Jump to content

Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2018 June 18

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Computing desk
< June 17 << May | June | Jul >> Current desk >
Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.


June 18

[edit]

Internal architecture of Operating System

[edit]

I understand that operating system kernel is a collection of drivers built on top of hardware abstraction layer for the linux distros and windows versions and another thing operating system behaves like compiler where user triggered events are like a programming language.And thus new os can designed with some sort of compiler design methodology like BNF.I am asking the experts in this field if I am totally /partly wrong.I request an explanation or refutation from you.Wrogh45.120.17.7 (talk) 09:39, 18 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

It does not sound right. Have you read operating system, Device driver and Kernel (operating system)? POSIX can specify some of what you suggest. Backus–Naur form does not describe operating systems, but can describe the language that a compiler translates. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 11:52, 18 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
When I teach operating systems, there is always a group of students who have it firmly placed in their minds that the operating system compiles programs to run them. That is not correct. The operating system executes previously-compiled programs. In other words, you compile a program. Then, you run it on an operating system. While the English is poor, it appears that the question is suggesting that an operating system is a compiler and further suggests adjusting the compiler design. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 16:02, 18 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
It is confusing to say the hardware drivers sit on top of the abstraction layer. The drivers create the abstraction layer. They take the abstract operating system instructions on one side and issue hardware specific instructions on the other. Without hardware drivers, and operating system can simulate hardware, but can't actually use real hardware. 2600:1004:B126:1672:91F1:9E3F:F63A:4842 (talk) 23:27, 18 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Firefox custom keyboard shortcuts

[edit]

Years ago, I used to able to config Ctrl+A as "previous tab" and Ctrl+D as "next tab" in Firefox using an add-on. Is that still possible in Firefox today?

I Googled a few such add-ons[1][2], but all of them have the red warning sign of "This add-on is not compatible with your version of Firefox." and can't be installed on my Firefox.

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely, Mũeller (talk) 13:06, 18 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]