System

Software

ApplicationSoftware

SoftwareA computer is made up of tools and other hardware that will help people work better and more efficiently.

A computer contains two major sets of tools, software and hardware.

Software is generally divided into systems software and applications software.

System Software

Software designed to operate the computer hardware and provides infrastructure for application software which consists of operating system and utility software such as compilers, loaders, linkers, and debuggers.

System SoftwareBasic types of system software:

• Operating system• BIOS• Device driver• Utility software• Compilers• Assemblers• Debuggers

Allows the parts of a computer to work together and also

provides a platform to run high-level system

software and application software. Provides basic functionality to operate and

control the hardware connected to or built into the computer.

Device Driver

Helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer.

Examples: disk cleaners, anti virus software, data compression programs,

disk drive partition utilities, storage, backup and archiving programs.

Utility Software

Software consisting of programs and data that runs on

computers, manages computer hardware resources, and

provides common services for execution of various

application software.

BIOS which stands for Basic Input Output System contains code needed to run the keyboard, screen, disk drives and other

functions

BIOS

Operating

System

Allows the parts of a computer to work together and also

provides a platform to run high-level system

software and application software. A special program used to find errors(bugs) in other programs.

A debugger allows a programmer to stop a program at any point and examine and change the values of variables.

Debugger

Program that translates source code into object code.

Compiler looks at the entire piece of source code ,

collects and reorganizes the instructions.

Program that combines object modules to form an executable program. Many programming languages allow

you to write different pieces of code called module separately. Eventually, you need to put all the modules

together. This is the job of the linker.

Linker

Compiler

Application Software

Comprises of programs designed for an end user such as word processors, database systems, and spreadsheet programs.

Application software often includes multiple applications bundled together as a package or suite, like Microsoft Office or OpenOffice which both contain a suite ofapplications for common office usage.

There are many types of applications software.

Word Processing Software

This software enables the users to create and edit

documents. E.g.: MS-Word,

WordPad, Notepad

SpreadsheetSoftware

PresentationSoftware

Spreadsheet software allows users to perform

calculations. They simulate paperworksheets by

displaying multiple cells that make up a

grid.E.g.: Microsoft Excel

A softwarethat is used to

display information in the form of a slide

show.

E.g.: Microsoft PowerPoint

A software that allow users to create and play audio and

video media.E.g.: Real Player,

Media Player

Multimedia Software

Database is a structured collection

of data. Database software allows the users to store and retrieve data from

databases. E.g.: ORACLE,

Microsoft Access

DatabaseSoftware

EducationalSoftware

SimulationSoftware

Content Access Software

Used in teaching and self-learning.

It has the capabilities of

running tests and tracking progress.

A software used primarily to access

content without editing.

E.g.: Media Players, Web Browsers, Help

browsers, Games

Software for simulation of physical or abstract

systems for either research, training or

entertainment purposes.E.g.: flight simulators and

scientific simulator

Types of application software for modern usage:

Windows XPWindows 98Windows 95

Windows 2000Windows XP

Windows VistaWindows 7Windows 8

Windows

A Unix-like computer OS assembled under the model

of free and open source software development and

distributionE.g.: Fedora, Ubuntu,

Redhat

Linux

Unix is an operating

system developed by

Bell Labs to handle

complex scientific

applications using

command line interface.

A series of graphical user interface-based OS

developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems.E.g.: Mac OS X

Mac

Unix

Major Operating Systems for Personal Computers

Assignment of processor to

different tasks being

performed by the

computer system.

Processor Management

Allocation of main

memory and other

storage areas to the

system programs as

well as user

programs and data.

Memory

ManagementCo-ordination and assignment of the different output and input device

while one or more programs are being

executed.

Input/outputManagement

Determines and maintains the order in which jobs are to be executed in the computer system.

Manages reading and writing in the

file system and they are protected

from access by unauthorized

users.

FileManagement

Establishment &enforcement of a priority system

Functions of Operating System

Programs and data were

submitted in groups or batches

Single stream

A multi-user

operating system

allows for multiple

users to use

the same computer

at the same time and

different times

Multi-user

Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.

An operating system that is

capable of allowing multiplesoftware

processes to run at the same

time.

Multitasking

Multithreading

Important characteristics of Operating System