SOFTWARE

Introduction
Software is a set of instructions or programs that are used in the operation of the computer. The
software is the part of the computer through which the users communicates and pass instructions
to the hardware.
Categories of software
Based on the kind of task they perform, software can be divided into two groups which are
Application software and System software. Application software is closer to the user as compared
to system software while the system software manages the hardware components of the
computer.
User
Application software
System software
Hardware components
A. Application software:
This is a type of software that directs computers to perform specific information processing
task for end-user. There are 3 main classes of application software:
a. General purpose application software: These are programs that perform common
information processing task for end-user. Examples include:
o Word processors: These are software used to produce and format letters, essays,
reports etc. Examples include WordPad, Microsoft word, and MS works.
o Database software: These software are used to store and manage data eg
Microsoft Access, My SQL, ORACLE etc.
o Electronic spreadsheet software: These are used to calculate numerical data
and display the result e.g. Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1, 2, 3 and Quattro Pro.
o Desktop Publishing software: The purpose of this software is to combine text and
graphics to ease the creation of a document that can be printed out. Eg Print
Artist, MS publisher, Page Maker.
o Graphic software: it is used for creating, viewing and changing digital images. Eg
Paint, Paint brush, Corel Draw, AutoCAD.
o Presentation software: it is used for linking together a sequence of slides
containing text and graphics eg Microsoft PowerPoint.
o Communication software: they are used for sending and receiving information on
a computer network. Examples include dialing software, file transfer software,
data encryption programs.
o Game software: these are programs designed for entertainment.
o E-mail programs: they are used for writing, reading, sending, receiving, storing
and organizing email. E.g. Microsoft outlook.
o Tutorial programs: they are educative programs for teaching computer users. Eg
Mavis beacon
b. Special purpose application software: These are software created for the execution
of a single specific task. Some examples are chess game, calculator, camera
application, media players etc.
c. Tailor-made software (Bespoke application software): the general purpose
software might not solve the problems of some organizations or individuals. In this case
they can hire a software designer to design software that satisfies their specific needs.
 Bespoke software is software made for a specific user and customized for a specific
need.
B. System software:
This is software that controls the operation of the computer and provides facilities that
extend the general capabilities of the machine. Examples of system software include:
operation system, utility software, programming software, language translators, device
drivers, servers.
a. Operating System (OS): This is system software that controls the hardware and
software operations of the computer. Without the operating system, the computer will
not even function. During the boot up process, part of the OS is loaded into the main
memory (RAM). Some examples of operating system families include:
o Windows OS. Examples: windows 7, windows 8, windows 8.1, windows 10,
windows vista etc.
o Linux exemples: Rethat, kali, Ubuntu, Debian etc.
o Mac OS exemples: mac OS 9, mac OS 8, mac OS 7.6, mac OS X
o DOS (Disk Operating System)
o Solaris
o OS/2 (Operating System 2)

Functions of the operating system

o File management: The OS creates, moves, copies, renames and deletes files on
disk or other removable storage devices.
o Device management: instructs the computer to use direct device in processing
data. Provides interface between CPU and devices.
o Running applications: provides a platform for the installation and running of
application software.
o Processor management: it schedules the activities of the CPU to prevent
deadlock (deadlock is a situation in which two computer programs sharing the
same resource are effectively preventing each other from accessing the
resource, resulting in both programs ceasing to function)
o Memory management: it controls the flow of data and instructions in and out of
the main memory.
o Provides user-interface: it provides the tools for communication between the
computer and the end-user.
o Error handling: it detects and corrects errors within the computer system.
o Running programming languages: it invokes a language editor, so that the user
can create new programs.

Operating system modes

o Single user: it is OS that allows only one person to access and use the computer
at one particular time. If another user needs access to the computer system, he
or she must wait until the current user finishes.
o Multi-user: it allows two or more users to run programs at the same time.
o Multiprogramming: it allows the concurrent execution of two or more computer
programs by a single CPU.
o Multiprocessing: it allows two or more processes to be executed simultaneously
by separate CPUs that have access to a common main memory.
 o Multitasking: it allows two or more task to be executed simultaneously. The
processor occasionally switches rapidly between the tasks.
o Multithreading: it allows different parts of a single task to be executed
simultaneously.
o Interactive: it allows modification and entry of data whilst the program is running.
Example airline reservation systems
o Real-time: it allows computers to process and respond to input without delay.
o Embedded: it is designed to perform a single specific task example traffic control
systems.
b. Utility software: This is software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize and
maintain the computer system. Examples include:
o Defragmenters: they detect computer files whose content are broken across
several locations on the hard disk and move the fragments to on location.
o File compression utilities: they are used to compress/uncompress files to be
stored or transmitted over a network
o Disk partition utilities: they can divide an individual drive into multiple logical
drives.
o Backup utilities: they make copies of all information stores on a disk, and restore
either the entire disk or selected files.
o Anti-virus utilities: they detect and eliminate malicious code such as viruses.
o Data recovery utilities: used to recover deleted or damaged files on storage
media.
o Disk cleaners
o File managers
o Network utilities
o Screensavers
o Cryptographic utilities
o Disk checkers
c. Language translators: these are software used to convert source code of
programming languages to machine language. Examples are:
o Compiler: it is a program that converts the source code of a program written in a
high level programming language in to machine language.
o Interpreter: it translates the program statement into machine language one line
at a time as the program is running.
o Assembler: it converts programs in assembly language into machine language.
d. Programming software: these are software used when developing a program.
o Debugger: it is a program that is used for locating and correcting programming
errors (bugs)
o Linker: it is a program that takes two or more machine language statements and
combines them into a single executable program.
o Editor: it is a program that is used for creating and modifying application
software.
e. Server: it is a program that provides services to other programs on a network.
f. Device drivers: this is system software that is added to the operating system to allow
the computer to communicate with a new device like a scanner, modem or printer.
g. Loader: this is system software used to transfer programs from the secondary storage to
the main memory and prepare them for execution.