Interactions among processes
In a multi-process application these are the various degrees of interaction:
1. Competing processes: Processes themselves do not share anything. But OS has to share the system resources among these processes “competing” for system resources such as disk, file or printer.
Co-operating processes : Results of one or more processes may be needed for another process.
2. Co-operation by sharing : Example: Sharing of an IO buffer. Concept of critical section. (indirect)
3. Co-operation by communication : Example: typically no data sharing, but co-ordination thru’ synchronization becomes essential in certain applications. (direct)