COMPUTER AWARENESS FOR MANAGERS

LESSON 3:
SOFTWARE

Objective outdated and new software are coming in the market. So, we
The objective of this lesson is to give you insight in to: must get aware of the latest developments in the software
• To make student understand software industry.
• To understand ttypes of software In this chapter, we will be discussing all the important software
concepts and providing you the latest knowledge of all the
• To evaluate the need of operating systems.
software available in the market. Though we are also providing
• To know about types of operating systems and operating you the current information about the latest version of a
system techniques software, we are sure that it will be out-dated soon.
• Evaluate the importance of translators and system utilities. Software can be categorized basically in two categories. These are:
Introduction • System Software
If you are working on computer, you need hardware and • Application Software
software both for its proper function-
ing. By software we mean computer
instructions or data. Anything that can SOFTWARE
be stored electronically is software.
The storage devices and display
devices are hardware.
Software and hardware are used’ as
System Software Application Software
both nouns and adjectives. For
example, you can say the problem lies
in the software,” which means that
there is a problem with the program Operating File Management Word Image
System Tool Processor Processor
or data, not with the computer itself.
You can also say: “It’s a hardware
Translators Utilities / Tools Spreadsheet Database
problem” and hence software can’t be
run on it.
The distinction between software and Communication Games
hardware is sometimes confusing Software
because they are so integrally linked.
Clearly, when you purchase a program,
you are buying software. But to buy the software, you need to
buy the floppy or CD-ROM (hardware) on which the software System Software
is recorded. Software that is required to control the working of hardware
and aid in effective execution of a general user’s applications are
Note: -“Other than software and hardware there is something
called System Software. This software performs a variety of
called firmware. Firmware is a software (programs or data) that
functions like file editing, storage management, resource
has been permanently written read only memory (ROM).
accounting, 1/0 management, database management, etc. Some
Firmware is a combination of software and hardware. ROMs
of the examples of system software are DOS (Disk Operating
and PROM that have data or programs recorded on them are
System), Windows, Drivers etc. This software are developed by
“firmware”.
System Programmers.
Software Types of System Software
A computer is a hardware and it is useless unless it is provided
System software can be further categorized into following three
with the necessary software. Therefore, all computer users must
types:
be aware of the basic software concepts besides hardware. “A
software is a program or set of instructions, which is required • System Management Software (Operating Systems, DBMS,
to use the computer”. Many types of software are available for Operating Environments)
various applications. The software development field is so • System Development Software (Language Translators,
advanced that day-by-day existing software are becoming Application Generators, CASE Tools)
• System Software Utilities

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Application Software AT&T at Bell Laboratories initially developed UNIX in

