devices attached to the system).

(The limitations are to remove the ability to peform those operations which could damage/etc other processes; these limitations are usually enforced by the hardware of the CPU, as directed by the OS.)

A process is usually provided with a complete [[address space]] all its own, implemented using real memory on the underlying hardware - although [[virtual memory]] may be used to provide it.

Other capabilities usually provided to a proceess by the OS include:

* timers;
* the ability to run programs;
* tools to debug programs;
* the ability to communicate with other processes;
* the ability to create new processes, or shut this one down;
* the ability to wait for some event.

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-A '''process''' is the most common computational abstraction in a [[multi-tasking]] [[operating system]]. It is effectively a 'virtual computer' (but not in the sense of a [[virtual machine]]),  to which the OS provides resources ([[main memory|memory]], computing time, [[input/output|I/O]], etc) as required.
+A '''process''' is the most common computational abstraction in a [[multi-tasking]] [[operating system]]. It is effectively a 'virtual computer' (but not in the sense of a [[virtual machine]]), to which the OS provides resources ([[main memory|memory]], computing time, [[input/output|I/O]], etc) as required.
 The virtual computer is basically a restricted version of the underlying [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]], but also enhanced with other capabilities, provided by the OS (e.g. I/O to a [[file system]], as well as devices attached to the system).
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 * the ability to wait for some event.
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-A '''process''' is the most common computational abstraction on a [[multitasking]] [[operating system]]. It is effectively a 'virtual computer' (but not in the sense of a [[virtual machine]]),  to which the OS provides resources ([[main memory|memory]], computing time, I/O, etc) as required.
+A '''process''' is the most common computational abstraction in a [[multi-tasking]] [[operating system]]. It is effectively a 'virtual computer' (but not in the sense of a [[virtual machine]]),  to which the OS provides resources ([[main memory|memory]], computing time, [[input/output|I/O]], etc) as required.
 The virtual computer is basically a restricted version of the underlying [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]], but also enhanced with other capabilities, provided by the OS (e.g. I/O to a [[file system]], as well as devices attached to the system).
-(The limitations are to remove the ability to peform those operations which could damage/etc other processes; these limitations are usually enforced by the hardware of the CPU, as directed by the OS.)
+(The limitations are to remove the ability to peform those operations which could damage/etc other processes; these limitations are usually enforced by the [[hardware]] of the CPU, as directed by the OS.)
 A process is usually provided with a complete [[address space]] all its own, implemented using real memory on the underlying hardware - although [[virtual memory]] may be used to provide it.