A multiprogramming operating system is one that allows end users to run more than one program at a time. The development of such a system, the first type to allow this functionality, was an important step in the development of sophisticated computers. The technology works by allowing a computer’s central processing unit (CPU) to switch between two or more running tasks when the CPU is idle.
Multiprogramming operating systems allow the computer’s CPU to switch between two or more tasks that run when the CPU is idle.
Early computers were largely dedicated to executing one program, or, more accurately, one program-initiated task, at a time. Understanding the concept of tasks is key to understanding how a multiprogramming operating system works. A “task” is a small sequence of commands that, when combined, constitute the execution of a running program. For example, if the program is a calculator, one of the program’s tasks would be to record the numbers entered by the end user.
A multiprogramming operating system works by analyzing the current CPU activity on the computer. When the CPU is idle, when it’s between tasks, it has an opportunity to use this idle time to run tasks for another program. In this way, the functions of several programs can be executed sequentially. For example, when the CPU is waiting for the end user to enter numbers to calculate, instead of being completely idle, it can load the components of a web page that the user accesses.
The main benefit of this functionality is that it can reduce time wasted on system operations. As in a business, efficiency is the key to generating maximum profit from a business. Using this type of operating system eliminates waste in the system, ensuring that the computer’s CPU is running at full capacity most of the time. This results in a smoother computing experience from the end user’s perspective, as program commands are constantly running in the background, all the time, helping to speed up program execution.
The multiprogramming operating system has been largely superseded by a new generation of operating systems known as multitasking operating systems. In a multitasking operating system, the system does not have to wait for a task to complete before moving on to work on an active program. Instead, you can stop a running program at any time to transfer its CPU resources to a different active program. This provides a more dynamic approach to handling concurrent programs.
