Introduction to Operating Systems and Computer Architecture

Every time you run an application, save a file, or connect to the internet, an operating system coordinates the complex dance between software and hardware behind the scenes. This written course demystifies how these essential systems function, giving you a clear mental model of the core infrastructure powering modern computing. You will transition from simply using computers to understanding exactly how CPU scheduling, memory allocation, and file systems work under the hood. You will learn to: Explain the core responsibilities of an operating system; Understand how processes are scheduled and managed by the CPU; Analyze how virtual memory and physical RAM are allocated; Explore how file systems organize and secure data on storage drives; Identify modern security principles including user permissions and access control; Discover how virtualization and containerization technologies isolate environments. This course begins with fundamental concepts and basic terminology before guiding you through the critical subsystems of modern operating systems, including a look at current container-level virtualization. Designed specifically for beginners, this course requires no prior computer science background or programming experience. Begin your journey toward a deeper understanding of computer systems today.