Operating systems are a necessity when dealing with computers. Without an operating system, it will be hard to run any program on your computer. There are two types of operating systems an open source and a closed source. Depending on what you want in your operating system, whether you are looking to run your programs or want to be able to program your system will depend on what system you are looking for. There are so many factors that go into making an operating system run the way a person expects. Many of them are done without us even knowing unless you are well educated in the way an operating system operates. Take the open source operating system, the source code is open to the public, and you are also able to change anything you like free of charge. Open source allows you to be able to look at the programming code and debug any problems that you could come across. Most of the time the people that use this type of source are educated programmers that understand the in and outs of an operating system. Because an open source is available to everyone, there are constant updates to this type of operating system. Also since the code is included in the program, it makes it very easy to make any additions to the program. This will give you the best chance of using a bug free operating system. Also, an open source system has no charges that come along with it. Many people have different uses for the same operating system, and an open source allows you to customize it the way you want. A good example of an open source operating system is Linux. Linux was developed in 1991 and has many of the functionalities of UNIX. The way that you were able to get this operating system was through the internet. Linux is run just like any other operating systems you can run programs and surf the internet. Linux was also developed with all the other operating systems out there. There are parts of other operating systems within this program to make Linux what it is today. Because of the collaboration of many developers this program is getting more popular, and there are many companies that use this operating system. The Linux system as a whole is maintained by a loose network of developers collaborating over the Internet, with small groups or individuals having responsibility for maintaining the integrity of specific components. (Abraham Silberschatz 2012) The programming code is not available in a “closed” operating system. Also, there is no way to change or customize it. The developer or the company that own the rights is capable of changing the program. This means if there are any problems or bugs in the program you are not able to fix them yourself. Bugs could become an issue if the software is released too early. The only way you can fix any problems is by installing updates to the program whenever they are available. We all know that companies like to get their product out as soon as they can; therefore the first version available may not run as well as you would have hoped. That is why updating and patches are made to fix any issues that arise in the program. Also, a closed source operating system will cost you money. The rights of the software are through a specific company, and the company will require you to buy their product before you can use it. If you are running a business, this could get very costly since every computer in the network runs an operating system. Windows and Lion OS X are examples of a closed operating system. Also, these are the most common operating systems out there. These programs are nice, but if you want something else out of your operating system a closed source is not the way to go. There is no way for you to make changes to the operating system except to change some preferences, but it will not allow you to make any changes to the software itself. A closed system is perfect if you are only running a home computer. If you are trying to run a business, the company’s needs may be different from what you would want in your household computer, because of this you may want to look into a system that you can customize and change to suite your business needs. Closed source operating system will not let you accomplish this goal, but as you already know most businesses use this type of software anyways. Closed source is the way most common people go because they have no reason to change or modify the operating system. In conclusion if you are thinking about getting a new operating system there are a few things to keep in mind. Not only do you need to decide which operating system to go with, you need to get a program that will satisfy your needs. If you want a system that you can make changes to and modify, you want to go with an open source operating system like Linux. If you don’t need to customize your home computer’s operating system, a closed source system will do what you need. The operating system is a need in a computer, and if you get the right program for your needs you will be very happy with your system.