Software Lecture 10 - Jinnah University for Women

Software Lecture no 10 Lecture Outline Software Categories of software System software Operating system, Devices drivers, and System utilities Application Software Word Processing Image Processing Accounting Software Software Development Tool Software Licensing...

Software Lecture no 10 Lecture Outline Software Categories of software System software Operating system, Devices drivers, and System utilities Application Software Word Processing Image Processing Accounting Software Software Development Tool Software Licensing and Distribution Software Upgrades and Patches Lecture Objectives Understand the basic definition of software and differentiate it from hardware, grasping its role in enabling computer systems to perform tasks Classify software into different categories such as system software (operating systems, drivers) and application software (word processors, web browsers), gaining insight into their respective functions. Explore the concept of programming languages, their significance in writing code, and the diverse languages available for various applications. What is Software? Computer software, or only software, is a kind of program that enable a user to perform some specific task or used to operate a computer. It directs all the peripheral devices on the computer system – what to do and how to perform a task. PC Software plays the role of mediator between the user and computer hardware. Without software, a user can’t perform any task on a digital computer. What is Software? Computer hardware and software need each other, and neither of them can work independently. The amalgamation of the hardware and the software gives control and flexibility to modern-day computing systems. Without them, computers would be of no use. For instance, without your web browser's help, you cannot surf the Internet. Similarly, no application can run on your computer without an operating system. How does Software work? Think of software like a recipe for your computer or device. Just like a recipe tells you what ingredients to use and what steps to follow to make a delicious meal, software tells your computer what to do to perform a specific task. Imagine you want to edit a photo. You open a photo editing software, which is like your cooking instructions. When you use the software, you're giving your computer a set of detailed instructions, just like following a recipe step by step. These instructions are written in a language that your computer can understand, and we call this the "programming language." When you click buttons, type, or do anything in the software, you're actually giving your computer a series of steps to follow. The software's code tells the computer how to respond to your actions, like adjusting the colors in the photo or adding special effects. Types of Software There are two major software types in computer systems 1. System Software 2. Application Software. Types of Software System Software It aids a user and the hardware to function and interact with each other. Basically, it is software to manage computer hardware behavior to provide basic functionalities to users. Simply put, the system software is an intermediator or a middle layer between the user and the hardware. It sanctions a platform or environment for the other software to work in. This is the reason why it is very important in managing the entire computer system. When you first turn on the computer, it is the system software that gets initialized and loaded into the memory of the system. It runs in the background and is not used by the end users. Hence, this type of software is also known as ‘low-level software’. Types of Software Examples of System Software 1. Operating System It is the most basic example of the system software used in every computing device. It is a software that handles resources and provides general services for the other applications that run on a specific system. An Operating System (OS) is a system software that acts as a bridge between the user, application software, and computer hardware. It manages all computer resources. Although each operating system is different, most provide a graphical user interface (GUI) through which you can manage files and folders and perform other tasks. Every device, whether a desktop, laptop, or mobile phone, requires an operating system to provide its basic functionality. ⚙️Functions of OS (with Examples): Function Explanation Example 1. Process Management Manages running applications and You can use Chrome + MS Word at the allocates CPU resources. same time. 2. Memory Management Manages RAM and storage for smooth Opens a game without crashing other operation. apps. 3. File Management Organizes files, folders, and directories. You save photos in the "Pictures" folder. Manages input/output devices through 4. Device Management You print a document from your printer. drivers. 5. Security Management Protects data and controls user access. You enter a password to log in. Provides an interface for users to interact You see the Windows Desktop with 6. User Interface (UI) with the system. icons. Types of Software Examples of System Software Some examples of operating systems are: Android CentOS iOS Linux Mac OS MS Windows Ubuntu Unix Types of Software Examples of System Software 2. Device Driver It is a type of software that controls particular hardware attached to the system. Hardware devices that need a driver to connect to a system include displays, sound cards, printers, mouse, and hard disks. A driver is a type of system software that helps your computer communicate with hardware devices. It acts as a translator between the operating system (OS) and the hardware. Without drivers, your hardware won’t work properly with your computer. Some examples of device drivers are: BIOS Driver Display Drivers Printer Drivers Sound card Driver USB Drivers VGA Drivers Types of Software Examples of System Software 3. Utilities Utilities are system software programs that help you maintain, manage, and protect your computer. They are tools that optimize system performance and fix issues. Utility software is designed to aid in analyzing, optimizing, configuring, and maintaining a computer system. It supports the computer infrastructure. They focus on how an OS functions and then accordingly decide their trajectory to smoothen the system's functioning. Antiviruses, disk cleanup & management tools, compression tools, defragmenters, etc., are all utility tools. Some examples of utility tools are: Avast Antivirus(Protects against viruses and malware.) McAfee Antivirus Ccleaner (if you uninstall a game, but its settings remain in the registry, a registry cleaner will remove those leftover entries) WinRAR(Reduces file size for storage and sharing.) Types of Software Application Software Application Software, also known as end-user programs or productivity programs, help the user in completing tasks such as doing online research, jotting down notes, setting the alarm, designing graphics, keeping an account log, doing calculations, or even playing games. They lie above the system software. End users them for a specific purpose or task. For example, a browser is an application designed specifically for browsing the internet and MS Powerpoint is used for creating presentations. Application Software or simply apps can also be referred to as non-essential software as their requirement is highly subjective, and their absence does not affect the system's functioning. Types of Software Example of Application Software Word Processors These applications help you create documents where you can write and edit anything. Along with that, it also helps in storing, formatting, and printing documents. Examples: ✅ MS Word – Used to write assignments, letters, and resumes. ✅ Google Docs – Type documents online and share with friends. ✅ InPage – Used for typing in Urdu and Arabic. ✅ AbiWord – Simple software for writing notes and letters. ✅ Corel WordPerfect – Popular for creating legal documents. Types of Software Example of Application Software Image Processing Software Image processing is a way to manipulate different operations on any image data using software or hardware to get specific output. Image processing has a vast coverage area, including blurring the background, restoring the image, increasing the image's brightness, detecting subjects, sharpening the images, and much more. Some examples of word processors are: 1. Adobe Photoshop 2. Autodesk Maya 3. Blender 4. CorelDRAW 5. PaintShop Pro Lecture Summary Computer software, or only software, is a kind of program that enable a user to perform some specific task or used to operate a computer. It directs all the peripheral devices on the computer system – what to do and how to perform a task. There are two major software types in computer systems: System Software, Application Software. Examples of System Software: OS, Drivers, Utilities Examples of Application Software: Images Processing, Word Processing. Software development tools are simply tools (generally software themselves) that programmers practice to create other software. The front-end of a website is the graphical interface of the web project. Backend development focuses on how a website or web application works. The process of the software creation is adapted to a specific platform like iOS, Android References 1. https://www.coderus.com/software-101-a-complete-guide-to-the-different-types-of-software/ 2. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/computer-systems/0/steps/53500 3. https://www.techtarget.com/searchapparchitecture/definition/software#:~:text=Software%20is% 20a%20set%20of,that%20run%20on%20a%20device. 4. https://www.toppr.com/guides/computer-science/computer-fundamentals/software-concepts/utility -software 5. https://www.amplifyre.com/articles/software-development-tools 6. https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/software-license Review Questions 1. What are application software? 2. Write difference between system software and application software. 3. Define an operating system. List its two functions.