A single-tasking operating system allows the computer system to execute one program at a time. DOS is a typical example of a single-tasking system, since only one job can be executed at once. A task is a function such as printing a document, writing a file to disk, editing a file or downloading a file form a network server.
For the computer system to execute a second program, the first program must run to completion, be aborted or be suspended.
Since only one program may be run at a time, the computer cannot collect data and be used for data analysis simultaneously.
Because multiple programs are not trying to use the same resources, single tasking operating systems are a lot simpler.
These systems however are considered older technology, and as new operating systems are released, they are seldom single-tasking.
New single-tasking operating systems are found only in computers with very limited processor capacity, such as older personal digital assistants (PDAs)
Single tasking operating system