COMPUTER AWARENESS FOR MANAGERS

Software that is required for general and special purpose 1969. Unix is a highly successful operating system for
applications like database management; word processing, multi-user systems. Actually, it is more popular among
accounting etc. are called Application Software. Some of the scientific and engineering users rather than business users.
examples of application software are MS Office, Games etc. In 1980, Microsoft developed its own version of UNIX for
Application software is developed using system software by 286s and higher PCs which is called as XENIX. UNIX
Application Programmers. Application software can be further System V Release 4 is the latest version of UNIX.
classified into following two types: NetWare - NetWare is a group of network operating
• General Purpose Application Software (Database system developed by Novell, Inc., that provides multi-user
Management Packages, Word Processors, Spreadsheets etc.) capabilities.
• Special Purpose Application Software (Accounting, Microsoft 2000 – Microsoft 2000 is most popular network
Inventory, Production Management etc.) operating system. It comes in four varients and it is the
Operating Systems operating system which has more presence in the market as
An Operating System is the most essential system software that compared to any other network operating system in small
manages the operation of a computer. Without an operating to large business environment.
system, it is not possible to use computer. The computer is Linux - Linux is a 32-bit UNIX-like operating system that
useless unless it is provided essential software that makes it has been developed recently for microcomputers It is the
ready to use. An operating system is software, which makes the world’s first free operating system developed and
computer ready to use by a process called booting. Before maintained by millions of people worldwide.
discussing the types of operating systems, let us first see what Windows XP – Windows XP is new offering from
booting exactly means. Microsoft in both home segment and in business
When we switch on the computer, the instructions stared in segement. Windows XP contains better encryption
ROM are automatically executed. These instructions help the facilities, better performance, supports high reliability and
computer to load the operating system from external storage no doubts, some bugs.
device (disk) to internal storage (RAM). This process of Operating System Techniques
loading of operating system from disk to RAM is called There are several techniques used in Multi-user operating
booting. systems for enabling many users to concurrently share the single
Types of Operating Systems or multiple CPU (e.g. Multiprogramming and Multiprocessing).
Many types of operating systems are available for computers, Some techniques are used in single-user operating system to
which can be divided into the following two types: - handle multiple tasks (Multitasking). We will now discuss these
common techniques used in different operating systems.
• Single-user operating systems: These operating systems
are used for mainly computers having only one terminal Multiprogramming : - Multiprogramming is a process by
(stand-alone PCs). MS DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating which single CPU works on two or more programs simulta-
System) and PC DOS (Personal Computer Disk Operating neously. Using this technique, the operating system keeps the
System) are the two important single user operating CPU busy. Multiprogramming allows the processor to handle
systems. Both systems are almost identical and are simply either multiple batch jobs at a time (Batch Multiprogramming)
called DOS. OS/2 and Windows 98 are other popular or multiple interactive jobs shared among multiple users (Time
single-user multi-tasking operating systems for Sharing Multiprogramming). Time-sharing is a technique that
microcomputers. allows a CPU to simultaneously support the activities of several
users by allocating fixed time slots (in milliseconds). Examples
MS DOS - MS DOS, developed by ‘Microsoft Inc.’ in 1981,
of operating systems that support multiprogramming are OS/
is the most widely used operating system of IBM-
2, UNIX and Mac OS7 +.
compatible microcomputers. The latest version
identification number of a release of software of MS DOS Multiprocessing :- Multiprocessing refers to the use of two or
is 7. more CPUs to perform a coordinated task simultaneously. For
example, VMS, Windows 2000, and Windows XP supports
PC DOS - PC DOS is essentially the same operating system
multiprocessing.
as MS DOS, but developed and supplied by IBM for its
personal computers. Multitasking :- Multitasking refers to the ability of an operat-
ing system to execute two or more tasks concurrently. In
• Multi-user operating systems: These operating systems
multitasking environment, the user opens new applications
are used for those computers (micro to mainframe) which
without closing the previous ones and the information can be
have many terminals (multi-user systems). The popular
easily moved among a number of applications. For example,
operating systems used for multi-user systems are UNIX,
Windows NT and OS/2 operating systems use this technique.
NETWARE, Microsoft 2000, Linux Enterprise Edition,
Windows XP.

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 Functions of Operating Systems Software Tools
COMPUTER AWARENESS FOR MANAGERS

