Chapter 1 – Part 3 Computer Software

The computer software is the detailed program and instruction that control the operations of a
computer system. They cause the hardware to do work. A software program is a series of
statements or instructions to the computer. The process of writing coding programs is termed
programming, and individuals who specialize in this task are programmers.

Software as a whole can be divided into a number of categories based on the type of work done.
The two primary software categories are:
● system software (operating system and language translators), which control the workings of
the computer, and
● application software, which addresses the multitude of tasks for which people use computers.

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

System software is a set of generalized programs that manage the computer’s resources, such as
the central processor, communication links, and peripheral devices. It coordinates the various
parts of the computer and mediates between the application software and the computer hardware.

There are three major types of system software.

● Operating system – This manages ad control’s the computer’s activities, such as
multiprogramming, multitasking, virtual storage, time sharing, and multiprocessing. The most
common feature of software programs nowadays is the graphical user interface (GUI), which is
the part of the OS users interact with, which uses graphic icons and some input pointing devices
like the mouse to issue commands and make selections. The following is a list of popular
operating systems.

⮚ DOS (Disk Operating System) – This is a 16-bit OS used by earlier PCs. It does not support
multitasking and limits the size of programs that can be run.
⮚ OS/2 – This is an operating system for personal computers which allows multi-tasking. It can
run MS-DOS and Windows-based applications, and can read all MS-DOS disks. OS/2 was
originally developed as a joint project between Microsoft and IBM.
⮚ Mac OS – This is the first OS to render graphical user interface that was developed for
Macintosh computers.
⮚ Linux – Linux is available from many different companies each adding their own features,
such as a graphical installation routine, but all relying on a basic set of operating system
functions.
⮚ UNIX – This is a multi-user, user ID operating system that incorporates multitasking. It was
originally developed for use on minicomputers. UNIX exists in various forms and
implementations and is considered a powerful operating system that is more portable—less
machine-specific—than other operating systems because it is written in C. UNIX is available in
several related forms, including AIX, a version of UNIX adapted by IBM (to run on RISC-based
workstations), A/UX (a graphical version for the Apple Macintosh), and Mach (a rewritten but
essentially UNIX-compatible operating system for the NeXT computer).
⮚ Microsoft Windows – This is a multitasking graphical user interface environment that runs on
MS-DOS-based computers. Windows provides a standard interface based on drop-down menus,
screen windows, and a pointing device such as a mouse. Programs must be specially designed to
take advantage of these features. This was released in several versions.

❖ Windows 3.0 (1990)

❖ Windows 3.1 (1992)
❖ Windows NT (1993) – This is an operating system for business environments.
❖ Windows 95 (1995)
❖ Windows 98 (1998) – This featured integrated Internet capabilities.
❖ Windows CE (1999) – This OS was used in devices designed to provide consumers with
integrated cable-television, telephone, and high-speed Internet services.
❖ Windows ME (Millennium Edition, 1999) – This is very much similar to the features and
capabilities of Windows 98, with some additional upgrades.
❖ Windows 2000 (1999) – This was released as an update for Windows NT, intended for
workstations and network servers.
❖ Windows XP (eXPerience, 2001 – This is the company's first operating system for
consumers that was not based on MS-DOS. It combines the robustness of Windows 2000 and
Windows 98 and ME.
❖ Windows Longhorn – This OS by Microsoft is the next generation to Windows XP, with
updated and added features not present in previous versions. It has not been released to the
market and is presently under development.

Language translators – These are programs that convert the programming language instructions
in a computer program into machine language code. The program I the high level language
before translation into machine language is called source code. There are two basic types of
language translators.

⮚ Assembly languages – These programs substitute mnemonics for numeric codes. These are
popular in second generation computers.
⮚ Compilers or interpreters – These programs translate high-level language into machine
language.

Some examples are the following. (Third generation programming languages)

❖ COBOL
❖ FORTRAN
❖ BASIC
❖ PASCAL
❖ C and C++
(Succeeding generation programming languages)
❖ PERL interpreter
❖ JAVA compiler

Fourth generation languages are language programs that can be employed directly by end users
or less-skilled programmers to develop computer applications more rapidly than conventional
programming languages. They are characterized by the following.
⮚ They are less procedural, or even non-procedural.
⮚ They use a programming language that is very close to human language (natural language).
⮚ They incorporate software tools that provide immediate on-line answers to requests for
information that is pre-defined (query language).
Fourth generation language programs are distributed in seven categories.
⮚ PC software tools (e.g. WordPerfect, IE, Access)
⮚ Query language (e.g. SQL)
⮚ Report generator (e.g. RPG III)
⮚ Graphics language (e.g. SAS Graph, Systat)
⮚ Application generator (e.g. Focus, Power Builder, MS Front Page)
⮚ Application software packages (e.g. Peoplesoft, HRMS, SAP R/3)
⮚ Very-high-level programming languages (e.g. APL, Nomads2)
● Utility software – These are programs that are used to support, enhance, and expand existing
programs
in a computer system. Typical utility software programs include
⮚ screen savers
⮚ data recovery and back-up utilities
⮚ virus-detection programs
⮚ data compression and disk defragmenter tools
⮚ device drivers
⮚ spooling programs
⮚ internet security programs

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application software is a program written for a specific application to perform function specified
the the end user. It must work through the system software in order to operate. The following are
features common to all application software programs.
● WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) – What appers exactly in the computer
monitor is exactly as they would be finally produced.
● White space – The area where the work is done is commonly white (unless the user changes
the default color).
● Cursor – This indicates where particularly in the document are the current and next operations
applied.
● Panning – The user can scroll through the document to the left or to the right.
● Desktop – This is usually the entire screen area that is available for GUI.
● Desktop accessories – These are features commonly found on a conventional office desktop
like toolbars, icons, forms, drop-down lists, check boxes, etc.
● Clipart – These are artwork designed for import usually to text documents or charts.
● Object linking embedding (OLE) – This lets one to embed an object created using one
application into another application. This is common in integrated software packages

The following is a categorization of application software commonly used nowadays.

