Computer Software – Lesson 3

COMPUTER SOFTWARE
OUTLINE
- Concepts of Computer Software
- Classification of Computer Software
- Functions of Computer software
OBJECTIVES
- Explain the concept of computer operating system
- Explain the concept of computer operating system
- Explain the working of an operating system
- Explain the commands of an operating system
- Explain disk management
CONCEPTS OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE
This refers to a set of instructions or programs that control computer hardware and all the other peripherals.
The purpose of software is to cause the computer to provide the user with the data processing facilities
required. These instructions are usually combined in a sequence. A set of such instructions is called a
program. Computer software is categorized into two broad categories:
1. SYSTEM SOFTWARE
These are the software that communicates directly with the computer system. It manages all the hardware
resources of a computer system. This software decides which program gets priority in the use of the various
resources, such as disk or printer or memory. It translates the application software into a form
understandable by the computer.
Categories of System software
i) Operating Systems
ii) Utilities
iii) Language translators

I) OPERATING SYSTEMS
An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions that coordinate all of the activities of
computer hardware resources. When you purchase application software, the package states the software
platform (operating system) on which it runs.
1.1 User Interfaces
A user interface is the part of the software with which you interact; it controls how data and instructions are
entered and information is presented on the screen.
Two types of user interfaces are:-
i) Command-line

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With a command-line interface, you type keywords or press special keys on the keyboard to enter data
and instructions. When working with a command-line interface, the set of commands you use to interact
with the computer is called the command language.
ii) Graphical user interface.
A graphical user interface allows you to use menus and visual images such as icons, buttons, and other
graphical objects to issue commands. Menu displays a set of available commands or options from which
you choose one or more. You can use a keyboard, mouse, or any other pointing device to select items on the
menu. An icon is a small image that represents an item such as a program, an instruction, or a file

Many operating systems use a combination of these types of user interfaces to define how you interact with
your computer.

1.2 Features of Operating Systems

 Depending on its intended use, an operating system will support just one user running one program or
thousands of users running multiple programs. These various capabilities of operating systems are
described as single user, multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking.
 A single user, also called single tasking operating system allows only one user to run one program at a
time. Early systems were single user; however, most operating systems today are multitasking and multi-
user.
 A multitasking operating system allows a single user to work on two or more applications that reside in
memory at the same time.
 A multi-user operating system enables two or more users to run a program simultaneously. Networks,
minicomputers, mainframes, and supercomputers allow hundreds to thousands of users to be connected at
the same time, and thus are multi-user.
 A multiprocessing operating system can support two or more CPUs running programs at the same time.
 A computer with separate CPUs also can serve as a fault-tolerant computer; that is, one that continues to
operate even if one of its components fails. Fault-tolerant computers are built with duplicate components
such as CPUs, memory, and disk drives. If any one of these components fails, the computer switches to
the duplicate component and continues to operate. Fault-tolerant computers are used for airline
reservation systems, communications networks, bank teller machines and other systems that are of critical
importance and must be operational at all times.

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1.3 Functions of an Operating System

a) Memory management
The purpose of memory management is to optimize use of random access memory (RAM). RAM
temporarily holds items such as data and instructions while the CPU is processing them. The operating
system has the responsibility to allocate, or assign, these items to an area of memory while they are being
processed; to monitor carefully the contents of these items in memory; and to clear these items from
memory when the CPU no longer requires them
b) Spooling print jobs
Because the CPU sends print jobs to the printer at a rate much faster than the printer can print, operating
systems typically use a technique called spooling to increase printer efficiency. With spooling, the print jobs
are placed in a buffer instead of being sent immediately to the printer. Buffer is an area of memory or
storage that holds data and information waiting to be transferred from one device to another.
c) Configuring devices
To communicate with each device in the computer, the operating system relies on device drivers. A device
driver is a small program that accepts commands from another program and then converts these commands
into commands that the device understands
d) Monitoring system performance
Operating systems typically contain a performance monitor, which is a program that assesses and reports
information about various system resources and devices.
e) Administering security
Most multi-user operating systems allow each user to log on, which is the process of entering a user name
and a password into the computer. A user name, or user ID, is a unique combination of characters, such as
letters of the alphabet or numbers, which identifies one specific user. Some operating systems also allow
you to assign passwords to files so that only authorized users can open them.
f) Managing storage medium and files
Operating systems also contain a type of program called a file manager, which performs functions related to
storage and file management. i.e. formatting and copying disks; displaying a list of files on a storage
medium; checking the amount of used or free space on a storage medium; and copying, renaming, deleting,
moving, and sorting files.

