SOFTWARE

• Software is the set of electronic instructions.

• The software is the information that the computer uses to get the job done.
• The term software refers to a set of computer programs, i.e., totality of programs usable
on a particular kind of computer, together with the procedure and documentation
associated with a computer or program such as manuals, diagrams, flowcharts, DFDs
and operating instructions. So software means a collection of programs whose objective
is to enhance the capabilities of the hardware machines. Software is a general term,
which is used to describe a single program or a collection of many programs.

Software can be classified as: system software and application software

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

System software is closer to computer hardware and performs the low-level tasks. System
software is a set of one or more programs designed to control and direct the operation of
computer hardware. System software consists of all programs, languages and documentation
supplied by the manufacturer of the computer. They are designed to make the computer easier
to use and work. Such programs help in running of other software packages, communicating
with other peripheral devices such as printers, hard disc, etc. It also supports the development
of other types of software. They allow the user to communicate with the computer and to write
& develop their own programs. The most commonly used system software are:

• Operating System: An operating system is the most important system software and is a
must to operate a computer system. It is the first program to be loaded to RAM or any other
general purpose computer system. It controls the overall operations of computer system. It
is a program that acts as an interface between the user and computer hardware. The purpose
of an operating system is to provide an environment in which a user may execute programs.
It retrieve data from storage, schedule the jobs the computer is to perform and maintain
logs. Objectives of operating system are:
o To maximize the efficiency of computer operations,
o To minimize human intervention,
o To facilitate the work of programmers in accessing data and peripheral equipment.
• Language Processor/ Translators: It is also known as language translator. A translator is
a program that takes as input a program written in one language (source program) and
produces as output a program in other language (object program). Three main types of
language processor :
❖ Assembler: The assembler converts an assembly language program into machine
language. An assembly language is a language that is the coded form of machine
language into symbolic codes of English alphabets.
❖ Compiler: A compiler converts a high level language program into machine language.
It reads the full program written into high level language, locates errors and translates
it into machine language.
 ❖ Interpreter: an interpreter takes one statement of a program at a time and executes
appropriate instructions leading to the same computations as required by that line of
code. If there is any error in that particular line, it is reported immediately along with
the line number.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPILER AND INTERPRETER

Compiler Interpreter

Converts the whole program into Converts the program into machine code one
machine code and then execute into step at a time and then run only that very step.
one step.
All the errors of the source program If there is any error in any line of the source
are listed together after compilation program, it will be displayed immediately
after the translation of the line.

After compilation, an .EXE file is Each program statement is converted into

created, which is used to execute the machine code just before the program
program. statement is to be executed.

Slow for debugging. Good for fast debugging.

Once the .EXE file is created there is No .EXE file is created. To execute the
no need to compile the program again program , interpreter is used every time.
and again.
Once the .EXE file is created, The program cannot execute without
compiler can be removed from the interpreter.
system.
Requires less execution time. Requires more execution time.

• Utility Software: utility programs are part of the software of the system. Utilities are not
completely system software or application software. They are devised to perform
operations on files of data. It is not concerned with specific contents of any file, but operates
on whole files treated as units, transferring them from one medium of store to another,
making copies of files and recognizing their sequence. Jobs performed by utility programs
are;
o Backup and Store: This utility is used to make and store a duplicate copy of every file
on the hard disk or any other removable media.
 o Data Compression: This utility is used to compress larger files so that they take less
storage area. By compression, files are encoded into special format that requires less
space.
o File management: it helps in managing files on the hard disk. The utility has built in
features to copy, delete, create and rename files. It also protects files from accidental
removal.
o File Conversion: It provides for transferring data from fast to slow peripherals. It is
done when a data file need to be converted from one type of magnetic disk to another,
incompatible with the forms. It performs editing and validation on the basic data,
ensuring that the formats on the new storage medium confirm to the requirements for
subsequent processing.
o Disk optimization : disk optimization utility is a group of following utilities --
▪ Disk Format: is used to initialize a hard disk.
▪ Disk Scanner: is used to scan the bad locations on the disk. The bad locations may
corrupt the data.
▪ Disk Fragmenter: Fragmentation is the scattering of portion of files about the disk
in nonadjacent areas, thus greatly slowing access to files. Disk fragmenter program
finds all the scattered files on the hard disk and reorganize them as contiguous files.
o Antivirus utility: Virus is the program that infects computer files. The antivirus program
o scans the hard disk and memory to detect viruses.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application software uses the services of system software and is considered to perform
high level tasks such as calculating the total sales of a region or printing pay-slips. Application
software consists of programs that direct computers to perform specific information processing
activities for users. It is usually written in high level languages. It runs under the direction of
operating system of the computer. Application software can be classified as:

o General purpose application programs

o Application specific programs

• General Purpose Application Programs – perform common information processing jobs

for end users. These programs are also known as productivity packages. Major general
purpose application programs are:
▪ Word-processing programs
▪ Spreadsheet programs
▪ Database management systems
▪ Integrated packages
▪ Graphics programs
• Application Specific Programs— Types of application specific programs:
▪ Business Application Programs – programs that accomplish the information
processing tasks of important functions on industry requirements. Major business
application programs are—
➢ Accounting (general ledger)
➢ Marketing (sales analysis)
➢ Finance (budgeting)
➢ Manufacturing (material requirements planning)
➢ Human-resource management

▪ Scientific Application Programs – programs that perform information processing

tasks for the physical, natural, social and behavioural sciences; and physics,
mathematics, engineering etc. Major programs are—
➢ CAD (computer-aided design)
➢ CAM (computer-aided manufacturing)

▪ Other Application Programs – programs perform information processing tasks for

the education, entertainment, music, art, law enforcement and so on. Major programs
are—
➢ CBT (computer based training)
➢ MIDI (music)