System and

Application Software
 System And Application software

Content
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................3
1.1 Relationship between hardware and software............................................................3
2. Software...........................................................................................................................4
3. System Software..............................................................................................................4
3.1 Operating Systems.....................................................................................................4
3.1.1 Based on User interface......................................................................................4
3.1.1.1 Character User Interface (CUI) Based.........................................................4
3.1.1.2 Graphical User Interface (GUI) Based: ......................................................5
3.1.2 Based on Number of Users.................................................................................5
3.1.2.1 Single User Based........................................................................................5
3.1.2.2 Multiple Users Based: .................................................................................5
3.1.3 Based on number of programs running on the computer....................................5
3.1.3.1 Single tasking Based....................................................................................5
3.1.3.2 Multi tasking Based: ...................................................................................5
3.1.4 Real Time OS......................................................................................................6
3.2 Utilities.......................................................................................................................6
3.2.1 Disk Management...............................................................................................6
3.2.2 Data Recovery.....................................................................................................6
3.2.3 Data Compression...............................................................................................6
3.2.4 Data Backup........................................................................................................7
3.2.5 Security Software................................................................................................7
3.2.6 Programming Language Translators...................................................................7
4. Application Software.......................................................................................................7
4.1 Single Function Packages..........................................................................................7
4.1.1 Special Purpose Software ..................................................................................8
4.1.2 General Purpose Software ..................................................................................8
4.1.2.1 Word Processing..........................................................................................8
4.1.2.2 Spreadsheet..................................................................................................8
4.1.2.3 Database.......................................................................................................8
4.1.2.4 Graphics.......................................................................................................8
4.1.2.5 Personal assistance.......................................................................................8
4.1.2.6 Education.....................................................................................................9
4.1.2.7 Entertainment...............................................................................................9
4.2 Integrated function Package.......................................................................................9
5. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................9
6. Reference.......................................................................................................................10

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1. Introduction
A computer consists of two parts

1. Hardware
a. Hardware comprises of all physical devices of a computer, like the monitor,
the CPU, the memory disk, and the printer.
b. The hardware has already been covered extensively in the preceding
presentations.
2. Software.
a. Software refers to a set of programs, procedures and associated documents
(flowcharts, manuals etc.) describing the programs and how are they to be
used.
b. A program, in turn, is a computer understandable sequence of instructions that
it must perform to solve a problem.

1.1 Relationship between hardware and software

Figure 1: Relationship between software and hardware

1. Users interact with the computer with the help of software.

2. Using the hardware, users give instructions to the computer.
3. Software processes these instructions and gets them executed by the
hardware.
4. The result is then passed on to the user, through the input / output devices.

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2. Software
Software may be classified into two general categories
1. Pre-Written Software
Prewritten software is off- the - shelf product. It addresses the needs of many
users at the same time. Windows OS is an example of a pre-written software
package. Prewritten software may be classified as System and Application
Software.
2. Custom Built software
If none of the available pre written software meets the specific requirements of an
organization, and if it has access to a software development team, the organization
may choose to develop a customized software package in house for its own
specific requirements. HSBC is a good example of this. All the software used in
HSBC banking operations worldwide is developed in its in house facility in Pune.

3. System Software
1. System software is a generic term referring to any computer software whose
purpose is to help run the computer system.
2. It is responsible directly for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual
hardware components of a computer system.
3. In general, System Software performs the following:
a. Supports development of other application software, and custom built
software.
b. Supports execution of other application software.
c. Monitors effective use of various hardware resources like CPU, peripherals,
memory etc.
d. Communicates with and controls the operations of peripherals, like printer,
disk etc.
System Software may be classified as Operating System and Utilities

3.1 Operating Systems

Better known as OS, it is a set of computer programs that controls the components
of a computer system and facilitates the operation of applications. Given below
are the various types grouping of OS.

3.1.1 Based on User interface

The system of computer screen images, text, devices, and software components
that allow the user to interact with and control the computer’s operating system is
called user interface.

3.1.1.1 Character User Interface (CUI) Based

1. CUI is also known as command line interface. Dos, Solaris, and UNIX are
CUI based OS.
2. In a text-based operating system, the line on which the user types
instructions for the system is called a command line.

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3. User interacts with the OS by entering commands from the keyboard.

4. The OS, in turn, processes these commands and displays the results on the
command line.
5. User can see only characters one the screen, hence the name, “character”
user interface

3.1.1.2 Graphical User Interface (GUI) Based:

1. GUI is the name given to an OS that uses pictorial representations (icons)
and menus, with a pointing device concept to execute commands and other
tasks, rather than requiring the user to type commands.
2. They allow the user to interact with the operating system by manipulating
icons or menus using both keyboard and mouse.
3. The Macintosh OS pioneered the GUI concept, closely followed by
Microsoft Windows.

3.1.2 Based on Number of Users

3.1.2.1 Single User Based

1. Such OS provides access to the computer system to a single user at a time.
2. If another user needs access to the computer system, they must wait till the
current user finishes what they are doing and leaves.
3. DOS, Windows 95, Windows NT Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional
etc. are single user OS.

