CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Study Session 5: Computer Software

Introduction

Software is a general term for structured assemblages of computer data and instructions, often
broken into two major categories: system software that generates the elementary non-task-
specific functions of the computer, and application software which is used by operators to
achieve particular responsibilities. The usefulness of the computer depends on the programs that
are written to manipulate it.

In this study session, you will learn about computer software, history of computer software,
system software (operating system and types), and utility software.

Learning Outcomes for Study Session 5

After you have studied this study session, you should able to:
5.1 Discuss computer software and its importance.
5.2 Explain system software and its types.
5.3 Discuss Application software and its various types.

Page 1 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

5.1 Computer Software

The computer hardware is driven by the software. The usefulness of the computer depends on the
programs that are written to manipulate it. Computer software comes in different forms: the
operating system, utility software, language translators and application software

The set of instructions that enable a computer to perform specific tasks is generically called a
program or software. These instructions tell the machine’s hardware components what to do;
without a program, a computer could not do anything at all. When a computer uses a particular
program, it is said to be running or executing that program.

The physical components of the computer are called the hardware while all the other resources or
parts of the computer that are not hardware, are referred to as the Software. Software are the set
of programs that makes the computer system active. In essence, the software are the programs
that run on the computer.

Box 5.1: Computer Software

Computer software are the set of programs that makes the computer system active. It is the set of
instructions that enable a computer to perform specific tasks. In essence, the software are the
programs that run on the computer.

Then, what is a program? A Program is a series of coded instructions showing the logical steps
the computer follows to solve a given problem.
What is the difference between hardware and software?
Most programs that run on a computer are not built directly into the computer system. This
allows different users to customize their computer to ideally suit their needs. To make software
available to the computer, it is installed, which means that the program is written into the
computer’s permanent storage.
Page 2 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

For all but the simplest of programs, installation also usually includes adding references to the
new program into the computer’s operating system, so that the operating system will know
where to find the program, and how to start it.

Installation may also include many other tasks, such as the creation and placement of data files
for the program to use, establishing connections to devices such as printers for the new software
to use, and updating software modules in other programs that are required by the new software.
With few exceptions, the installation of software for consumer devices such as PCs and smart
phones is automatic, requiring little else from the user than permission to perform the
installation.
The computer software could be divided into two major groups namely System Software and
Application Software.

Figure 5.1: Subdivisions of Computer Software

Page 3 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Pilot Questions 5.1

Write short noes on computer software

5.2 System Software

This is refers to the suits of programs that facilitates the optimal use of the hardware systems
and/or provide a suitable environment for the writing, editing, debugging, testing and running of
User Programs or simply put; system software is any program that controls the computer’s
hardware or can be used to maintain the computer in some way so it runs more efficiently.
Usually, every computer system comes with collection of these suits of programs which are
provided by the Hardware Manufacturer.

Box 5.2: System Software

System software refers to the suits of programs that facilitates the optimal use of the hardware
systems and/or provide a suitable environment for the writing, editing, debugging, testing and
running of User Programs

5.2.1 Utility Software

A utility is a program that makes the computer system easier to use or performs highly
specialized functions. Utilities are used to manage disks, troubleshoot hardware problems and
perform other tasks that the operating system itself may not be able to do.
Utility software is a set of commonly used programs in data processing departments also called
service or general-purpose programs. They perform the following operations.

Page 4 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

(i) File Conversion: This covers data transfer from any medium to another, making
an exact copy or simultaneously editing and validating. For example, copying
documents from a hard disk to a diskette.
(ii) File Copy: It makes an exact copy of a file from one medium to another or from
an area of a medium to another area of the same medium.
(iii) Housekeeping Operations: These include programs to clear areas of storage,
writing file labels and updating common data.

What is utility software?

They are not involved in solving the problem at hand. They are operations that must be
performed before and after actual processing.

5.2.2 Operating System

An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between a user of a computer and the
computer hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide an environment in which a
user may execute programs.

