Computer Software

What is a Software?

• Computer software is a set of instructions given to

computer in order to perform particular task for
achieving specified objective.

• Software is the general term for various kinds of

programs used to operate and manipulate computers
and related devices.

• Software is the variable part of a computer whereas

hardware the invariable part.
 Types of Software
Computer Software

Application Software System Software

General Purpose Application-Specific System Management System Development

Application Programs Programs Programs Programs

Software Suites Business-Accounting, Operating Systems Programming

Web Browsers Transaction Processing, Network Management Language
Electronic Mail Customer Relationship Programs Translators
Word Processing Management, Database Management Programming Editors
Spreadsheets Enterprise Resource Systems and Tools
Database Managers Planning, Application Servers Computer-Aided
Presentation Electronic Commerce, etc System Utilities Software
Graphics Science and Engineering Performance and Security Engineering (CASE)
Personal Information Education, Entertainment, Monitors Packages
Managers etc.
Groupware
 Types of Software
1. Application Software
– Programs that Perform Information Processing Tasks for End Users.
– It serves as an interface between the end user and the system software.
– A single application program is called as a job and after dividing into
smaller units is called as tasks.

2. System Software
– Programs that Manage and Support the Operations of Computer Systems
and its Information Processing Activities.
– Generally provided by manufacturer of the computer.
– Developed by highly trained people called system programmers.
– Stored in ROM. Firmware is the term used for programs that are stored in
ROM.
– It serves as an interface between the application software and the
computer hardware.
 Application Software Types

1.1 General Purpose Application Programs (COTS)

– Performs common information processing jobs for end
users.
– Examples are
• Word processing programs,
• Spread sheet programs,
• Database management programs and
• Graphics programs
• Web browsers and e-mail
 Software suites and Integrated
Packages
• Most widely used software packages are bundled together
as software suites.
• Examples are Microsoft office, Lotus SmartSuite, Corel
WordPerfect, and Sun’s StarOffice.
Programs Microsoft office Lotus Smart Corel Sun StarOffice
Suite WordPerfect
Office
Word Processor Word WordPro WordPerfect StarWriter

Spreadsheet Excel 1-2-3 Quattro Pro StarCalc

Presentation PowerPoint Freelance Presentations StarImpress

graphics
Database Managers Access Approach Paradox StarBase

Personal Outlook Organizer Corel central StarSchedule

Information
Manager
 Cont’d
• Microsoft, Lotus, Corel, and Sun bundle several other
programs in each suite, depends on the version you select.
• Example includes programs for internet access, e-mail, web
publishing, Desktop Publishing etc.,
• Advantages
(+) Cost is less .
(+) Similar GUI (Graphical User Interface) is used
(+) share common tools such as spell checkers and help wizard.
(+) designed to work together and import each other’s files easily, no
matter which program you are using.
• This makes more efficient and easier to use than using a
variety of individual packages.
 Application Software Types

1.2 Specific Purpose Application Programs

– Supports specific applications of end users in business and
other fields.
– Examples are
• Reengineering and automation of business processes
• E-commerce
• Human resource management, accounting, finance,
etc.
• Decision support tools
 System Software Types

2.1 System Management Programs

– Programs that manage the hardware, software, network,
and data resources of computer systems during the
execution of the various information processing jobs of
users.
– Examples are
• Operating systems
• Network management programs
• Database management systems
• System Utilities, etc.
 System Software Types

2.2 System Development Programs

– Programs that help users - develop information system
programs and procedures and prepare user programs for
computer processing.
– Examples are
• Programming Language Translators
• Programming Language Editors
• CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) Tools, etc.
 System Utilities
They perform a variety of helpful chores for computer users such as
data backup, data recovery, Disk formatting, virus protection, data
compression, file defragmentation, etc.
Examples:-
Norton Utilities, Nero Express

 Some of the commonly used utilities are:

 Editors: Provides a series of commands to the user to make
alterations.
 Sort Utilities: Rearranges the file records into a specific sequence.
 Debuggers: Used to remove ‘Bugs’ from programs.
 Dump Utilities: Useful when error occur during running of a program.
 Programming Languages
A Programming Language allows a programmer to develop the sets of instructions that
constitute a computer program.

