Computer Fundamentals

System Software and Application Software

Dr. Syed Afroz Ahmed

 Software
A set of programs that are put into a computer
to operate and control its activities is called the
software.
Programs
A set of instructions written in a programming
language for a computer to solve some given
problem.
 Software are divided into two parts
Software

System Application
Software software

• System Software :System software is a Program

which supervises and controls an entire computer
system. It provides a link between the Hardware
and Software.
• Example :- Windows. Unix, DOS, Linux
1. Starting and shutting down a computer or device.
2. Managing Programs
3. Manage memory
4. Coordinating tasks
5. Configuring devices
6. Establishing an Internet connection
7. Control networks access
8. Provide a User Interface
9. Monitoring Performance
10.Provide File Management
11. Monitoring security
Desktop Operating system
The desktop OS is the environment where the user controls
a personal computer(PC).
Example : Windows, macOS, UNIX, Linux, Chrome OS

Mobile operating system (OS)

A mobile operating system (OS) is software that allows
smartphones, tablets and other devices to run
applications and programs.
Example : Google Android, Apple iOS
 Clients/ Server Architecture
Server operating system
A server operating system (server OS) runs on a server in a client-server
architecture and provides multiple services to client machines within the
network.
Example : Windows Server, macOS Server, Unix
What is a Boot?
Booting is the process of starting or restarting a computer.
It loads the operating system (OS) into memory and
prepares the system for use. The process is triggered when
the computer is powered on or restarted.
Steps in the Boot Process
1. The computer receives power from the power supply or
battery
2. The processor runs the bootstrap program
3. The bootstrap program executes a series of tests to
check the components.
4. The computer loads the operating system files into
RAM,
5. The computer loads the system configuration information
and loads startup programs
What is a User interfaces
The user interface is the point at which human users
interact with a computer
User interfaces may be
1. Command – driven
2. Menu-driven
3. Graphical user interface (GUI)
Command-driven interface
With the command-driven interface, you type in an
instruction.
Menu-driven interface
This type of user interface produces a list of command or
options available within a program.
Graphical user interface
A graphical user interface(GUI) provides a way for the user to
communicate with the computer through picture (icon) and
through pull-down menus. Example : Windows
 Windows Utility Programs & Their Uses

Windows provides several built-in utility programs to help

users manage, maintain, and troubleshoot their systems
efficiently. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. Disk Cleanup :Removes temporary files, system cache, and

other unnecessary files to free up disk space. Access: Start >
Search "Disk Cleanup“.
2. Disk Defragmenter: Organizes fragmented data on hard
drives to improve performance. (Not required for SSDs.)
3. Task Manager: Monitors system performance and closes
unresponsive apps.
4. Windows Defender: Protects against malware and viruses.
5. Command Prompt : Executes system commands Prompt
6. System Restore: Restores the system to a previous state
7. File Explorer: Manages files and folders.
8. Control Panel: Configures system settings.

You can access them via the Control Panel or

Start Menu.
 Windows Accessory Programs & Their Uses
Windows includes several accessory programs that help
users perform basic tasks such as word processing,
calculations, image editing, and entertainment.
These are usually found in Start > Windows Accessories or
can be accessed through search.
• Notepad: Basic text editing.
• WordPad: Simple word processing with formatting.
• Paint: Basic drawing and image editing.
• Calculator: Arithmetic, scientific, and programmer
calculations.
• Snipping Tool: Captures and edits screenshots.
• Sticky Notes : Quick digital note-taking.
• Character Map: Inserts special characters and symbols.

• Sound Recorder: Records audio using a microphone.

• Magnifier: Zooms in on-screen content.

• On-Screen Keyboard: Displays a virtual keyboard.

• Windows Media Player: Plays audio and video files.

• Windows Fax and Scan: Sends and receives faxes.

File Management
The operating system is responsible for maintaining
the file system. The tasks include:
• Find, move, edit and delete files
• Inspect files to find out their properties (e.g. creation date,
size, type)
• Organize files into a series of folders and sub-folders
User Management
The operating system is responsible for managing
which users can access the system and what levels of
access the have. The tasks include:
• Adding users
• Editing user permissions
• Deleting Users
• Controlling the amount of resources (especially storage
space) each user can use.
Memory Management
The operating system performs a number of low-level
memory management tasks, including:

• Allocating memory locations to processes that are

running on the computer
• Ensuring that different processes cannot access the
same memory location at the same time
Device Management
One of the main jobs of the Operating System is to manage the
hardware devices that are connected inside and outside the
machine.
These can include:
• Printers / Scanners, Mouse / Keyboards,Speakers /headphones
• External storage devices, Graphics / Sound controllers

Security Management
Part of the role of the operating system is to manage security of
the devices, file system and memory. The management
includes:
• Protected files and folders
• Scanning memory and hard drives to ensure file integrity.
• Deploying software firewalls to prevent unauthorized access
to the computer from the internet.
Application software
An application software allows its users to perform
their day-to-day activities more efficiently.
Functions of Application Software
• Software for healthcare applications for seamless
connectivity and quick response
• Managing information and data in an organization
• Software for educational purposes such as Learning
Management Systems and e-learning systems
• E-mails, text messaging, audio and video conferencing
involved in presentation
Examples of Application Software
The most frequent applications used by millions of people on
a daily basis are listed below.
• A collection of Microsoft software including MS Office,
PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Access and Outlook.

• Internet browsing software, also known as web browsers, are

applications used to access and navigate the internet.
Popular Web Browsers:
 Google Chrome
 Mozilla Firefox
 Microsoft Edge
 Apple Safari
 Opera
 Brave
Graphics and designing software are used for image editing,
digital art, animation, and 3D modeling.

1. Adobe Photoshop – Industry standard for image editing and

digital painting.
2. GIMP – Free and open-source alternative to Photoshop.
3. Adobe Illustrator – Best for vector-based graphics and logo
design.
4. CorelDRAW – Popular for vector illustration and graphic
design.
5. Canva – Easy-to-use online design tool for beginners.
6. Blender – Free and powerful 3D modeling and animation
software.
7. Adobe Premiere Pro – Professional video editing software.
Real-Time Online Communication Tools
Real-time communication tools allow instant messaging, video
calls, voice chats, and collaboration.
• Microsoft Teams – Chat, video calls, and integration with
Office apps.
• WhatsApp – Instant messaging with voice/video calling.
• Telegram – Secure messaging with cloud storage.
• Zoom – High-quality video conferencing.
• Google Meet – Free video calls with Google integration.
• Skype – Video and voice calls with screen sharing.
Multimedia & Music Streaming Software
• VLC Media Player – Free and open-source media player that supports
almost all formats.
• Windows Media Player – Default media player for Windows.
• Spotify – Most popular music streaming service with free and premium
options.
• Apple Music – High-quality music streaming for iOS and macOS
users.
• Amazon Music – Integrated with Alexa and Prime membership
benefits.
• YouTube Music – Music streaming service with video support.
• Tidal – High-fidelity (HiFi) music streaming for audiophiles.
• SoundCloud – Platform for independent artists and user-uploaded
music.
• Deezer – Music streaming with HiFi audio quality.
• Pandora – Personalized radio-style music streaming.

Project Management Software:

• Teams,
• Asana,
• Zoha Slack,
• Forecast, etc for official purposes.
Distinguish between System software and Application Software