Application and System Software

• Application software solves specific user problems or provides entertainment.
• System software operates at a fundamental computer level, enabling application software interaction and managing resources.
• System software facilitates the management of internal, external resources, and hardware.

System Software Components

• Operating systems are the key component , overseeing system software operations.
• Device drivers aid in managing peripheral devices.
• Utility programs support, improve, or enhance existing computer programs.

Operating Systems

• An OS constitutes the core system programs, managing a computer's basic operations.
• Every general-purpose computer relies on an OS for running different programs.
• Users can concentrate on applications rather than the intricacies of the computer due to the OS.
• Each application is designed to run with a specific OS.

Booting

• Booting involves loading an OS into the computer's memory.
• Booting involves turning the computer on and running tests to test memory, CPU, and hardware.
• The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) operating instructions are transferred to main memory.
• The instructions enable hardware operation and OS location.
• During booting, the boot program loads the OS into the computer's main memory.
• Cold boot refers to turning on the computer's system.
• Warm boot refers to restarting an already powered-on computer.
• Boot disk involves using a CD or flash drive with the necessary files to initiate the OS.
• Cloud booting allows booting from the cloud.

CPU Management

• The CPU is the central processing unit.
• Supervisor software (kernel) oversees CPU operations.
• The Supervisor directs programs in memory, for tasks supporting applications.
• The supervisor remains resident in memory while the computer is running.

Memory Management

• OS tracks memory locations to prevent program and data overlap.
• Portions of programs/data get swapped into the same memory at different times.
• O/S tracks virtual memory.

Queues, Buffers, Spooling

• Queue is a first-in, first-out (FIFO) sequence of data or programs waiting to be processed.
• Buffer is a memory location where data/programs reside while awaiting action.
• Spooling places a print job into a buffer, allowing the CPU to handle other tasks while waiting for the printer.

File Management

• A "file" is either data or a program.
• Data files are named collections of data.
• Program files are existing programs in a computer's secondary storage.
• OS locates files, enabling access on secondary storage devices.
• The file system uses a hierarchical arrangement.
• The top level consists of directories (folders).
• Subdirectories reside below folders.
• Pathnames are used to pinpoint files: for example C:/MyDocuments/Termpaper/section1.doc

Task Management

• Computers execute numerous tasks concurrently, necessitating task management.
• A "task" is an operation like storing, printing, or calculating.
• Multitasking is managing numerous programs simultaneously.
• The OS directs the processor to cycle through programs until completion.

Security Management

• Operating systems manage user access via IDs and passwords.
• Initially setting a password is required during the first system startup.

Other System Software

• Functionality is added to your computer via drivers and utility programs,

Device Drivers

• Device Drivers are specialized programs enabling communication between input/output devices and the computer.
• Device drivers are available upon computer purchase or come with new hardware.
• Device drivers can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website.

Utilities

• Utilities are service programs managing computer resources.
• Utilities can conduct backups, ensure virus protection, enable data recovery, and compress files.
• Utility programs can defragment files, clean disks, and remove temporary files.
• Utilities like Norton SystemWorks and McAfee Utilities can be pre-installed or purchased.

Common Features of the User Interface

• User-interface features use graphics to ease a person's interaction with the computer.

The User Interface

• The display screen is user-controllable.
• The user interacts with the keyboard or mouse.

Keyboard and Mouse

• Special-purpose keys facilitate data input, editing, and command execution.
• Function keys (F1, F2, etc.) are used to execute commands tailored to the specific software.
• Macros are keyboard shortcuts for executing command series.
• Mouse pointer navigates the screen.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

• Guarantees the use of a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.
• Three primary GUI features: the desktop, icons, and menus.
• Desktop is the primary interface screen of the system.
• Icons represent program, data files, and procedures.
• Rollover produces text explaining an icon upon cursor hover.
• Menus are lists of available commands/options
• Menus appear as cascading, pull-up, or pop-up lists.
• Title bar runs across the top displaying the folder name.
• Menu bar shows available pull-down menus.
• Toolbar displays icons for quick access to options.
• Taskbar includes system buttons.
• Windows are the rectangular areas for viewing data files/programs.

Common Operating Systems

• Windows, Mac OS and Unix/Linux are common operating systems for general computer users.
• Platform is the operating system and processor model on which a computer system is based.
• There are three categories of operating systems: stand-alone, network and embedded.

Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• Stand-alone OS which works on a single computer.
• Mac platforms operate on Apple Macintosh.
• PC platforms operate Microsoft Windows.
• Some legacy systems still being used include DOS (Disk Operating System).

Mac OS X ("Ten")

• Mac OS X operates on Apple Macintosh computers which is favorable for desktop publishing, graphics, and educational purposes.
• GUI was first developed in Xerox.
• Mac OS X is a proprietary OS.
• Mac OS X from 2000 is based on Unix.
• Mac OS 10.8 is Mountain Lion (2011).
• Mac OS 10.9 is Mavericks (2013).
• Apple iOS runs mobile devices.

