Multiprogramming is a fundamental concept in Operating Systems (OS) that dramatically improves CPU efficiency and overall system performance.
Multiprogramming was introduced in the 1960s with IBM's OS/360. Before multiprogramming, computers could only run one program at a time (uni-programming), wasting CPU time during I/O.
Multiprogramming is the ability of an OS to load and execute multiple programs simultaneously in memory.
The OS keeps several programs in memory at the same time. When one program is waiting (e.g., for input/output), the CPU automatically switches to execute another program — ensuring the CPU is never idle.
This way, the CPU is kept busy almost 100% of the time.
| Feature | Multiprogramming | Multitasking |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | CPU utilisation | User responsiveness |
| Switching | Switches when program waits | Switches rapidly (time slices) |
| User interaction | Batch processing | Interactive/real-time |
The degree of multiprogramming refers to the number of programs loaded in memory simultaneously. Higher degree = better CPU utilisation, but requires more RAM.
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