The operating system is the first component of the systems programs that interests us here.
Systems programs are programs written for direct execution on computer hardware in order to
make the power of the computer fully and efficiently accessible to applications programmers and
other computer users.

Box 4.3: Operating System

An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between a user of a computer and the
computer hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide an environment in which a
user may execute programs.

Page 5 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Systems programming is different from application programming because the programmer

requires an intimate knowledge of the computer hardware as well as the end users’ needs.

Moreover, systems programs are often large and more complex than application programs,
although that is not always the case. Since systems programs provide the foundation upon which
application programs are built, it is most important that systems programs are reliable, efficient
and correct.

In a computer system the hardware provides the basic computing resources. The applications
programs define the way in which these resources are used to solve the computing problems of
the users. The operating system controls and coordinates the use of the hardware among the
various systems programs and application programs for the various users.

The basic resources of a computer system are provided by its hardware, software and data. The
operating system provides the means for the proper use of these resources in the operation of the
computer system. It simply provides an environment within which other programs can do useful
work.

You can view an operating system as a resource allocator. A computer system has many
resources (hardware and software) that may be required to solve a problem: CPU time, memory
space, files storage space, input/output devices etc.

The basic resources of a computer system are provided by its ………….., ………. and ………

The operating system acts as the manager of these resources and allocates them to specific
programs and users as necessary for their tasks. Since there may be many, possibly conflicting,
requests for resources, the operating system must decide which requests are allocated resources
to operate the computer system fairly and efficiently. An operating system is a control program.
This program controls the execution of user programs to prevent errors and improper use of the
computer.

Page 6 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Operating systems exist because they are a reasonable way to solve the problem of creating a
usable computing system. The fundamental goal of a computer system is to execute user
programs and solve user problems.

The primary goal of an operating system is a convenience for the user. Operating systems exit
because they are supposed to make it easier to compute with an operating system than without an
operating system. This is particularly clear when you look at operating system for small personal
computers.

Why is an operating system called a control program?

A secondary goal is the efficient operation of an computer system. This goal is particularly
important for large, shared multi-user systems. Operating systems can solve this goal. It is
known that sometimes these two goals, convenience and efficiency, are contradictory.

A computer’s Operating System (OS) is a group of programs designed to serve two basic
purposes:

a. To control the allocation and use of the computing system’s resources among the various
users and tasks, and.
b. To provide an interface between the computer hardware and the programmer that
simplifies and makes feasible the creation, coding, debugging, and maintenance of
application programs.

Specifically, we can imagine that an effective operating system should accomplish all of the
following:

i. Facilitate creation and modification of program and data files through an editor
program.
ii. Provide access to compilers to translate programs from high-level languages to
machine language.
Page 7 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

iii. Provide a loader program to move the complied program code to the computer’s
memory for execution.
iv. Provide routines that handle the intricate details of I/O programming.
v. Assure that when there are several active processes in the computer, each will get fair
and noninterfering access to the central processing unit for execution.
vi. Take care of storage and device allocation.
vii. Provide for long term storage of user information in the form of files
viii. Permit system resources to be shared among users when appropriate, and be protected
from unauthorized or mischievous intervention as necessary.

Modern computer operating systems may be classified into three groups, which are distinguished
by the nature of interaction that takes place between the computer user and his or her program
during its processing. The three groups are called batch, time-shared and real time operating
systems.

Time sharing
operating system

Batch
Real time
processing
operating
operating
system
system

Operating
System
Classification

Figure 5.2: Classification of Operating System

Page 8 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

1. Batch processing operating system

In a batch processing operating system environment users submit jobs to a central place where
these jobs are collected into a batch, and subsequently placed on an input queue at the computer
where they will be run. In this case, the user has no interaction with the job during its processing,
and the computer’s response time is the turnaround time-the time from submission of the job
until execution is complete, and the results are ready for return to the person who submitted the
job.
2. Time sharing operating system
Another mode for delivering computing services is provided by time sharing operating systems.
In this environment a computer provides computing services to several or many users
concurrently on-line.
Here, the various users are sharing the central processor, the memory, and other resources of the
computer system in a manner facilitated, controlled, and monitored by the operating system. The
user, in this environment, has nearly full interaction with the program during its execution, and
the computer’s response time may be expected to be no more than a few second.

