Understanding System Software

Software Introduction

• Software consists of programs that enable the use of computer systems and other electronic devices
• Hardware forms the physical components (body) of a computer system
• Software provides the intelligence (mind or soul) for the computer

Types of Software

• System software manages and controls computer hardware
• Application software performs specific tasks for users

System Software

• System software consists of programs that control a computer's operations
• These programs are designed to assist users in utilizing the computer system

System Software Tasks

• Controlling operations
• Moving data in and out of the computer system
• Executing application programs
• Supporting communication between application software and peripheral devices

System Software Function

• System software helps manage a computer's resources

Components of System Software

• Operating system
• Language processors
• Utility software

Operating System (OS)

• An OS functions as an interface between the user and computer hardware
• A primary goal of an OS is to make the computer system user-friendly

Operating System Environment

• The OS provides an environment for users to execute programs
• It helps to use the computer hardware efficiently

Operating System Tasks

• An OS controls and coordinates a computer's operations
• It acts as a resource manager

System Software Importance

• An operating system is the most important system software

Operating System Loading

• The OS is the first program loaded from the hard disk
• It remains in memory until the system shuts down

Operating System Protection

• The OS attempts to prevent errors and misuse of the computer

Examples of Operating Systems

• DOS, Windows, Unix, Linux, Mac OSX

Major Functions of an Operating System

• Process management
• Memory management
• File management
• Device management

Process Management

• Includes allocation and deallocation of processes
• Involves scheduling system resources to different requesting processes

Memory Management

• Handles primary memory
• Keeps track of memory locations, whether allocated or free

Memory Allocation

• An OS calculates and allocates memory to each process
• It deallocates memory when no longer needed

File Management

• Manages file-related activities: organizing, naming, storing, retrieving, sharing, protecting, and recovering files

Device Management

• Manages devices connected to the computer
• Combines hardware and software techniques to handle devices

Operating System Communication

• The operating system communicates with hardware devices through device driver software

Software MCQ 1

• Operating System is a program that works as intermediary between user and the computer hardware.

Software MCQ 2

• System software is a bridge between hardware and application software.

Software MCQ 3

• BIOS is not a computer OS.

Software MCQ 4

• Kernel is the core of an OS.

Language Processors

• Programming languages are classified into low-level and high-level languages

Low-Level Languages

• These are machine-oriented languages

Low-Level Programs

• Programs are written using computer memory and register

Low-Level Language Diversity

• Due to architecture differences, each computer type has a separate low-level programming language

Low-Level Language Types

• Machine language and assembly language

Machine Language

• Computers understand binary digits in machine language

Assembly Language

• Assembly language is an intermediate-level programming language
• It uses mnemonics, symbolic names for operations (e.g., ADD, SUB, MOV)
• Assembly language is machine dependent; knowledge of computer architecture is required

High-Level Languages

• Easier to understand compared to assembly or machine language
• High-level language programs must be translated into machine language

Language Translation

• High-level languages require language translators (compilers or interpreters)

Need for Language Processors

• Computers can only understand the instructions in machine language.
• Instructions written using assembly or high-level languages must be converted into the machine language for the computer to understand.
• Language processors translate the high-level language or assembly language programs into equivalent machine language.

Types of Language Processors

• Assembler
• Interpreter
• Compiler

Assembler

• The assembler is the translator to convert program code written assembly language into machine language.
• Assembler is highly machine dependent.

Interpreter

• The interpreter is a language processor that converts a high-level program into machine language, line by line.
• If there is an error in a line, it reports is error and the execution of the program is terminated.
• It will process the translation only after correcting the error.
• BASIC is an interpreted language

Compiler

• The compiler is a language processor that translates a program written written in high-level language into machine language
• It scans the entire program in a single run.
• If there's an error in the program, the compiler provides a list of error messages at the end of compilation.
• If there are no syntax errors, the compilers will generate an object file.
• The process is called compilation.
• After translating compilers are not required in memory to run a program.
• C, C++, Pasal etc are examples of programming languages that have a compiler.

