Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

International Business School

System software

Teacher: V.G. Gerasimova

L.P. Dyakonova

Student: Akhtyamova Adelya

2020
 Table of Contents
System software and its functions................................................................2
Types of systems software............................................................................2
Operating System.......................................................................................3
Device Driver.............................................................................................3
Firmware...................................................................................................4
Utility.........................................................................................................4
Programming Language Translators........................................................4
Importance of system software.....................................................................5
List of sources:..............................................................................................6

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 System software and its functions.
System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computer’s hardware
and application programs. If we divide computer as layers so we can say that system software is the
middle layer that performs the role to interact and control between application software and
hardware. These are commonly prepared by the computer manufacturers. This software consists of
programs written in low-level languages, used to interact with the hardware at a very basic level.
System software serves as the interface between the hardware and the end users. Some system
software is used directly by users and other system software works in the background. System
software can allow users to interact directly with hardware functionality, like the Device Manager
and many of the utilities found in the Control Panel. The operating system (OS) is the best-known
example of system software. The OS manages all the other programs in a computer.
When a new computer comes off the factory assembly line, it can do nothing.
The hardware needs software to make it work. The system software is installed on your computer
when you install your operating system. You can update the software by running programs such as
"Windows Update" for Windows or "Software Update" for Mac OS X. Unlike application programs,
however, system software is not meant to be run by the end user.
Since system software runs at the most basic level of your computer, it is called "low-level"
software. It generates the user interface and allows the operating system to interact with the
hardware. Fortunately, you don't have to worry about what the system software is doing since it just
runs in the background. It's nice to think you are working at a "high-level" anyway.

Types of systems software

The five types of systems software, are all designed to control and coordinate the procedures
and functions of computer hardware. They actually enable functional interaction between hardware,
software and the user. Systems software carries out middleman tasks to ensure communication
between other software and hardware to allow harmonious coexistence with the user.
Systems software can be categorized under the following:
1. Operating system: Harnesses communication between hardware, system programs, and other
applications.
2. Device driver: Enables device communication with the OS and other programs.
3. Firmware: Enables device control and identification.
4. Utility: Ensures optimum functionality of devices and applications.
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 5. Programming language translators: Translate the code into machine code.

Operating System
The most important system software is an operating system. An operating system is a set of
programs that lies between applications software and the computer hardware, controls the functions
of the computer system as a whole and running of application programs, allow people and
applications to communicate with the hardware.
An operating system has three main functions:
1. manage the computer's resources, such as the central processing unit, memory, disk drives,
and printers,
2. establish a user interface, 
3. execute and provide services for applications software.

Device Driver
Driver software is a type of system software which brings computer devices and peripherals to
life. Drivers make it possible for all connected components and external add-ons perform their
intended tasks and as directed by the OS. Without drivers, the OS would not assign any duties.
Usually, the operating system ships with drivers for most devices already in the market. By
default, input devices such as the mouse and keyboard will have their drivers installed. They may
never require third-party installations. If a device is newer than the operating system, the user may
have to download drivers from manufacturer websites or alternative sources.

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 Firmware
It is actually a permanent software which is embedded in the system’s read-only memory. It is
essentially a set of instructions which are permanently stored onto to the hardware device. It offers
vital information regarding how a particular device interacts with different other hardware.
The motherboard firmware wakes all the hardware when it starts. It ensures that all the
components of a computer are operational. If all the ingredients are properly working, then it will
run the boot-loader, which will further load the operating system. If there is a fault in RAM of the
system, then the BIOS will not allow the computer to boot.
The main difference between the firmware and the driver is that firmware will reside within the
devices whereas the drivers will install in the operating system. Also, firmware can start on its own
and do what it is programmed or designed to do while drivers must be run by the operating system.

Utility
These software are designed to assist in analysing, as well as optimizing, along with configuring
and maintaining a given computer system. It provides support to the computer infrastructure. These
software are focused on how OS works on that basis it perform task to enable smooth functioning of
computer. These software may come along with OS like windows defender, windows disk cleanup
tool. Antivirus, backup software, file manager, disk compression tool all are utility software.

Programming Language Translators

Programming Language Translators are those who convert the high-level language and middle-
level language into machine language as machine understands only its language. The high-level
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language is the language through which the user interacts with the computer. Machine language is
the code which is understood by the processor only. The average human being cannot be able to
understand it. 
Translators also help in various tasks like:
• When the code rules are not followed, they provide the diagnostic reports.
• It will make a list of both source code and program details.
• Translators identify syntax errors when the system is translated. So, we can make the required
changes.
• It allocates the storage of the data.

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Importance of system software

These software sanction an environment or platform for the other software to easily work in. So,
it is the reason why the system software is quite important in the management of the entire computer
system. Whenever you turn on the computer first, it is this system software which gets initialized
and then gets loaded in the system’s memory. A system software essentially runs in the background,
and it isn’t actually utilized by the end-users. Due to this reason, the system software is also known
popularly as “low-level software”. Companies usually hire the best software development company
to build a system software.

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 List of sources:
1. https://yourstory.com/mystory/what-software-types-examples
2. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/utility-software/
3. https://turbofuture.com/computers/The-Five-Types-of-System-Software
4. https://www.goodcore.co.uk/blog/types-of-software/
5. https://ecomputernotes.com/fundamental/disk-operating-system/system-software
6. https://qa-platforms.com/what-is-system-software/