Microsoft Windows

• Windows is the common operating system for desktops and portable PCs.
• Early editions were 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP, Vista, then came Windows 7 and 8.
• Windows 7 is still the most commonly used.
• Windows 8 has desktop and tile layouts.
• Tile layouts allow gesture touch screens.

Network Operating Systems

• Novell's Open Enterprise Server (OES), designed for microcomputer-based local area networks (LANs) within companies or campuses.
• Network OS is situated on a server.
• Multiple users share resources.
• Windows Server is designed for network servers.

Unix

• Unix is a multi-tasking operating system with multiple users, suitable for networking and adaptable for any computer.
• Unix is used to run the Internet backbone due stability.
• Large organizations use applications such as currency trading, and airplane design.
• Versions include Solaris, BSD
• Command-line interface is used for Unix.

Linux

• Linux is a free version of Unix.
• Open-source, with consistent updates.
• Usable with either a command-line interface or GUI.
• Linux software given away but services and products cost.
• Basis of Google's Chrome OS.

Embedded Operating Systems

• Embedded OS are on CPU chips.
• Consists of systems of a larger, or specialized machine.
• Utilized in mobile devices such as Google Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, iOS, Embedded Linux

Application Software

• People interact with application software which connects with the system software (which interacts with the computer itself).
• Application software handles tasks users are interested in.
• Availability of software reliant on licensing or copyright.

Methods to Obtain Software

• Crafted custom software.
• Mass-produced packaged software.
• Public-domain software that is not copyrighted .
• Freeware is copyrighted software distributed free.
• Shareware: copyrighted but distributed free for a trial period.
• Rentalware: online software leased for a fee for every download.
• Web app - software that operates from a remote internet server rather than directly on one's personal computer. Commercial Software is: Copyrighted: users must receive license to agree not to make copies of software to resell or give away.

Software License Types

• Allows use of software on all computers at a specific site with site licenses.
• Concurrent-user licenses grant usage to a certain copies at a time.
• Multiple-user licenses specify the maximum number of possible users.
• Single-user license - Limits the software to one user at a time.
• Pirated software is stolen illegally.

Pirated and Abandonware

• Software obtained illegally is pirated software, violating copyrights.
• Abandonware being longer sold/supported by publisher, may still not be legally copied

Tutorials and Documentation

• Tutorial aids learning of a program through step-by-step direction.
• Documentation contains descriptions for users.

Types of Application Software

• Categories for Application software include entertainment, productivity, personal use, education and specialized use.
• The goal for productivity software is for increased efficiency
• Types of productivity software include database managers, spreadsheets and word processing.
• Productivity software may be bundled in an office suite.
• Data files have extensions such as words, number, pictures, and sounds.

Data Files

• Data extensions include words, numbers, and pictures.
• Format native to Microsoft Windows - bmp (Bitmap graphic).
• gif (Graphic Interchange Format) is commonly used in web images and images available for download.
• images often use jpeg or jpg (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and digital photography.
• Apple uses pict (PICTure) the Macintosh computers.
• Patent-free alternative to .gif is png (Portable Network Graphic).
• High-resolution bitmapped graphics file widely use Jiff or iff (Tagged Image File Format) exchanging bitmap files.
• Audio file formats include:.au for monaural sample sounds.
• .mid (MIDI, Musical Instrument Digital Interface) drives music synthesizers.
• compressing CD quality music while retaining much of original audio is .mp3(MPEG-3).
• containing all digital information to play speaker-quality music is .wav (Waveform).
• avi (Audio Video Interleaved) for Windows Media Player.
• QuickTime video players use mov or .qt.
• DVDs use MPEG-2 video while .mpg or mpeg (Motion Picture Experts Group) is for streaming video.
• .rm is popluar for streaming video through RealMedia format.
• wmv (Windows Media Video) is for Windows Media Player.
• Text-only files contain no graphics and no formatting, using a txt extension. ASCII .txt is used to move documents between computers.
• Extensions for Web files are html, htm, xml, and asp (active server page).
• eps (encapsulated PostScript) for desktop publishing with printer instructions.
• .drv is the most common extension for software drivers.
• Windows OS files are Autoexec.bat and Config.sys,
• Program files are software and executable files.
• Source program files have original computer instructions.
• Computer will only be able to process file once it is an executable file. .exe.
• Importing means getting/converting data from one specific program that you are working that may not be the desired format.
• Exporting transforms data format/transmits.

Data Compression

• Helps decrease the storage needed and increases the speed of data transmittal process.

• Repetitive patterns of bits get replaced with summaries via lossless compression. Results in data remaining exactly same. Best with data records in spreadsheets or word processing programs.

• Permanently discarded data in lossy compression leads to decreased data levels. Jpeg and mpeg files, used in the audio, and graphics, respectively, illustrate instances of lossy compression. Word Processing is made easier by computers.