Operating environment: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Environment in which users run application software}}

{{merge|shell (computing)|date=March 2014}}

{{About|computer user's applications environments|operating system process environments|Environment variable}}

{{RefimproveMore citations needed|date=June 2012}}

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.

An operating environment is usually ''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.

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.

==DOS operating environments==

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. 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|TSR]] 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=http://books.google.com/books?id=UFvuOLZA2D0C&pg=PA108}}</ref> In later versions, Windows evolved from an operating environment into a complete operating system.

== History ==

=="The environment" and environment variables==

=== DOS operating environments ===

{{Main|Environment variable}}

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 terminate-and Stay Resident|TSR-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=httphttps://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.

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.

== See also ==

* [[Desktop environment]], the graphical user interface to the computer

* [[File manager]]

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* [[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 ==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Operating Environment}}

[[Category:Computing terminology]]

[[Category:Middleware]]

[[Category:Operating system APIs]]

[[Category:User interfaces]]

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