CSC 110: INTRODUCTION TO SOFTWARE By A.

Raphael

The software is a series of instructions or a special program that performs a particular

task and is recorded in some form on a computer disk. Simply, the software is an
abstract collection of instructions for computers to perform specific tasks. Other
instructions cause data stored in memory to be used in calculations.

Essentially, computer software can be divided into three main groups depending on
their use and application. These are system software or operating system referred
simply as the OS, application software and programming languages. Usually most of
us interact with a computer using application software.

Usage Of Software

Software is used so that you can interact with the program through its user interface.
This user interface controls how you enter data, instructions and how information is
displayed on the screen.

Software Categories
There are three categories of software:-

1. System Software.
2. Application Software
3. Programming Languages

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

System software is a program that manages and supports the computer resources and
operations of a computer system while it executes various tasks such as processing data and
information, controlling hardware components, and allowing users to use application
software. System Software is used to control and manage computer devices and operations. It
consists of operating system and utility programs.
Operating System
An operating system is a collection of integrated computer programs that provide
recurring services to other programs or to the user of a computer. These services
consist of disk and file management, memory management, and device management.
In other words, it manages CPU operations, input/output activities, storage resources,
diverse support services, and controls various devices. Operating system is the most
important program for computer system. Without an operating system, every
computer program would have to contain instructions telling the hardware each step
the hardware should take to do its job, such as storing a file on a disk. Because the
operating system contains these instructions, any program can call on the operating
system when a service is needed.

Utility Programs
These are the programs that help the operations and management of a computer
system by providing a variety of support services to let the computer hardware and
other system programs run efficiently.
There are many system utility programmes which include but not limited to:
- Antivirus
- Back up facility
- Disk cleaners
- File compression and decompression software
- File recovery software
- Disk defragmenters

The figure below shows some examples of system software.

Examples of Computer Operating Systems

 Windows XP
 Windows 2000
 Windows ME
 Windows 98
 Windows NT
 Windows 95
 Windows 7
 Unix
 Linux
 Apple MacIntosh

Even Mobile phones use operating systems. Examples of Mobile phone operating
systems are Symbian Operating Systems commonly used in low end phones and
Android OS commonly found in most smart phones.
Functions of Operating Systems

Resource Manager

An operating system manages a collection of computer hardware resources by using a

variety of programs. It manages computer system resources, including its CPU, primary
memory, virtual memory, secondary storage devices, input/output peripherals, and other
devices.

Task Management

The function of the operating system that controls the running of many tasks. It
manages one program or many programs within a computer system simultaneously.
That is, this function of operating system manages the completion of users' tasks. A
task management program in an operating system provides each task and interrupts the
CPU operations to manage tasks efficiently. Task management may involve a
multitasking capability.

Process Management

The Operating System also does Process Management means all the Processes that are
given by the user or the Process that are System ‘s own Process are Handled by the
Operating System . The Operating System will Create the Priorities for the user and
also Start or Stops the Execution of the Process and Also Makes the Child Process after
dividing the Large Processes into the Small Processes.

Memory Management

Operating System also Manages the Memory of the Computer System means Provide
the Memory to the Process and Also De-allocate the Memory from the Process when
the process finish executing. And also defines that if a Process gets completed then this
will de-allocate the Memory from the Processes.

File management

This is a function that manages data files. An operating system contains file
management programs that provide the ability to create, delete, enter, change, ask, and
access of files of data. They also produce reports on a file.

The operating system also handles the organisation and tracking of files and directories
(folders) saved or retrieved from a computer disk. The file management system allows
the user to perform such tasks as creating files and directories, renaming files, coping
and moving files, and deleting files. The operating system keeps track of where files are
located on the hard drive through the type of file system. The type two main types of
file system are File Allocation table (FAT) or New Technology File system (NTFS).