3. Real time operating system

The real time operating systems are designed to service those applications where response time is
of the essence in order to prevent error, misrepresentation or even disaster. Examples of real time
operating systems are those which handle airlines reservations, machine tool control, and
monitoring of a nuclear power station. The systems, in this case, are designed to be interrupted
by external signal that require the immediate attention of the computer system.

Pilot Questions 5.2

List and explain the functions of Utility Software

5.3 Application software

Application software is a set of programs designed to solve problems of a specific nature. It
could either be supplied by the computer manufacturer or in some cases; the users produce their
Page 9 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

own application program called User Programs. Hence, application software could be subdivided
into two classes, namely; Generalized and User-defined Software.

Figure 5.3: Classifications of Application Software

Under the Generalized software, examples are:

Word Processing Programs e.g. Word Perfect, Word Star, Microsoft word.
Desktop Publishing e.g. Ventura, PageMaker, CorelDraw likewise the
Spreadsheet program e.g. LOTUS 1,2,3, Excel, Super-Q
while under the User-defined, we could have some user-defined packages for a particular
company or organization, for accounting, payroll or some other specialized purposes.

(i) Word Processor: A Word Processor is used to create, edit, save and print reports.
It affords the opportunity to make amendments before printing is done. During
editing character, word sentence or a number of lines can be removed or inserted
as the case may be. Another facility possible is spell checking.
A document can be printed as many times as possible. Word processors are
mainly used to produce: Letters, Mailing lists, Label, Greeting Cards, Business
Page 10 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Cards, Reports, Manual, Newsletter. Examples are: WordPerfect, WordStar,

Display Writer, Professional Writer, LOTUS Manuscript, Ms-Word, LOCO
Script, MM Advantage II etc.
(ii) Spreadsheet: Is an application mainly designed for numerical figures and reports.
Spreadsheets contain columns and rows, in which numbers can be entered. It is
possible to change numbers before printing is done. Other features of spread
sheets is the ability to use formulas to calculate, use sum and average function,
ability to perform automatic recalculation and has the capacity to display reports
in graphical modes.
Spreadsheet is used for Budget, Tables, Cost analysis, Financial reports. Tax and
Statistical analysis. Examples are: LOTUS 123, Supercalc, MS Multiplan, MS-
excel, VP Planner etc.
(iii) Integrated Packages: They are programs or packages that perform a variety of
different processing operations using data that is compatible with whatever
operation is being carried out. They perform a number of operations like Word
Processing, Data-base Management and Spread sheeting.
Examples are: Office writer, Logistic Symphony, Framework, Enable, Ability,
Smart ware II, Microsoft Work V2.
(iv) Graphic Packages: These are packages that enable you to bring out images,
diagrams and pictures. Examples are PM, PM Plus, Graphic Writer, Photoshop.
(v) Database Packages: It is software for designing, setting up and subsequently
managing a database. (A database is an organized collection of data that allows
for modification taking care of different users view). Examples are Dbase II, III,
IV, FoxBASE, Rbase Data Perfect, Paradox III, Revelation Advanced and MS-
Access.
(vi) Statistical Packages: These are packages that can be used to solve statistical
problems, e.g. Stat graphical, SPSS (Statistical Packages for Social Scientists).

Page 11 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

(vii) Desktop Publishing: These are packages that can be used to produce books and
documents in standard form. Examples are PageMaker, Ventura, Publishers,
Paints Brush, Xerox Form Base, News Master II, Dbase Publisher.
(viii) Game Packages: These are packages that contain a lot of games for children and
adults. Examples are Chess, Scrabble, Monopoly, Tune Trivia, Star Trek 2,
California Game, Soccer Game, War Game, Spy Catcher Dracula in London.
(ix) Communication Packages: Examples are Carbon Plus, Data talk V3.3, Cross talk,
SAGE Chit Chat, Data Soft.

