Computer Software

Differentiate among
application software,
system software and
internet applications
SLO # 1.2.1
 What is software?
Software is a set of instructions, data
or programs used to operate computers and
execute specific tasks. Software is a generic term
used to refer to applications, scripts and programs
that run on a device.

SLO # 1.2.1 Computer Software

 Types of Software

SLO # 1.2.1 Computer Software

 Application Software?
An application is any program, or group of
programs, that is designed for the end
user. Applications software(also called end-user
programs) include such things as database
programs, word processors, Web browsers and
spreadsheets.
Also
Application software, also known as an application program or app, is a type of computer
program designed to perform a specific task for a user. Unlike system software, which controls
the internal workings of a computer, application software is designed to help users accomplish
specific goals.
SLO # 1.2.1 Computer Software
 Application Software?
Web browsers: These programs allow users to access and navigate the internet. Some popular web
browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
Word processors: These programs are used for creating and editing text documents. Some popular word
processors include Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, and Google Docs.
Spreadsheets: These programs are used for creating and editing spreadsheets, which are grids of cells
used for storing, organizing, and analyzing data. Some popular spreadsheets include Microsoft Excel,
Google Sheets, and Apple Numbers.
Database management systems: These programs are used for creating and managing databases, which
are collections of electronically stored data. Some popular database management systems include
MySQL, Oracle Database, and Microsoft SQL Server.
Presentation software: These programs are used for creating and delivering presentations, which are
sets of slides that can include text, images, and videos. Some popular presentation software programs
include Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and Google Slides.

SLO # 1.2.1 Computer Software

 Application Software?
Image editing software: These programs are used for editing and manipulating images. Some popular
image editing software programs include Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and PaintShop Pro.
Media players: These programs are used for playing audio and video files. Some popular media players
include VLC media player, Windows Media Player, and QuickTime Player.
Email clients: These programs are used for sending and receiving email. Some popular email clients include
Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Apple Mail.
Productivity suites: These are collections of application programs that are designed to help users with a
variety of tasks, such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and email. Some popular
productivity suites include Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Apple iWork.

SLO # 1.2.1 Computer Software

 System Software?
System software is a type of computer program that
is designed to run a computer’s hardware
and application programs.
System software is the interface between the
hardware and user applications. The operating
system (OS) is the best-known example of system
software. The OS manages all the other programs in
a computer.
System software is the foundation that makes your computer run smoothly. It acts as
an intermediary between the hardware (physical components) and the application
software (programs you use for tasks). System software itself cannot directly complete
user-oriented tasks, but it allows everything else to function.
SLO # 1.2.1 Computer Software
System
Software?
•SLO # 1.2.1

Computer Software
•Operating Systems (OS): This is
the most crucial piece of system
software. The OS manages all
the computer's resources, like
memory, storage, and
processors. Popular operating
systems include Windows,
macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
 System Software?
Device Drivers: These are like mini-programs that allow specific hardware components (like printers,
scanners, or graphics cards) to communicate with the operating system.
Device Management Software: This software helps manage and configure various devices connected to
your computer.
Disk Utility Software: This type of software helps format, partition, and manage your hard drives.
Antivirus Software: This software protects your computer from malicious programs and viruses.
System Utilities: These are various tools that help diagnose system problems, optimize performance,
and manage files and applications.

SLO # 1.2.1 Computer Software

 Internet Applications
The Internet has many important applications. Of
the various services available via the Internet, the
three most important are e-mail, web browsing. E-
mail, also known as electronic mail, is the most
widely used and successful of Internet
applications. Web browsing is the application that
had the greatest influence in dramatic expansion
of the Internet and its use during the 1990s.

SLO # 1.2.1 Computer Software

Internet Applications
Examples
Sending and receiving email
Searching and browsing information archives
Copying files between computers
Conducting financial transactions
Navigating (in your car, smart scooter, smart bike, or other)
Playing interactive games
Video and music streaming
Chat or voice communication (direct messaging, video
conferencing)
Describe the types of
system software
SLO # 1.2.2
 System Software?
System software is a type of
computer program that is designed to run a
computer’s hardware and application
programs.

Example
Operating System
Programming Language Translator
Utility Software
Device Driver

SLO # 1.2.2 Computer Software

 System Software
Operating System
An operating system (OS) is the program that, after being
initially loaded into the computer by a boot program,
manages all of the other application programs in a
computer.

