System Software

2. Computer Software Types

It is required to control the overall operations of a computer system.
A Computer system is made up of two main components
There are 3 categories
* Hardware * Software
▶ Operating system
▶ Language Processors
Hardware Software ▶ Utility Software

• All physical devices that you • Set of programs and related

can touch and feel. data that are used to give Operating system
instructions to the hardware. ▶ It is the most basic software that is present in a computer.
• Hardware cannot work by
itself it needs some • Software directs and guides ▶ It serves as an interface between the user and the hardware.
instructions to perform a task. the operations of a computer
system. Functions of an operating system
Eg: Monitor, mouse, keyboard,
CPU • You cannot touch
Eg: Operating system, games, Provides an environment in which computer hardware components
videos, music are used in an efficient manner.

▶ It acts as a resource manager

Types of Software ▶ It allows to create and manage files and folders for storing
information
Software Eg: Microsoft Windows, GNU Linux, Unix

System Software Application Software

Operating Language Utility General Specific

Software Software Software Purpose Purpose
Application Application
Software Software
Language Processor
Software are created by writing programs in computer languages.
There are many computer languages.
Eg: C, C++, Java, Python, Visual Basic
These programs cannot be understood by a computer, because it is an
electronic machine and can only understand machine language which
is written using 0s and 1s.
A language processor is a software that translate or converts a
program (written in computer language) into machine language that
can be understood by a computer.
Eg: Compiler, Interpreter, Assembler
Utility Software
It is a program designed to perform maintenance or housekeeping
work on a computer system in order to ensure smooth functioning.
Eg: Disk defragmenter, Antivirus software, Backup utility
▶ Backup utility – this allows to maintain a copy of the data on the
hard disk in case of any accidental loss or system crash. If you take a
backup your data will not be lost.
▶ Disk Cleanup – It is a computer maintenance utility included in
Microsoft Windows designed to free up disk space on a computer's
hard drive. The utility first searches and analyses the hard drive for
files that are no longer of any use, and then removes the unnecessary
files.
Application Software
Set of programs designed to help users to perform specific tasks.
There are different application software's that can be installed on a
computer for different purposes.
Application software can be divided into two
1. General Purpose Application Software
2. Specific Purpose Application Software

▶ Disk defragmenter – 1. General Purpose Application Software

These software's are developed according to the needs of large
file contents can be scattered in the different locations in the hard disk number of people.
which will slow down the access speed. Disk defragmenter will speed
Examples
up the access to files by rearranging the files and free spaces. Files are
stored in nearby locations and free space is combined together to form ▶ Word processing software – used for creating text-based
adjoining blocks. documents as letters, stories and reports.
Eg: OpenOffice.org writer Word Perfect Microsoft word
Antivirus software – a virus is a computer program that
disrupt the normal functioning of your computer. It can
slow down or crash a computer system.
to remove those dangerous programs, antivirus programs
are used. It can scan computer disk for viruses and removes
them. Eg: Norton, AVG, Avira, McAfee
▶ Spreadsheet Software – this accepts data values in row and 2. Specific Purpose Application Software
column format which allows users to manipulate, calculate and
developed according to the specific requirements of an organization
analyse data.
or an individual. These software's can be called as customized
Eg: Microsoft Excel Lotus 1-2-3 OpenOffice.org Calc software.
Eg:
➢ Reservation systems used at airports and railway stations
▶ DBMS (Database Management System) – this allows to
store large amount of data in an organized manner. This can store ➢ Payroll systems used by organizations.
details about customers, employees, products, students.
➢ Inventory control systems Billing systems in supermarkets
Eg: Oracle Microsoft Access FoxPro OpenOffice.org Base
Re
Re Relationship between Hardware and Software
▶ DTP (Desktop Publishing Software) – used to create designs
and layouts of books, journals, brochures, newspapers.
Eg: QuarkXPress Adobe InDesign

▶ Graphics Software – it allows to create and edit images.

Eg: Adobe Photoshop CorelDraw

▶ Multimedia Software - this lets you to combine images,

text, sound, animations and video to create interactive applications.
Eg: Adobe Director Adobe Flash

▶ Presentation Software – used to create and design slide

shows and multimedia presentations.
Eg: Microsoft PowerPoint OpenOffice.org Impress