Introduction to Computers

6th Week

Shehzad Khan
[email protected]
Last Lecture Summary
 Computer Data Storage
 Types of Storage
 Storage Device Features
 Other Examples of Storage Device

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 Today’s Lecture
 Software’s and its types
 Application Software’s
 Package Software’s
 Custom Software’s
 Open Source Software’s
 Shareware software’s
 Freeware Software’s
 Public Domain Software’s
 System Software’s
 Operating System
 Device Drivers
 Utility Programs
 Language Processor
 Software
 A set of instructions given to the computer to
solve a problem is called software.
 Software is also called program.
 Different types of software’s are used to solve
different problems.
 A computer works according to the instructions
written in the software.
 A Computer cannot perform any task without
software.

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Types of Software’s
 The main types of software’s are given
below
 System Software
 Application Software

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Application Software
 Application software is used to perform various
tasks on the computer.
 Today’s a wide variety of application software is
available to meet any user need.
 Individuals and business use application
software to perform hundreds of tasks such as
 Writing Letters
 Making Presentations
 Playing Games
 Participating in Videoconference
 Accessing the web-based resources 6
Application Software
 Available in a variety of forms:

Packaged Custom Web

software software application

Open source
Shareware Freeware
software

Public-domain
software
Packaged Software
 Also called commercial software
 Software that must be purchased
 Copyrighted retail software that meets the needs
of a wide variety of users, not just a single user or
company
 is an application that performs only one type of
task, such as a word processing program, a
graphics program, or an e-mail program
 might have many tools and features, but it
basically focuses on one type of task or a range of
related tasks.
 Packaged software is available in retail stores or
on the Web.
Custom Software
 Also called stand alone software
 Performs functions specific to a business or
industry
 Solves one type of problem
 Sometimes a company cannot find packaged
software that meets its unique requirements
 In this case, the company may use
programmers to develop tailor-made custom
software
 Usually costs more than packaged software.
Web Application
 A Web site that allows users to access
and interact with software from any
computer or device that is connected to
the Internet
 Many Web sites provide free access to
their programs
 Some charge a fee
 Types of Web applications include e-
mail, word processing, tax preparation,
and game programs.
 Open Source
 Programs distributed for use with source code
 Allows users to modify the software and redistribution
 Software has no restrictions from the copyright holder
regarding modification of the software’s internal instructions
and its redistribution.
 Source code is available in editable formats, as are the
many development libraries that are used to create
applications
 Modifications and comments are welcome
 Linux and OpenOffice
 Shareware
 Gets its name from the fact that its developers
encourage users to share it with one another
and to try out the software before purchasing
it
 Distributed free for trial period
 Try before you buy
 Typically, the user is allowed a certain number
of days to work with the software before
registering and/or paying for it
 May deactivate if not purchased
 In some cases, a scaled-down version of the
software is distributed free, and payment
entitles the user to the fully functional product.
 Freeware
 Close cousin to shareware
 Copyrighted software provided at no cost by an individual
or a company that retains all rights to the software.
 No obligation to purchase
 Donations often accepted

 Software may be distributed freely

 If you use shareware or freeware programs, you must abide
by the terms of a license that prohibits you from making
changes to the software or selling it to someone else.
Public Domain
 Freeware with no copyright restrictions
 Donated for public use and has no
copyright restrictions. Anyone can copy
or distribute public-domain software to
others at no cost
 No compensation is usually expected
and the source code is free for anyone
to use for any purpose whatever.
System Software
 System software’s is set of programs to control
and manage the actual operations of a
computer hardware.
 It enables application programs to execute
properly.
 It controls the basic operations as fellows
 Saving data on disk
 Making computer to work for us
 Printing a document etc.

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Types of System Software’s
 Operating System
 Utility Programs
 Device Driver
 Language Processor

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Operating System
 An operating system is a set of programs to
control and manages all computer
components and operations.
 It is the most important software that runs on a
computer.
 A Computer cannot do anything without an
operating system.
 It must be installed on every computer.
 It act’s as an interface between the computer
user and the hardware.
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Important Tasks of Operating System
 It loads programs into memory and executes
them
 It controls the operations of all the devices.
 It manages files and folders.
 It provides facility to create passwords to make
sure it is not used by unauthorized persons.
 It identifies the hardware problems and
displays messages to solve them.

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Examples of Operating System
 Microsoft windows
 Linux
 Unix
 Mac OS

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Utility Programs
 A utility program is a type of system software
that is used for effective management of
computer system.
 The user can use utility program to perform
maintenance tasks related to different devices
and programs.
 The utility programs keep the computer system
running smoothly.

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Utility Programs
 File Viewer
 It is used to display files and folders

 Backup Utility
 It is used to take backup of data

 File Compressor
 It is used to reduce the size of the files

 Diagnostic Utility
 It is used to deduct the hardware and software problems.

 Antivirus Utility
 It is used to detect and remove viruses.

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Device Drivers
 A device driver is a type of system software that
controls the operation of the device.
 Many device drivers automatically installed with
windows.
 A device attached to the computer need the
device drivers e.g. printer, keyboard, mouse etc.
 The device drivers are provided by the device
manufacturers.

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Language Processor
 Type of system software that translate a source
code into machine code.
 Computer understand only machine language.
 A program written in high level language or
assembly language cannot be run on a
computer directly.
 It must be converted into machine language
using language processor before execution.
 Different types of language processors
includes compiler, interpreter and assembler.
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Application VS System Software’s
 Difference between application and system Software’s

System Software Application Software

1- It is general purpose software 1- It is specific purpose software

2- Used to manage computer resources 2- Solve particular problems

3- Executes all the time in the computer 3- Executes as when required

4- System Software less than application 4- Much more than system software

5- Essential for a computer to work 5- Not essential for a computer

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 Summary
 Software’s and its types
 Application Software’s
 Package Software’s
 Custom Software’s
 Open Source Software’s
 Shareware software’s
 Freeware Software’s
 Public Domain Software’s
 System Software’s
 Operating System
 Device Drivers
 Utility Programs
 Language Processor

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