Operating Systems

To build strong applications, it is helpful to have at least a general knowledge of the operating system (OS) for which you are building. Over time, this will make you a better programmer and enhance your ability to build great applications. Although our focus in this text is Google’s mobile operating system, Android, we first consider the general parts that make any operating system function.

In short, the operating system is the software that powers a computing device. It handles all the core functions, such as executing applications, running tasks, and controlling any peripherals.

Today’s smartphones are computers—they carry all the characteristics and components of what once required a larger piece of machinery. They have ...

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