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Transcript of 4
2002 Prentice Hall
Chapter 4
Software Basics:
The Ghost in the Machine
2002 Prentice Hall 2
Three Major Categories of Software
Compilers and other translator programs, which allow programmers to create other software
Software applications, which serve as productivity tools to help users solve problems
System software, which coordinates hardware operations and does behind-the-scenes work the user seldom sees
2002 Prentice Hall 3
Software Applications:Tools for Users
Software applications include:
Consumer Applications
Integrated Software
Vertical-market or Custom Software
2002 Prentice Hall 4
Consumer Applications
• Consumer software differs from other types (music CDs, videos, etc.) based on:
Documentation
Upgrade options
Compatibility
Warranty
Extent of ownership/license
2002 Prentice Hall 5
Documentation
Documentation includes:
Printed tutorial and reference manuals that explain how to use the software
On-line manuals and help screens which offer immediate help to the user
2002 Prentice Hall 6
Upgrades allow you to pay a fee to get the latest software version
Newer releases often have additional features and fewer bugs
Upgrades
2002 Prentice Hall 7
Compatibility
Compatibility allows software to function properly with the hardware, operating system, and peripherals
Programs written for one type of computer system may not work on another
2002 Prentice Hall 8
Disclaimers
Software manufacturers limit their liability for software problems by selling software “as is”
Given the difficulty of this task, most programs work amazingly well—but not perfectly
2002 Prentice Hall 9
Licensing
Licensing agreements limit your right to: Make copies of software disks install software on hard drives transfer information to other users
Commercial software is copyrighted so it can’t be legally duplicated for distribution to others.
2002 Prentice Hall 10
Distribution
Software is distributed through direct sales forces to corporations and other institutions.
Software is sold to consumers through: retail stores mail-order catalogs Web sites.
2002 Prentice Hall 11
Integrated Applications and Suites:
Software BundlesMultipurpose software includes most of these modules: Word processing Database Spreadsheet Graphics Telecommunications
2002 Prentice Hall 12
Integrated Software: Advantages
Costs less than buying the applications individually
Data is easily transferred between modules
Commands used in each module are usually the same
Usually there is a seamless integration of the modules
2002 Prentice Hall 13
Vertical-Market andCustom Software
Job-specific software: Medical billings Library cataloging
Restaurant management Single-client software needs
2002 Prentice Hall 14
System Software:The Hardware-Software
ConnectionSystem software is a class of software that includes: The operating system Utility programs
2002 Prentice Hall 15
What the Operating System Does
The operating system controls: Communication with peripherals Coordination of concurrent processing Memory management Monitoring of resources and security Management of programs and data Coordinating network communications
2002 Prentice Hall 16
Utility Programs
translating files so different software can read them
guarding against viruses
repairing damaged files copying files from one
storage device to another
Operating System invokes utility programs so they appear to the user to be part of the OS. Device drivers are an example.
2002 Prentice Hall 17
The User Interface: The Human-Machine Connection
The user interface is what the user sees on the screen
Two major user interface types:
Character-based interface
Graphical user interface (GUI)
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A Character-Based Interface: MS-DOS
This is a disk operating system in which the user interacts using characters letters numbers symbols
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A Character-Based User Interface: MS-DOS
MS-DOS™ is the most widely used general-purpose operating system
Features include: Command-line interface (commands are typed) Menu-driven interface (commands are chosen from
on-screen lists)
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Graphical User Interfaces: Macintosh
This is a disk operating system in which the user interacts with the computer by using a pointing device (e.g. a mouse)
As early as 1984, the Macintosh™ computerwas designed with this interface in mind
2002 Prentice Hall 21
Graphical User Interfaces: Windows
Windows 95 and 98 are similar in many ways to the Mac OS
Several versions of Windows exist for business and home users
2002 Prentice Hall 22
Why WIMP Won
Windows, Icons, Menus, and Pointing devices
• They’re intuitive
• They’re consistent
• They’re forgiving
• They’re protective
• They’re flexible
2002 Prentice Hall 23
Three Main Platforms for Desktops Computers
Various versions of UNIX
Windows in all its variations
Mac OS
2002 Prentice Hall 24
Hardware & Software Platforms
Windows XP
Windows ME
Windows 2000
Windows CE
Palm OS
IBM’s OS/2
Mac OS/9
Mac OS/X
Linux & UNIX
2002 Prentice Hall 25