• System Calls: These are essential for the functioning of an operating system.

They
provide a bridge between user-level software and the OS services. System calls
allow applications to request services like file I/O, process management, and network
communication.
• System Programs: These programs create a suitable environment for program
development and execution. Examples include assemblers, compilers, editors, and
loaders. They empower programmers to build and run new software.

The Application Program Interface (API) helps to connect the OS functions with user
programs. It serves as a bridge between a process and the OS, enabling user-level
programs to request OS services. System calls may only be accessed using the kernel
system, and any software that consumes resources must use system calls.

Example of System Call

For example if we need to write a program code to read data from one file, copy that data
into another file. The first information that the program requires is the name of the two files,
the input and output files.

In an interactive system, this type of program execution requires some system calls by OS.

• First call is to write a prompting message on the screen

• Second, to read from the keyboard, the characters which define the two files.

Types of System call

There are mainly five kinds of system calls. These are classified as follows:

1. Process Control

2. File Management
3. Device Management
 4. Information Maintenance

5. Communication

Process Control
This system calls perform the task of process creation, process termination, etc.

Functions:

• End and Abort

• Load and Execute
• Create Process and Terminate Process
• Wait and Signal Event
• Allocate and free memory

File Management
File management system calls handle file manipulation jobs like creating a file, reading, and
writing, etc.

Functions:

• Create a file
• Delete file
• Open and close file
• Read, write, and reposition
• Get and set file attributes

Device Management
Device management does the job of device manipulation like reading from device buffers, writing
into device buffers, etc.

Functions:

• Request and release device

• Logically attach/ detach devices
• Get and Set device attributes

Information Maintenance
It handles information and its transfer between the OS and the user program.

Functions:

• Get or set time and date

• Get process and device attributes
Communication
These types of system calls are specially used for interprocess communications.

Functions:

• Create, delete communications connections

• Send, receive message
• Help OS to transfer status information
• Attach or detach remote devices

Why do you need System Calls in OS?

Following are situations which need system calls in OS:

• Reading and writing from files demand system calls.

• If a file system wants to create or delete files, system calls are required.
• System calls are used for the creation and management of new processes.
• Network connections need system calls for sending and receiving packets.
• Access to hardware devices like scanner, printer, need a system call.

What is System Program?

• System Programming: It involves creating system software using system

programming languages. System programs provide an environment for program
development and execution.
• Role of System Programs:
o Link: They serve as a bridge between the user interface (UI) and system calls.
o Variety: Some system programs are simple user interfaces, while others are
complex (e.g., compilers).
• Position in OS: System programs lie between the UI and system calls, defining the
user view.
• User Interaction: The user view primarily interacts with system programs, not system
calls.

Types of the System Program

There are mainly six types of system programs. These are classified as follows:

1. File Management

2. Status Information
 3. File Modification
4. Programming-Language support

5. Program Loading and Execution

6. Communication

File Management

It is a collection of specific information saved in a computer system's memory. File

management is described as manipulating files in a computer system, including the creation,
modification, and deletion of files.

Status Information

Status information is information about the input, output process, storage, and CPU utilization
time, how the process will be computed in how much memory is necessary to execute a task.

File Modification

These system programs are utilized to change files on hard drives or other storage media.
Besides modification, these programs are also utilized to search for content within a file or to
change content within a file.

Programming-Language Support

The OS includes certain standard system programs that allow programming languages such
as C, Visual Basic, C++, Java, and Pearl. There are various system programs, including
compilers, debuggers, assemblers, interpreters, etc.

Program Loading and Execution

After Assembling and Compiling, the program must be loaded into the memory for execution.
A loader is a component of an operating system responsible for loading programs and libraries,
and it is one of the most important steps to starting a program. The system includes linkage
editors, relocatable loaders, Overlay loaders, and loaders.

Communication

System program offers virtual links between processes, people, and computer systems. Users
may browse websites, log in remotely, communicate messages to other users via their
screens, send emails, and transfer files from one user to another.

Key differences between System Call and System Program in Operating System

1. system Calls:
o Purpose: System calls provide a bridge between user-level software and the
OS services. They allow applications to request services like file I/O, process
management, and network communication.
 o Language: Programmers create system calls using high-level languages like
C and C++. Assembly language is used for calls that directly interact with the
system’s hardware.
o Interface: System calls define the interface between OS services and user
processes.
o Fulfillment: They fulfill low-level requests made by user programs.
o Example Categories: File manipulation, device manipulation, communication,
process control, information maintenance, and protection.
2. System Programs:
o Purpose: System programs create a suitable environment for program
development and execution. They convert high-level user requests into a
series of low-level requests.
o Language: Programmers solely use high-level languages to create system
programs.
o Interface: System programs define the operating system’s user interface.
o Fulfillment: They satisfy high-level requests from user programs.
o Example Categories: File management, program loading and execution,
programming-language support, status information, communication, and file
modification.

Remember, both system calls and system programs work together to ensure efficient and
reliable operation of an operating system.