The computer's master control program. When a computer is turned on, a small "boot program" loads the operating system. Although additional system modules may be loaded as needed, the main part, known ...

Have you ever needed to format a new hard drive or USB drive, and were given the option of selecting from acronyms like FAT, FAT32, or NTFS? Or did you once try plugging in an external device, only ...

Linux is the most flexible and customizable operating system on the planet. That customizability starts deep within the heart of the Linux kernel and the file system. A computer file system is a ...

Developers talk a lot about “immutability.” Outside the technical world, it usually means something negative: unmoving, inflexible, and entrenched. However, in the technical field, these features ...

Lauded for avoiding the typical vague, high-level survey approach found in many texts, earlier editions of this bestselling book removed the mystery by explaining the internal structure of an ...

APFS is Apple's first new file system in more than 30 years. Here's what it means for existing Macs and new hardware. I've been writing about software and hardware for PCMag for more than 40 years, ...