User Interface

It is a function of an operating system that allows users to interact with a computer. A

user interface program may include a combination of menus, screen design, keyboard
commands. A well-designed user interface is essential for an operating system to be
popular. Because of the function, users can load programs, access files, and accomplish
other tasks.
Definition:

Multitasking- This refers the capability of operating systems that runs several
computing tasks in one computer at the same time. This is controlled by the task
management program in an operating system. It's also called multiprogramming and
multithreading.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application software consists of Programs that direct computers to perform specific

information processing activities for end users. These programs are called application
packages because they direct the processing required for a particular use, or
application, which users want to accomplish. Thousands of application packages are
available because there are thousands of different jobs end users want computers to do.

Application software are all programs that perform specific tasks for users,
which include word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation , e-Mail and
Web browser software.

Examples of application software are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Outlook

Express and Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox. We have used these applications
extensively. Internet explorer, Mozilla Firefox is two applications used to access
the internet. E-mail software like Outlook express is used to manage Emails. It
is obvious that all software utilized for working on a computer is classified as
application software. In fact all user interfaces are an application. The anti-virus
is an application and so is the Media player.

Kinds of Application Software

Application software includes a variety of programs that can be subdivided into

general-purpose and application-specific categories.

General-Purpose Application Programs

General-purpose applications packages are programs that perform common information

processing hobs for end users. For example, word processing programs, electronic
spreadsheet programs, database management programs, graphics programs,
communications programs, and integrated packages are popular with microcomputer
users for home, education, business, scientific, and many other general purposes.

They are also known as productivity packages, because they significantly

increase the productivity of end users. This packaged software is also called off-
the-shelf software packages, because these products are packaged and available
for sale. Many features are common to most packaged programs.

Application-Specific Software

Many application programs are available to support specific applications of end users.
Business Application Programs: Programs that accomplish the information processing
tasks of important business functions or industry requirements. Scientific Application
Programs: Programs that perform information processing tasks for the natural,
physical, social, and behavioral sciences, engineering and all other areas involved in
scientific research, experimentation, and development. There are so many other
application areas such as education, music, art, medicine, etc.

Definition: Off-The-Shelf Software Packages

There is a trend away from custom-designed one-of- a-kind programs developed by the
professional programmers or end users of an organization. Instead, the trend is toward
the use of the "off-the-shelf" software package acquired by end users from software
vendors. This trend accelerated with the development of inexpensive and easy-to-use
productivity software packages for microcomputers, and it continues to grow.

Examples of Application Software

1. Word Processing Packages e.g.

Spelling Checker: A spelling checker program can check spelling errors in a document
automatically.

Thesaurus: This programs enable users to quickly find the right word or an alternative
word by presenting users with an on-screen thesaurus.

Mail Merge: This feature allows users to merge different names and addresses so that
users can mail out the same form letter to different people.

Desktop Publishing: Today's advanced word processing programs can perform

desktop publishing capabilities. This feature enables users to mix text and graphics to
produce newsletters and other publications of nearly professional quality.

Outliner: Sometimes called idea processors. It helps users organize and outline usersr
thoughts before users prepare a document or develop a presentation.

Grammar/Style Checker: These programs can be used to identify and correct

grammar and punctuation errors.

Importing: Most of the programs have an importing feature. Files may be retrieved
from nontext programs such as spreadsheets and graphics and added to the word
processing program.

2. Spreadsheet Packages e.g.

A spreadsheet is an electronic worksheet used to organize and manipulate numbers and

display options for what-if analysis. The electronic spreadsheet has rows and columns
stored in the computer's memory and displayed on its video screen. Electronic
spreadsheets allow users to try out various what-if kinds of possibilities. That is a
powerful feature. Users can manipulate numbers by using stored formulas and calculate
different outcomes.
3. Database Management Packages

A database is a large collection of data entered a computer system and stored for future
use. The computerized information in the database is organized so that the parts that
have something in common can be retrieved easily.

Most DBMS packages can perform four primary tasks:

Database Development: Define and organize the content, relationships, and structure of
the data needed to build a database.

Database Interrogation: Access the data in a database for information retrieval and
report generation. A user can selectively retrieve and display information and produce
printed reports and documents.