In addition, users can interact directly with the operating

system through a user interface such as a command line
or a graphical user interface (GUI).

SLO # 1.2.2 Computer Software

 System Software
Programming Language
Translator
Computers only understand machine
code (binary), this is an issue
because programmers prefer to use a
variety of high and low-level
programming languages instead.

To get around the issue, the high-level

and low-level program code (source
code) needs to pass through a
translator. A translator will convert the
SLO # 1.2.2 Computer Software
System Software

SLO # 1.2.2 Computer Software

System Software

SLO # 1.2.2 Computer Software

System Software

SLO # 1.2.2 Computer Software

 System Software
Utility Programs
Software that plays a supporting role for users and
developers. Basic utility programs include file/folder
management (copy, move, etc.), file search and
compare, disk format and partition, as well as diagnostic
routines to check performance and the health of the
hardware.

SLO # 1.2.2 Computer Software

 System Software
Device Drivers
A device driver is a software program that controls a
particular type of hardware device that is attached to a
computer. When buying an operating system, many
device drivers are built into the product.

SLO # 1.2.2 Computer Software

 Describe the use of
different application
software are their types
SLO # 1.2.3
 Application Software?
An application is any program, or group of
programs, that is designed for the end
user. Applications software(also called end-user
programs) include such things as database
programs, word processors, Web browsers and
spreadsheets.

SLO # 1.2.3 Computer Software

 Application
Software

Package/ Customized/
General Specific
Purpose Purpose
SLO # 1.2.3 Computer Software
 Package/ General Purpose
Software?
An application is any program, or group of
programs, that is designed for the end
user. Applications software(also called end-user
programs) include such things as database
programs, word processors, Web browsers and
spreadsheets.

Example
MS-Office
Adobe Suite etc.
SLO # 1.2.3 Computer Software
 Customized/ Specific Purpose
Custom software (also known as
bespoke software or tailor-made software)
is software that is specially developed for some
specific organization or other user.

Example
Airline reservation system
Student Information System
Attendance Management System etc..
SLO # 1.2.3 Computer Software
Compare licensed software, Open
source software, Shareware and
freeware software with example.

SLO # 1.2.4
 Licensed Software
A software license is a document that provides
legally binding guidelines for the use and
distribution of software. Software
licenses typically provide end users with the right
to one or more copies of the software without
violating copyrights.

Example
MS-Office, VLC player, Operating system, Oracle,
Antivirus etc…
SLO # 1.2.4 Computer Software
 Open Source Software
Open source software is software with source
code that anyone can inspect, modify, and
enhance.
"Source code" is the part of software that most
computer users don't ever see; it's the code
computer programmers can manipulate to change
how a piece of software—a "program" or
"application"—works.
Example
Linux, Audacity, Firefox, Android, Ubuntu, MySQL, VLC,
SLO # 1.2.4 Computer Software
Joomla etc…
 Shareware
Shareware is software that is distributed free on a
trial basis with the understanding that the user
may need or want to pay for it later. Some
software developers offer a shareware version of
their program with a built-in expiration date (after
30 days, the user can no longer get access to the
program).

SLO # 1.2.4 Computer Software

 Shareware
Users prefer shareware because of following
reasons:
• Available free of cost
• helps to know about the product before buying it

Example
Adobe acrobat 8 professional, PHP Debugger 2.1.3.3, Winzip,
Getright etc…

SLO # 1.2.4 Computer Software

 Shareware
Shareware are of following types:
Adware – Contains ads to generate revenue for the
developers
Donationware – payment is optional
Nagware – reminds user to purchase the license or the
software
Freemium – free for non-premium but of cost for premium
features
Demoware – demonstration version. It is further classified as
crippleware and trialware.
• Crippleware – Some features are disabled under time-limit
SLO # 1.2.4• Trialware – all features are available under time-limit
Computer Software
 Freeware
Freeware software is a software that is available free of cost.
An user can download freeware from internet and uses it.
These software do not provide any freedom of modifying,
sharing and studying the program as in open source software.
Freeware is closed source.

Users prefer freeware because of following reasons –

• Available free of cost
• Can be distributed free of cost
Examples
Adobe PDF, yah0oo messenger, Google Talk, MSN messenger
etc..
SLO # 1.2.4 Computer Software