What is the Real Time Operating System?

The operating system is a software which handles the computer's functionality like scheduling, input/output operation, resource allocation, file system manipulation, etc. and it acts as an interface between the user and hardware.

The different types of operating systems are as follows −

• Batch Operating System

• Multiprogramming Operating System

• Multitasking Operating System

• Multiprocessing Operating System

• Real time Operating System

Now, let us discuss the Real time operating system.

Real-time operating system

All real time operating systems are designed to execute their task within a particular time interval, and thus they have to be fast enough to be up to their deadline.

Time constraints related with real-time systems simply means that time interval allotted for the response of the ongoing program. This deadline means that the task should be completed within this time interval. Hence, they are used in air traffic control systems.

Correctness of result is also a crucial feature of real time systems and they not only need to produce correct result but that too needs to be produced in the given time limit and deadline else even if correct result is delivered but after deadline it’s considered a failure of the OS.

Real-time systems are concurrent that means it can respond to a several number of processes at a time. There are several different tasks going on within the system and it responds accordingly to every task in short intervals. This makes the real-time systems concurrent systems.

Even if the load is heavy on a system like it has to respond to multiple processes then also it has to meet each and every deadline. It still responds to every query within time this provides stability to the Real time OS.

There are several different tasks going on within the system and it responds accordingly to every task in short intervals. This makes the real-time systems concurrent systems.

Differences

Let us see the difference between real time OS and normal OS −

• The difference between ordinary and real time operating systems is the time factor. Time is not an essential factor in the ordinary operating system like windows, Linux, Unix etc. Time is a very essential factor in real time operating systems which are used in rocket launching, ATM machines etc.

• Ordinary operating systems deal with multitasking i.e. dealing with more than one process or applications simultaneously. Real time operating system deals with only one task at a time.

• Context switching is there in ordinary operating systems. It is not available in the Real time operating system.

• In the ordinary operating system modification in any code or process is possible. Real time operating system modification is not possible.

• An ordinary operating system doesn't have pre-emption at the kernel level. A Real time operating system has pre-emption at the kernel level.