Database Maintenance: Add, delete, update, correct, and protect the data in a database.
Application Development: Develop prototypes of data entry screens, queries, forms,
reports, and labels for a proposed application.

A database management package or database management system (DBMS) is a

software package used to set up, or structure, a database. It is also used to retrieve
information from a database. They include MS SQL, MS Access, MySQL, dBase…

4. Communications Packages

Communications software packages for microcomputers are also viewed as general-

purpose application packages. These packages can connect a microcomputer equipped
with a modem to a public and private network. Communications software enables a
microcomputer to send and receive data over a telephone or other communications line.

Communications programs are used by all kinds of people inside and outside business.
Examples are students doing research papers, travelers making plane reservations,
consumers buying products, investors getting stock quotations, and economists getting
government statistical data. Communications programs give microcomputers a
powerful feature, which is connectivity.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

Now this is a kind of computer software which is used exclusively by computer

programmers. Unless we are also programmers, we are unlikely to come across
programming languages. A simple way to understand programming languages is
to think of them as bricks which can be used to create applications and operating
system. C++, Java and Simlab are some popular programming languages.
Generally Java is used for internet applications. C++ is a language of
professional developers and used extensively in developing operating systems.
PHP is another language used for internet applications. There is a new class of
languages which are being utilized for the mobiles. These are light weight,
modular languages which are used to design mobile applications.
 Both applications and system software are themselves created using programming
languages.

Example of Programming languages include:-

COBOL, C++, C, Java, PHP, Delphi, FOTRAN, PASCAL etc.

Some programming languages used for making mobile applications include Java ME,
Qt etc

More Examples of Utility Programs

 Anti-virus utilities scan for computer viruses.

 Archive utilities output a stream or a single file when provided with a directory or a
set of files. Archive utilities, unlike archive suites, usually do not include compression
or encryption capabilities. Some archive utilities may even have a separate un-archive
utility for the reverse operation.
 Backup utilities can make a copy of all information stored on a disk, and restore
either the entire disk (e.g. in an event of disk failure) or selected files (e.g. in an event
of accidental deletion).
 Cryptographic utilities encrypt and decrypt streams and files.
 Data compression utilities output a shorter stream or a smaller file when provided
with a stream or file.
 Data synchronization utilities establish consistency among data from a source to a
target data storage and vice versa. There are several branches of this type of utility:
o File synchronization utilities maintain consistency between two sources.
They may be used to create redundancy or backup copies but are also used to
help users carry their digital music, photos and video in their mobile devices.
o Revision control utilities are intended to deal with situations where more than
one user attempts to simultaneously modify the same file.
 Disk checkers can scan operating hard drive.
 Disk cleaners can find files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or take up
considerable amounts of space. Disk cleaner helps the user to decide what to delete
when their hard disk is full.
 Disk compression utilities can transparently compress/uncompress the contents of a
disk, increasing the capacity of the disk.
 Disk defragmenters can detect computer files whose contents are broken across
several locations on the hard disk, and move the fragments to one location to increase
efficiency.
 Disk partitions can divide an individual drive into multiple logical drives, each with
its own file system which can be mounted by the operating system and treated as an
individual drive.
 Disk space analyzers for the visualization of disk space usage by getting the size for
each folder (including sub folders) & files in folder or drive. showing the distribution
of the used space.
 Disk storage utilities
 File managers provide a convenient method of performing routine data management
tasks, such as deleting, renaming, cataloging, uncataloging, moving, copying,
merging, generating and modifying data sets.
 Hex editors directly modify the text or data of a file. These files could be data or an
actual program.
 Memory testers check for memory failures.
 Network utilities analyze the computer's network connectivity, configure network
settings, check data transfer or log events.
 Registry cleaners clean and optimize the Windows registry by removing old registry
keys that are no longer in use.
 Screensavers were desired to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer
monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the
computer is not in use. Contemporary screensavers are used primarily for
entertainment or security.
 System monitors for monitoring resources and performance in a computer system.
 System profilers provide detailed information about the software installed and
hardware attached to the computer.