Re: A basic question about running a program

From: osmium (r124c4u102_at_comcast.net)
Date: 04/07/04 

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 07:00:15 -0700

Tony Johansson writes:

> I'm reading a book about C++ and in this book it says something that might
> be wrong.
> The question has nothing specific with C or C++ to do. It's more general
> understanding.
>
> The book says "the operating system is a program that is always running
when
> no user defined program is running". But I think that's wrong I think that
> the operating system is running even if your used defined program is
> running.
>
> Don't you out there agree with me.

I guess I see your point. But it needs some fussy definitions to resolve
this. A particular computer is going to select one instruction to do next.
Did that instruction come from a user program or from the operating system?
Perhaps if you think of the user and OS as being "interlaced" it might
clarify things. Bottom line it comes down to what does "running" mean?

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