Machines Languages
-Use Binary coded instructions “1010 11001 1011 11010”.

Assembler Languages
-Use symbolic coded instructions “LOAD Y, ADD Z, STR X”

High-Level Languages (BASIC,COBOL,FORTRAN, ALGOL)

-Use brief statements or arithmetic notations “X=Y+Z”

Fourth Generation Languages (Prolog. Lisp, SQL, PowerBuilder)

-Use natural and nonprocedural statements
“SUM THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS”
-Very close to English or other human languages
Object Oriented Languages (Visual Basic, C++, Java)
 Translators
• Translators converts programs written in high level
language into machine level language.

1. Compilers: Translating whole program completely and

then executing the machine level version.

2. Interpreter: Translating and executing each instruction in

turn i.e. retranslation of instruction with loops.
 Web Languages & Services

• HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)

• XML (Extended Markup Language)
• Java
• Web Services
 System Management Programs
1.Operating Systems

An operating system is an integrated system of programs

that,
i) manages the operations of the CPU,
ii) controls the input/output and storage resources and
activities of the computer system, and,
iii) provides various support services as the computer
executes the application programs of users.

It minimizes the amount of human intervention as well as

maximizes the productivity of the computer system.
 Examples of Operating Systems

MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System)

Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows Millennium Edition
Windows New Technology
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Linux (RedHat, Caldera, SUSE)
Unix (Solaris by Sun, AIX by IBM)
Mac OS X Jaguar
 System Management Programs
2.Network Management Programs

Network Management packages such as network operating systems and

telecommunications monitors determine transmission priorities, route
messages, poll terminals in the network, and form waiting lines (queues)
of transmission requests.
They also detect and correct transmission errors, log statistics of network
activity and protect network resources from unauthorized access.

Functions of Network Management Programs:-

Traffic Management
Security
Network Monitoring
Capacity Planning
 Examples of Network Management Programs

NOVELL NETWARE
UNIX
LINUX
MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2003 SERVER
 System Management Programs
3.Database Management Systems
Database Management System is a system that allows inserting, updating,
deleting and processing of data.
DBMS Softwares:-
Oracle
Ingress
Sybase
Dbase 3+
Foxbase
Foxpro
MS Access
Dataease
Dataflex
Advanced Revelation, etc
 System Management Programs
4.Application Servers

They provide a middleware interface between an Operating

System and the application programs of users.
Middleware is a software that helps diverse software applications
and networked computer systems exchange data and work
together more efficiently.
Examples:-
-BEA’s WebLogic, IBM’s Websphere helps e-
commerce,
-Apache, Java, Internet Information Services
-Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) Software
 System Management Programs
5.Performance and Security Monitors

Performance Monitors are programs that monitor and adjust the

performance and usage of one or more computer systems to keep them
running efficiently.
Security Monitors are packages that monitor and control the use of
computer systems and provide warning messages and record evidence of
unauthorized use of computer resources.

Examples:-
A recent trend is to merge both types of programs into OS like Microsoft’s
Windows 2003 Datacenter Server or into system management software
like Computer Associates’ CA-Unicenter.
 System Development Programs
1.Programming Language Translators

Programming language translators are programs that

translate other programs into machine language instruction
codes that computers can execute.

Examples:-
– Assembler
– Compiler
– Interpreter
 System Development Programs
2.Programming Editors and Tools

Programming Editors are programs that help programmers to

write programs by providing a variety of program creation
and editing capabilities. It provides real time error checking
and rectification of errors.

Examples:-
– Forte From Sun Microsystems
– Borland C and C++
– Microsoft Visual Studio
 System Development Programs
3. Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) Packages

Case Tools are programs that automate or support one or

more phases of a systems development life cycle.

Examples:-
CAD
CAM
Visual Basic