There are so many packages around, virtually for every field of study but these are just to
mention a few of them. Advantages of these packages include quick and cheaper
implementation, time saving, minimum time for its design, they have been tested and proven to
be correct, they are usually accompanied by full documentation and are also very portable.

Pilot Questions 5.3

Write short notes on

(i) Word Processor

(ii) Spreadsheet
(iii) Integrated Packages

Page 12 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Summary for Study Session 5

In this Study Session 5, you have learnt that:

1. The set of instructions that enable a computer to perform specific tasks is generically
called a program or software. These instructions tell the machine’s hardware components
what to do; without a program, a computer could not do anything at all.
2. System software refers to the suits of programs that facilitates the optimal use of the
hardware systems and/or provide a suitable environment for the writing, editing,
debugging, testing and running of User Programs
3. A utility is a program that makes the computer system easier to use or performs highly
specialized functions.
4. An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between a user of a computer
and the computer hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide an
environment in which a user may execute programs.
5. Application software is a set of programs designed to solve problems of a specific nature.
It could either be supplied by the computer manufacturer or in some cases; the users
produce their own application program called User Programs.

Page 13 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Pilot Answers for Study Session 5

Pilot Answers 5.1

Computer software are the set of programs that makes the computer system active. It is the set of
instructions that enable a computer to perform specific tasks. In essence, the software are the
programs that run on the computer.

They are set of instructions that enable a computer to perform specific tasks. These instructions
tell the machine’s hardware components what to do; without a program, a computer could not do
anything at all.

Pilot Answers 5.2

(i) File Conversion: This covers data transfer from any medium to another, making
an exact copy or simultaneously editing and validating. For example, copying
documents from a hard disk to a diskette.
(ii) File Copy: It makes an exact copy of a file from one medium to another or from
an area of a medium to another area of the same medium.
(iii) Housekeeping Operations: These include programs to clear areas of storage,
writing file labels and updating common data.

Pilot Answers 5.3

(i) Word Processor: A Word Processor is used to create, edit, save and print reports.
It affords the opportunity to make amendments before printing is done. During
editing character, word sentence or a number of lines can be removed or inserted
as the case may be. Another facility possible is spell checking.

Page 14 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

A document can be printed as many times as possible. Word processors are

mainly used to produce: Letters, Mailing lists, Label, Greeting Cards, Business
Cards, Reports, Manual, Newsletter. Examples are: WordPerfect, WordStar,
Display Writer, Professional Writer, LOTUS Manuscript, Ms-Word, LOCO
Script, MM Advantage II etc.
(ii) Spreadsheet: Is an application mainly designed for numerical figures and reports.
Spreadsheets contain columns and rows, in which numbers can be entered. It is
possible to change numbers before printing is done. Other features of spread
sheets is the ability to use formulas to calculate, use sum and average function,
ability to perform automatic recalculation and has the capacity to display reports
in graphical modes.
Spreadsheet is used for Budget, Tables, Cost analysis, Financial reports. Tax and
Statistical analysis. Examples are: LOTUS 123, Supercalc, MS Multiplan, MS-
excel, VP Planner etc.
(iii) Integrated Packages: They are programs or packages that perform a variety of
different processing operations using data that is compatible with whatever
operation is being carried out.
Examples are: Office writer, Logistic Symphony, Framework, Enable, Ability,
Smart ware II, Microsoft Work V2.

Page 15 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 5

Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its
Learning Outcomes by answering these questions. You can check your answers with the Notes
on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Study Session.

1. Write short notes on the following

a. Computer Software
b. System software
c. Utility software
d. Operating system
e. Application software

Page 16 of 17
 CSC 101: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs)

Page 17 of 17