Windows Operating System Overview

The Windows operating system family is a series of proprietary graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. Since its debut in 1985, Windows has evolved from a simple graphical shell for MS-DOS to a sophisticated, secure, and highly scalable platform powering desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, and embedded devices.

Key Features

• Unified Experience: Consistent UI across devices with Fluent Design.
• Security: Built‑in Windows Defender, BitLocker, Secure Boot, and Advanced Threat Protection.
• Compatibility: Supports legacy Win32 apps alongside modern UWP and WinUI applications.
• Productivity Enhancements: Virtual Desktops, Snap Assist, and Microsoft Teams integration.
• Cloud Integration: Seamless OneDrive, Azure AD, and Microsoft Endpoint Manager support.

System Requirements

OS          | Minimum RAM | Minimum Disk | Processor
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Windows 11 | 4 GB        | 64 GB        | 1 GHz (64‑bit)
Windows 10 | 2 GB        | 20 GB        | 1 GHz (64‑bit)
            

Getting Started

To begin developing for Windows, follow these steps:

1. Install Visual Studio with the Windows workload.
2. Download the Windows SDK for the latest APIs.
3. Explore the tutorials to build your first UWP or WinUI app.
4. Consult the API reference for detailed method signatures and examples.

For community support, visit the Windows Developer Community or join the Microsoft GitHub organization.