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POPULAR OPERATING SYSTEMS

i) DOS
DOS (Disk Operating System) is a single user operating system that was developed in the early 1980s for
PCs.
When first developed by Microsoft, DOS used a command-line interface. Later versions of DOS included
both command-line and menu-driven user interfaces.
ii) Windows 95
Windows 95, also referred to as Win95, is multitasking operating system. Has a graphical user interface.
iii) Windows NT
Microsoft Windows NT, also referred to as NT, was an operating system designed for client-server
networks. The server used Windows NT Server, and the clients connected to the server used Windows NT
Workstation, which had a Windows 95 interface.
iv) Windows 98
Microsoft developed an upgrade to the Windows 95 operating system, called Windows 98. The Windows
98 operating system, also called Win98, was easier to use than Windows 95 and was more integrated with
the Internet.
Also provided faster system startup and shutdown, better file management, and support for new multimedia
technologies such as DVD and WebTV.
v) Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows 2000 is an upgrade to the Windows 98 and Windows NT operating systems. Two basic
versions of Windows 2000 exist: the Windows 2000 Server family and Windows 2000 Professional for
stand-alone business desktop or laptop computers, as well as for computers connected to the network, called
the clients.
vi) Windows ME
Windows CE is a scaled-down Windows operating system designed for use on wireless communications
devices and smaller computers such as handheld computers, in-vehicle devices, and network computers. It
has multitasking, e-mail, and Internet capabilities.
vii) Unix
UNIX is a multi-user, multitasking operating system developed in the early 1970s by scientists at Bell
Laboratories. UNIX is a powerful operating system, capable of handling a high volume of transactions in a
multi-user environment and working with multiple CPUs using multiprocessing. UNIX thus is used most
often on workstations and servers. A weakness of UNIX is that it has a command-line interface, and many
of its commands are difficult to remember and use.

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viii) Linux
A popular, free, UNIX-like GUI operating system is called Linux is not proprietary software like the other
operating systems discussed thus far. Instead, Linux is open-source software, which means its code is made
available to the public. Promoters of open-source software state two main advantages: customers can
personalize the software to meet their needs, and users that modify the software share their improvements
with others. Many software applications run on Linux. Examples we have Ubuntu, Redhat, Suse etc.
ix) NetWare
Novell’s NetWare is a widely used network operating system designed for client-server networks. NetWare
has a server portion that resides on the network server and a client portion that resides on each client
computer connected to the network.
II) UTILITY PROGRAMS
Utilities are programmes which perform tasks that are often required by end-users, or other
programmes. Most of these are file handling utilities such as copying and moving files which allow the
user to perform housekeeping activities.
Examples
- A file viewer is a utility that displays the contents of a file.
- A file compression utility reduces, or compresses, the size of a file.
- A diagnostic utility compiles technical information about your computer’s hardware and certain
system software programs and then prepares a report outlining any identified problems.
- A disk scanner is a utility that (1) detects and corrects both physical and logical problems on a hard
disk or floppy disk and (2) searches for and removes unwanted files Windows 98 includes two disk
scanner utilities: Scandisk, which detects and corrects problems, and Disk Cleanup, which searches
for and removes unnecessary files such as temporary files
- A disk defragmenter is a utility that reorganizes the files and unused space on a computer’s hard disk
so data can be accessed more quickly and programs can run faster.
- An uninstaller is a utility that removes an application, as well as any associated entries in the system
files.
- A backup utility allows you to copy, or backup, selected files or your entire hard disk onto another
disk or tape. During the backup process, the backup utility monitors progress and alerts you if
additional disks or tapes are needed.
- An anti-virus program is a utility that prevents, detects, and removes viruses from a computer’s
memory or storage devices. A virus is a program that copies itself into other programs. Viruses often
are designed to damage a computer intentionally by destroying or corrupting its data.
- A screen saver is a utility that causes the monitor’s screen to display a moving image or blank screen

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if no keyboard or mouse activity occurs for a specified time period. When you press a key on the
keyboard or move the mouse, the screen returns to the previously displayed image.
III) LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS

 All computer languages must be converted to machine language which can be executed by a
computer.
 The software used to convert source programs to object programs is called a program translator or
language processor. Two types of translators, are compilers and Assemblers.
2. APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software these are software’s written to be “applied” to a particular task, such as creating text
documents or graphics. These programs are interpreted and run by the Operating System. Application
software is the software for the user that the uses the computer to do the processing and give the results
needed by the user. It could be for any area-be it financial accounting or payroll or operations research or
engineering design.
Applications software can be categorized into many types as shown below:-
i) Word Processing e.g. Microsoft word, Word perfect
ii) Spreadsheets e.g. Ms Excel, Lotus
iii) Graphic Applications e.g. Corel Draw, AutoCAD
iv) Accounting Packages e.g. Sage, Quick books
v) Desktop Publishing e.g. Microsoft Publisher, PageMaker
vi) Database software e.g. Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL etc

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