● Word processing software – These are programs that are used to enter, store, manipulate, and
print text (or sometimes text with images) to produce documents.
Examples: MS Word
Office Writer
Star Office Writer
● Electronic spreadsheets – These are programs that are used for file containing data and
formulas in tabular format. They are capable of easily recalculating numerical data.
Examples: MS Excel
SPSS
Calc
● Database management software – These are used for creating and manipulating lists, creating
files and databases to store data, and combining information for reports.
Examples: MS Access
Integrated Library System Software
File Maker Pro
● Presentation graphics software – These are programs that create quality graphics presentations
that can incorporate charts, sound, animation, photos, and video clips.
Examples: MS PowerPoint
Lotus Freelance Graphics
● Integrated software packages and software suites – These come in bundles of two or more
applications, which provide easy transfer of data between them. Integrated software suites have
capabilities for supporting collaborative work on the Web or incorporating information from the
Web
into documents (e.g. MS Office 2000, XP, and 2003).
Examples: MS Office
Lotus Notes
● Personal information management software – These are equipped with appointment scheduling
systems, calendars, contact lists, e-mail browsers, and other applications used for orfganizing
personal
data and information.
Examples: MS Outlook
Palm OS
● Electronic mail software – These programs facilitate computer-to-computer exchange of
messages.
Web browsers and PC software suites also have e-mail capabilities.
Examples: MS Outlook
Mozilla
Eudora
Pegasus
● Web browsers – These are easy-to-use software tools for accessing information in the World
Wide
web and the Internet.
Examples: MS Internet Explorer
Netscape Navigator
Opera
● Web authoring software – These are intended in the creation of high quality Web pages and
Web sites.
They usually apply a WYSIWYG working environment, allowing the less skilled Web
developers to
come up with competitive work results.
Examples: MS FrontPage
Adobe GoLive
● Image processing software – These are intended in producing and editing high-quality images
and
photos, which can be used in other works or can be shared online or through devices like digital
cameras.
Examples: Adobe Photoshop
Correl Draw
● Reference suite software – These are the electronic counterpart of the printed reference sources
known, like encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and so on.
Examples MS Encarta Reference Suite
Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia
● Media authoring software – These are intended to be used in producing various types of media
like
video, music, animations, and so on.
Examples Pinnacle
Cakewalk Studio
Sonic Foundry Acid Pro
Macromedia Flash
● Music notation software – These are chiefly intended for the production of printed music.
Some music
notation software applications are integrated with features that function like media authoring
software.
Examples Finale
Voyetra MusicWrite
Cakewalk Score Writer
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● Media players – These are intended to playback media files like music files (e.g. audio tracks,
mp3
files, MIDI sequences, wav files, etc.), and video files (MPEG files, avi files, etc.). They are also
used
to access the media content of optical discs (e.g. VCD, DVD, audio CD) or other storage devices
that
contain media.
Examples Windows Media Player
Cyberlink Power DVD
Creative Media Center
● Computer aided design software – These are highly specialized software used in creating
designs like
architectural and engineering designs. They are capable of rendering three-dimensional images.
Example: Autodesk AutoCAD
The following are features common to all application software programs.

Contemporary Tools for Software Development

Here are some of the tools and approaches commonly used nowadays in the design, creation, and
development of computer software applications.
● Object-oriented programming – This is an approach to software development that combines
data and
procedures into a single object. The object combines data and program code. It has spawned a
new
programming technology known as visual programming. Visual Basic (VB) is a widely used
visual
programming tool to run on Windows platforms.
● JAVA – This is a programming language that can deliver only the software functionality
needed for a
particular task. such as a small applet downloaded from a network. JAVA can rin on any
computer or
operating system.
● HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) – This is the standard text formatting language for
documents
on the World Wide Web since 1989. HTML documents are text files that contain two parts:
content
that is meant to be rendered on a computer screen; and markup or tags, encoded information that
directs the text format on the screen and is generally hidden from the user. HTML is a subset of a
broader language called Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), which is a system for
encoding and formatting documents, whether for output to a computer screen or to be printed on
paper.
● XML (Extensible Markup Language) – This was created to structure, store, and send electronic
information. In appearance, XML is similar to the familiar HTML used to create pages on the
World
Wide Web. The main difference between the two is that HTML is used to describe how Web
pages
should look while XML is designed to describe what the information on a Web page actually
means.
Put another way, HTML is about displaying information, while XML is about describing
information.
XML is not a replacement for HTML; it was designed for a specific purpose with an overall
intent
that it should complement HTML.