An operating system performs, basically three types of func- To develop a large application, lots of effort, money and time
tions: are required for designing the systems and writing the program
Essential Functions: Storage management and processor code. The overall goal of computerizing an application is to
management are two essential functions of an operating make it more efficient than manual system with optimum
system. Storage management is concerned with allocation and utilization of time, money and effort spent on its develop-
reclamation of storage when a program is initiated and ment. In order to save the valuable time spend by systems
terminated. Process management is concerned with scheduling designers and programmers in designing the complete system
of programs in a time-sharing system. and writing codes, certain programs are required, which are called
software tools.
Monitoring Functions: These functions are concerned with
collection of resource utilization and system performance The selection of software tools has become an important aspect
information. of software development. Software tools assist the program-
mers/ analyst in the design, coding, editing, compiling, linking
Service Functions : These functions of operating system
and debugging programs. They allow them to focus on the
enhance facilities provided to users.
challenging aspects of a system. We are discussing below the
Translators important categories of software tools that are normally used.
Translators are the programs / utilities which are basically used
System Software Utilities
by programmers to convert high or middle level language to
System software utilities support the operation of the com-
lower language. We need this conversion because computer
puter. They provide many features including file management
understands instructions only in the form of low level lan-
capabilities, data compression, diagnostic routines, virus
guage.
detection and removal, text editing, performance monitoring
Translators come in three variants. These are: and spooling. There are many types of utilities for carrying
• Assemblers different tasks. We must be aware that utilities are not operat-
• Interpreter ing systems, but certain utilities are in-built in operating
systems.
• Compilers
File Management Utilities
Assemblers
These utilities provide file management capabilities like copying,
Assemblers translate the assembly language code (source
comparing, searching, listing and sorting the files. Although
program) into machine language code (object program). After
these features are offered by many operating systems, utility
assembling, a linker program is used to convert the object
programs provide better user-friendly environment along with
program into an executable program. The Microsoft assembler
some additional features. Norton Utilities (NU) and PC
program (MASM) and Borland Turbo assembler program
TOOLS are the most commonly used file management utilities.
(TASM) are two popular assemblers. Assemblers are used
mainly in development of system software. Data Compression Utilities
These utilities compress or decompress files that are stored on
Interpreters
floppy and hard disks. As compressed files take up very less
Instructions of a high-level language are coded in many
space in disks, data compression utilities are widely used during
statements. At the time of their execution, they are converted
copying of data from hard disk to floppy disks. WinZip,
statement by statement into machine code, by using system
PKZIP/ PKUNZIP programs are commonly used examples
software, called Interpreters. For example, programs written in
of data compression utilities.
BASIC language are executed by using BASICA or GWBASIC
interpreters. Diagnostic Utilities
There are certain disadvantages of interpreters. As instructions These utilities can detect bugs (errors in hardware/ software) in
are translated and executed simultaneously using interpreters, computers. For instance, a popular utility program called
they are very slow for executing large programs. Hence, Norton Disk Doctor (NDD) can easily detect the problems of
interpreters are not suitable for most of applications develop- floppies and hard disks. QAPIus and Disk Manager (DM) are
ment. other examples of utilities that can detect and remove many
bugs in storage devices, software and other components of
Compilers computers.
As contrast to interpreters, compilers provide faster execution
speed. Compilers do not translate and execute the instructions Virus Detection and Removal Utilities
at the same time. They translate the entire program (source These utilities are used to detect and eradicate the different types
code) into machine code (object code). Using linker, the object of viruses. What is a Virus?
code is converted into executable code. Compilers are widely Virus is unauthorized software that is used to invade and
used in translating codes of high-level languages (e.g. COBOL, disrupt the normal working of computer. Like biological
FORTRAN, PASCAL, Turbo/ Quick BASIC, Turbo/ Microsoft viruses, computer virus spreads from one computer to another
C, Java etc.)As compared to interpreters or assemblers, compil- generally through floppy disks. There are many problems
ers are preferred in development of application software. caused by viruses like damage of data, loss of user interface,

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unexpected screen messages, system crashes etc. The potential

COMPUTER AWARENESS FOR MANAGERS

problems caused by viruses in today’s organizational computer
systems are the worst. There are many types of viruses and
their numbers is increasing day by day. The users and managers
must take precautionary measures to control the spread of these
viruses.
There are many utilities, such as Nash scan, Smart Dog, Dr.
Solomon’s Anti-Virus Toolkit etc. that can detect and remove
most of the viruses and are popularly called as Virus Scanners.
These virus scanners must be upgraded from time to time for
detection and removal of new viruses.
Text Editing Utilities
These utilities are used to create, edit and print the non-
document texts such as programs, data etc. Norton Editor
(NE) is the most common example of text editor. Most
operating systems, including DOS, also has in-built text editor
program.
Performance Monitoring Utilities
These utilities provide information about the efficiency of
computer working. For instance, QAPIus, PC Tools and
Norton Utilities provide performance monitoring capabilities by
providing information about speed, storage capacity and other
features of the system.
Spooling Utilities
In multi-user/ networking environments, the input and
output devices are generally slow. In such environment, the
processing of computer is also slowed down. To control the
computer Idiom being slowed down, the spooling programs
are used. Spooling (Simultaneous Peripheral Operations On
Line) program is used to buffer data for the printer and remote
batch terminals. This program sends the output to the disk and
printer does not interact with CPU during printing. Spooling
utilities are used mainly in computer systems with multi-user/
networking -environment.
Notes

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