I once read a Slashdot comment in which it was claimed that programming is the closest thing to magic our society has ever encountered: What is magic? Words and symbols of power that shape the world according to the will of the magician. The magician speaks the right magic words, and draws the right sigils, [...]
Operating systems are like governments; they serve functions that individual citizens/users could not realistically accomplish on their own. Governments often raise armies, bail out natural disaster victims, and lay roads. Many go beyond this and offer additional services, such as emergency first responders, education, healthcare, and subsidies for certain privileged businesses. Operating systems are just [...]