System Software Fundamentals

• Software splits into application and system software

Application Software

• Programs that do specific tasks
• Examples include writing a letter or editing a video

System Software

• Controls the hardware in the computer
• Provides an environment for applications to run
• Examples include Windows and MacOS

Types of System Software

• Operating Systems (OS) manage hardware and provide an environment for applications
• Device drivers are small programs that tell an OS how to use hardware
• Utility software are programs that perform maintenance tasks

Operating System (OS)

• An essential piece of software that's loaded when a computer boots up
• ROM stores the boot-up sequence or Basic Input Output System (BIOS)
• BIOS contains instructions that load the OS from secondary storage into RAM
• Operating Systems consist of components that control the hardware
• Operating Systems provide an Application Programming Interface (API)
• API consists of code libraries that software developers use to write applications that run with the OS

Functions of Operating Systems

• User Interface Manager provides the user interface
• Memory Manager controls allocation of memory between applications
• Process Manager controls allocation of CPU cycles to applications
• Device Manager allocates resources to external hardware devices
• User Manager authenticates and separates users of the computer
• File Manager controls the opening, reading, and writing of files

User Interfaces

• User Interfaces allow users to interact with the computer
• Early OS used command-line interfaces
• Command-line interfaces involve typing text commands through a keyboard
• Modern OS provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• GUIs are either based on the Windows-Icon-Menu-Pointer (WIMP) paradigm or multi-touch interface
• Command Line Interfaces are still available for "power users"
• Command Line Interfaces require less memory and processing power
• GUIs provide visual representations of the files and devices
• Applications appear with features available via menus
• Programs and documents are represented as icons and stored in folders or on a desktop
• Interaction is often via a pointer controlled by a mouse
• GUIs have evolved to allow control through touchscreens
• The choice of a user interface relies on the computer's applications
• Web servers might only need a command-line interface
• Video editing computers need a Graphical User Interface

Memory Manager

• All applications are computer programs
• When some of these instructions are running, it is called a process
• The Memory Manager component allocates the computer's primary memory (RAM) to processes
• If the memory manager fails computer may slow down or crash
• The OS copies programs and data from secondary to main memory
• Programs and data require different amounts of RAM
• The OS manages this using a paging algorithm
• The paging algorithm can adjust memory allocation and swap processes between RAM and virtual memory
• Memory management allows multitasking

Process management

• When a program is opened, it is copied from secondary storage into main memory
• Programs are referred to as processes after copied
• Modern computers are multitasking, executing several processes at the same time
• The OS ensures every process gets a share of CPU time, so uses use a scheduling algorithm
• Scheduling algorithms use a queue to hold waiting processes

Peripheral (device) management

• Peripherals are external devices that are connected to a computer
• A keyboard, mouse, printer, and webcam are examples of peripherals
• Most peripherals connect by USB
• The Peripheral (Device) Manager tracks what devices are connected to which ports
• It allows applications to read data from and send data to each peripheral

Device drivers

• Device drivers are small software loaded into the OS
• They help comminucate to a peripheral device
• Manufacturers provide device drivers when a new device is created

Single and multi-user Operating Systems

• OS differ in the umber of users they support
• A single-user OS supports one user at a time
• A multi-user OS allows several users from different locations
• MacOS and Windows are single-user
• Unix and Linux are multi-user and are used a lot on mainframes

User Manager

• The User Manager tracks which users can access the system
• Access is granted through login details and password
• The User Manager grants access to documents, applications and features based on rights.
• A standard user should not install applications, but a "super-user" can
• The User Manager manages a login's desktop view

File Manager

• File management is how the OS creates, organizes, manipulates and accesses files and folders
• The OS finds where to store the data
• Allows users and applications to interact with Os and 1s as files and folders
• File management allows users to create, name, rename, copy, move and delete files
• The OS allows users to control who can access, modify, and delete files/folders through permissions
• Also provides a search function to find files based on criteria.

Utility software

• Utility software is a subset of system software that does a useful job for the user
• Utility software programs perform tasks to maintain the system.
• Utility software isn't essential to the OS and is not the reason for using a computer
• Some Utility software comes installed with the OS
• Split into three areas:
• Basic Tools
• File Management
• Security

Basic Tools

• Includes simple text editors (Notepad or nano)
• Calculator
• Command prompt
• Hex editor
• Software for accessibility

File Management Tools

• Defragmentation
  • improves hard disk by applying an algorithm to reorganise data
• Encryption
  • prevents unauthorised access to files by scrambling data
• Backup
  • restores lost data
• Compression
  • reduces file space

Defragmentation utilities

• Fragmented data is when something is broken up
• When blocks of data are stored in different places on a hard disk the data becomes fragmented
• A defragmentation utility increases a computer's performance
  • It reorganisation the data stored on a hard disk so data that belongs to the same files are stored in adjacent blocks.
• Mechanical devices read/write data
• Read/write head has to find the correct physical location
• Hard disk drives are mechanical devices
• If file data is across the disk read/write speed decreases
  • It takes more time to access

Solution

• Defragmentation utilities reorganise data blocks
• Data blocks are grouped together in adjacent blocks
• Free space is grouped together at the end of the disk
• SSD's don't need defragmentation

Data and fragmentation

• Start with blocks of data
• Erase files and the blocks are freed
• New files are stored but only on several blocks
• Erasing more gets fragmented
  • Disk increased wear and tear which reduces lifespan
• SSD's don't have moving blocks so are not effected

Backup utilities

• Losing data has has catastrophic consequences
• A backup is a copy of the data that is externally stored
• Loss can occur many ways

Types of backup

• Full backup, make a copy onto back up media
• Incremental backup, only file changes that have occurred

File conversion utility

• These allow file users to save as different types
• Translating a music file to play on something
• Reducing file size
• Making a PDF

Compression utilities

• Compression utilities reduce the amount of disk space by encoding them.
• Compressed coded be decoded
• Can compress many files into one and reduce their size
• Zip files
• Rars

Security tools

• Malware programs such as and anti-spy

Viruses and Malware

• Anti-virus preforms real time
• Anti- malware preforms periodic scans of your system looking for harmonic programs
• They both attempt to clean or destroy software attempts to damage/harm the system
• Firewalls inspect and filter incoming and outgoing data packets which protect systems.

Malware

• Any malicious software that is installed with out your knowledge.
  • Includes viruses and spyware

Firewalls

• Software that controls what network data can flow to and from a computer
• Firewalls inspect filter incoming and outgoing data packets
• They defend from hackers and protect machines

Encryption utilities

• Helps makes files unreadable if stolen.

Modelling and Simulation

• System for doing tests you cant in real world with computer software.
• It means taking key features and not more
• It' is not a real model though and includes assumptions
  • Also can cause a simplified model that isn't right

VOCABULARY

• Heuristic, way of finding something but doing trial and error.
• Monte Carlo method, a statistical analysis of random samples to find solutions
• Neural Networks, can process data like human brains

Explore the core functions of system software, including operating systems, device drivers, and BIOS. Learn about process management, user authentication, and the role of APIs. Understand how system software enables hardware-software interaction.