{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.operating-system","code":"thing-q9135","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q9135/","name":"operating system","alternateNames":["BIOS","ABIOS","Flash BIOS","IBM PC ROM BIOS","television operating system","mobile operating system","proprietary operating system","operating environment","smartwatch operating system","free operating system","AmigaDOS","Guardian"],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.2.0-wave.3","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.OBJ"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"The system software that manages a computer or device: it controls hardware, schedules processes, manages memory, storage, files, devices, networking and security, and provides the interfaces that application programs and users depend on; examples include Windows, macOS, Linux distributions, Android, iOS and real-time systems for embedded devices.","purpose":"Let an agent identify which operating system and version a device runs, explain what the system is responsible for, relay support lifecycles, security update and compatibility information from vendors, and separate the operating system from firmware, applications and hardware.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Sits between hardware and applications","Owns processes, memory, files, devices and access control","Has a version and a support lifecycle","Firmware and applications are separate layers"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"identify","name":"Identify","description":"Which system this is.","layers":[{"id":"which","name":"Which system","description":"Name and version.","findings":[{"id":"which-finding","name":"Which","description":"Which.","questions":[{"text":"Which operating system and version does the device run, and how is that read?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Is the question about the operating system, the firmware or an application?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"lifecycle","name":"Lifecycle","description":"Support status.","findings":[{"id":"lifecycle-finding","name":"Lifecycle","description":"Lifecycle.","questions":[{"text":"Is this version still supported, and when does support end according to the vendor?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Where is the lifecycle policy published?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"function","name":"Function","description":"What it does.","layers":[{"id":"core","name":"Core","description":"Kernel duties.","findings":[{"id":"core-finding","name":"Core","description":"Core.","questions":[{"text":"How does the system manage processes, memory, storage and devices?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which entry fits file systems or networking in depth?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"interfaces","name":"Interfaces","description":"User and program interfaces.","findings":[{"id":"interfaces-finding","name":"Interfaces","description":"Interfaces.","questions":[{"text":"What interfaces does the system offer to users and to programs?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which standards govern those interfaces?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"operate","name":"Operate","description":"Running and securing.","layers":[{"id":"updates","name":"Updates","description":"Updates and patches.","findings":[{"id":"updates-finding","name":"Updates","description":"Updates.","questions":[{"text":"How are updates delivered, and what does the vendor advise about applying them?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the user asking for help with a specific device, which needs its vendor support?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"security","name":"Security","description":"Security.","findings":[{"id":"security-finding","name":"Security","description":"Security.","questions":[{"text":"What security features and hardening guidance do vendors and agencies publish?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits malware and incidents?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"choose","name":"Choose","description":"Comparing and learning.","layers":[{"id":"compare","name":"Compare","description":"Comparison.","findings":[{"id":"compare-finding","name":"Compare","description":"Compare.","questions":[{"text":"How do systems compare for a given use case in compatibility, licensing and support?","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Which criteria matter for the user?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"learn","name":"Learn","description":"Study.","findings":[{"id":"learn-finding","name":"Learn","description":"Learn.","questions":[{"text":"How are operating systems taught and studied, and which references are standard?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"How did operating systems develop historically?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Explain operating systems and their functions.","Administer and update operating systems the agent is authorized to manage.","Report security updates and end-of-support dates."],"mustNot":["Install, modify or bypass an operating system on a device without its owner's consent.","Disable security features such as updates, firewalls or access controls.","Apply untested changes to production systems without a backup.","Help evade licensing or install malware."],"requiresHuman":["Upgrading or reinstalling the operating system on systems others depend on.","Wiping a device."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Operating systems control access to everyone's data on a device.","Unsupported systems leave users exposed to attack."],"affectedParties":["Device users","People whose data is stored","System administrators"]},"owners":{"steward":"The owner of the device; the vendor or project maintains the system software.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q676202","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"system software","type":"related","note":"the category"},{"target":"computer","type":"related","note":"the hardware it manages"},{"target":"firmware","type":"related","note":"BIOS and UEFI start the machine but are a different layer"},{"target":"application software","type":"related","note":"what the system exists to host"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.operating-system","Wikidata: Q9135 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9135)","name and version: vendor naming shown in settings","kernel version: numeric for Linux and similar systems","build number: vendor specific identifies the exact release"]},"properties":{"applicability":"not-applicable","items":[]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Name and version shown in system settings or by a command","Kernel, shell and package manager identify a Linux distribution","Firmware such as BIOS or UEFI starts the machine and is not the operating system","Not visible as an object; seen through its user interface, its name and version in settings, and its command shell."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["identify the system and version on a device","explain what the operating system does","relay support and update information","compare systems for a use case"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Unsupported versions without security updates","Driver and hardware incompatibility","Data loss during upgrades","Malware exploiting system vulnerabilities"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["POSIX from IEEE for interfaces","Vendor support lifecycle policies","Security certification schemes such as Common Criteria","Accessibility requirements in public procurement"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Running a computer and the programs on it.","desktop and laptop systems such as Windows, macOS and Linux distributions","mobile systems such as Android and iOS","server systems","real-time and embedded systems","systems for televisions, cars and appliances"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q9135: operating system","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9135","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Operating system","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should each operating system be a separate entry?","How should support lifecycle dates be linked?","The registry entry has merged BIOS aliases, which are firmware; should they be split off?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q9135/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q9135/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-12T19:36:31Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"not-applicable","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:33+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass","interaction.properties":"An operating system is software and has no intrinsic physical properties separate from the hardware and storage media that implement it."},"score":1.0}}