Evaluation:
Published: 15.12.2005.
Language: English
Level: Secondary school
Literature: n/a
References: Not used
  • Essays 'Chief Functions of an Operating System', 1.
  • Essays 'Chief Functions of an Operating System', 2.
Extract

To clear up confusion:
Since the terms task and process are often used interchangeably, it may seem that multitasking and multiprocessing would be also. This is not the case. From page 64 of Stalling, we see that multiprogramming and multitasking are synonymous. But on page 198 we read these definitions:
Multiprogramming: The management of multiple processes within a uniprocessor system.
Multiprocessing: The management of multiple processes within a multiprocessor.
We see, then, that the term multiprocessing comes from multiprocessor, whereas the term multitasking comes from task. Since a process (or task) is a program in execution, we can see that the concept "the management of multiple processes" is not far from "the management of multiple programs." It is unfortunate that the development of OS terminology created this source of confusion.

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