Software MCQ 5

• Assembler translates low-level programming language

Software MCQ 6

• Machine language is the odd on out of interpreter, compiler, assembler and machine learning

Utility Software

• Utility software maintains the systems and perform routine task

Utility Software

• Utility programs perform system maintenance and routine tasks

Compression Tools

• These tools compress large files, which reduces storage space. Decompression restores the original file form, Examples: WinZip and WinRAR

Disk Defragmenters

• Disk defragmenters rearrange files on a hard disk, which reduces fragmentation and improves computer speed and efficiency

Backup Software

• Backup software duplicates disc information and can be used on the event of failure or accidental loss

Antivirus Software

• Antivirus software scans the computer system and removes viruses

Anti Virus Installment

• Updated antivirus versions must be installed as new viruses are frequently released

Auto Updates

• Most provide an automatic update feature to download new virus profiles

Software MCQ 7

• Anti-virus software helps protect the computer and prevent is from being corrupt

Software MCQ 8

• Firewall is used to protect a computer from hackers

Application Software

• Application software fulfills specific needs
• Application software is divided into general and specific purpose software

General Purpose Software

• Tasks are performed in a particular function

General Purpose Qualities

• General purposes software are developed with requirements in mind
• A vast number of features are often available

General Purpose Classification

• Word processing
• Spreadsheet
• Presentation
• Database
• Multimedia

Word Processing Software

• Word processing software used for creating and modifying documents

Word Processing Features

• Aids in creating, editing, formatting, and printing text
• Includes font settings, paragraph settings, bullets, numbering, and alignment tools
• Check spelling and grammar
• Insert pictures, charts, and tables
• Headers and footers

Word Processing Examples

• Word; Open Office Writer, Apple iWork Pages

Spreadsheet Software

• Spreadsheet software calculates using spreadsheets
• Worksheets displayed by cells which make a grid

Spreadsheet Attributes

• Inserts charts for numerical data
• Example software: Microsoft Excel, Open Office Calc, LibreOffice Calc, Lotus 123, Apple iWork Numbers

Presentation Software

• The software displays information in a the form of a slidehow

Presentation Features

• Prepares slides containing images, text, animation, video, and audio

Presentation Software examples

• Microsoft PowerPoint, apple iWork keynote, and open office impress

Database Software

• Database are tabular collections data

Database Management

• DBMS consist data collection and set of programs to retrieve data

Database Goals

• Goal to be convenient and efficient for finding and storing data
• Security and privacy are enforced
• Examples include: Microsoft Access, Oracle, Postgres SQL, and MySQL

Multimedia Software

• The integration of multiple media forms

Multimedia Attributes

• Includes text, graphics, audio, and video
• Processes info and capable of playing multimedia files

Multimedia forms

• Audio and video editing software
• Video player software
• VLC Player, Adobe Flash, Real Player

Specific Purpose Software

• Designed to handle specific tasks

Specific Attributes

• Tailor made for each organization
• "Customized Software"
• Custom preference are expected

Specific Examples

• Payroll, Inventory and Human Resources system programs

Software MCQ Questions

• Application software is developed to accomplish real world tasks
• Word processing, spreadsheets, and database software are known as office oriented application software
• File compressor is not a kind of application software
• End user software is the alternative name for application software

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

• FOSS enables users to use, copy, distribute, examine, change, and improve the software.
• This kind of software is widely used because of adaptable functionally, less overall cost, or is adherences to open standards.

Free Software Foundation

• Defines freedoms of FOSS

Free Software Functions

• Run for any purpose
• The program, how it works, and adapt it
• Requires source code
• The freedom to distribute copies
• Improve the quality and release improvements

FOSS Examples

• Gnu Linux and GIMP

Gnu Linux

• Operating System assembled under free and open source software development
• Organized under Guu project
• Richard Stallman in created in 1983-FSF

GIMP

• Gnu Image Manipulation Program

Firefox

• Mozilla Firefox is a very popular web browser

OpenOffice.org

• Contains word process, spreadsheet and presentation software

Freeware

• Copyrighted software at no charge for unlimited time

Shareware

• Commercial software distributed on trial
• Distributed w/o limited function
• Distributes downloadable formats
• Users can analyze software before buying
• Works limited time

Proprietary Software

• exclusive property of publisher and can not be copied/distributed without agreements.
• sold without access to source code
• Microsoft Windows, MS Office, Mac operating system.

Humanware aka Liveware

• refers to the humans who use the computer
• system administrators, system managers, system analyst, database administrators, computer engineers, computer programmers, computer operators etc.

Software MCQ Set

• Microsoft Windows is a proprietary operating software
• Restricted choice is not a downside of OSS