3.1.2.2 Multiple Users Based:

1. Such OS lets more than one user access the computer system at a time.
2. Access to the computer system is normally provided via a network, so that
users access the computer remotely using a terminal or another computer.
3. Only one copy of the OS runs on the server and the users may use remote
terminals to interact with the system.
4. Linux, UNIX, Windows NT and mainframes like, AS400 are multi user OS.

3.1.3 Based on number of programs running on the computer

3.1.3.1 Single tasking Based

1. Such OS can operate on only one application at a time.
2. In order to work with another program the current program needs to be shut
first.
3. DOS is an example of single tasking OS.

3.1.3.2 Multi tasking Based:

1. Such OS is capable of running more than one program simultaneously
2. It allows the user to easily switch and share information between
applications.

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3. Multi users OS are also multi tasking OS, allowing more than one user
access the computer system at one time.
4. All Windows OS are multitasking OS. They can operate more than one
application simultaneously. MS Excel and MS Word, for example, both can
be operated at the same time

3.1.4 Real Time OS

1. Also known as RTOS, it is a multitasking OS intended for real time
applications.
2. It processes the received instructions without any time delay.
3. These Os generally have less user interface capability as a tradeoff to
processing speed.
4. RTOS gain importance in risk critical systems like railway scheduling,
spacecraft etc.
5. These types of OS are more used in embedded systems like LynxOS used in
aerospace and SymbianOS used in mobile phones.

3.2 Utilities
Utilities are the support programs for an operating system. They perform tasks
related to the maintenance of the hardware or the data.
Given below are few of the OS utilities.

3.2.1 Disk Management

1. Such utilities involve formatting and de-fragmenting disks.
2. Formatting refers to organizing and marking the surface of a disk into tracks,
sectors, and cylinders.
3. De-fragmenting refers to putting files on the disk so that the whole file is in
sequence. This reduces the time to access the file.
4. Some disk management programs even let the user specify certain files that
are accessed often, so that these programs are at the front of the disk. Thus
speeding up the execution for that particular program.

3.2.2 Data Recovery

1. These programs attempt to recover deleted or damaged (corrupted) files.
2. Whenever a file is deleted, it is not physically removed from the system; only
the address of the location where it is stored is lost.
3. Until some other file is overwritten on that particular physical location, this
file is recoverable.
4. Data recovery utilities take advantage of this fact and scan the disk for lost
files, and can recover them for the user.

3.2.3 Data Compression

1. These utilities attempt to reduce the total size of the file, so that it occupies
less space on the disk.
2. These utilities are, in turn, also responsible to decompress the file so that it
regains all its original content.

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3. Winzip, Pkzip are some such utilities.

3.2.4 Data Backup

1. These utilities compress the data and then store it in backup tapes, where they
can be referenced if such need arises.
2. Data backup is especially useful in the scenarios where on a day to day basis,
high volumes of data are generated, but they need to be accessed only
occasionally.
3. Banks use data backup utilities extensively to backup their day’s transactions
on a regular basis.

3.2.5 Security Software

1. This category includes a number of different kinds of programs, which protect
the computer and data from attacks and damage and being controlled without
permission.
2. Anti-virus programs monitor the computer for the activity of viruses and
similar nasty programs.
3. Anti-spy ware programs similarly monitor the computer, looking for spy ware
as well as suspicious behavior. A spy ware is software that covertly gathers
and sends user information through the user's Internet connection without
their knowledge, usually for advertising purposes.
4. Anti-spam software tries to identify useless or dangerous messages.
5. A firewall blocks attempts to access the system over a network or internet
connection.

3.2.6 Programming Language Translators

1. These programs transform the instructions prepared by programmers using
convenient, human understandable languages into machine language code that
the computer can understand and execute.
2. This software is transparent to the users who use pre written packages and are
not interested in developing custom software of their own.
3. These translators include compilers and interpreters

4. Application Software
a. It is a software program running on top of the operating system
b. Each application software has been created to perform a specific task for a user.
c. It is the direct interface for the user to the computer.
d. For example, in Page Layout function of MS Word, what user observes is the
application software, where they may set certain properties. And it is the system
software that allows the page layout application to interact with the monitor
display, the RAM, the hard drive and the rest of the computer.

4.1 Single Function Packages

Some software perform single specific functions, hence they are called single
function packages. SFP may be classified in two categories

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4.1.1 Special Purpose Software

1. Such software includes the programs built for specific purposes.
2. Game Programs, like PS2, Solitaire have a special purpose, gaming.
3. Hobby Programs, like Google SketchUp, that create 3D models of an image.
4. Human Resource Management software is specialized to keep a track of pay
data, performance, health records, labor laws, and countless other matters
pertaining to the employees of an organization.

4.1.2 General Purpose Software

1. General purpose software, as the name suggests, can be used anywhere, in
office or at home, to serve variety of uses, technically remaining the same.
2. For example, an author may use MS Word to type a story, a manager to type a
report, or a homemaker to type a mail. Here, the “what” changes but the
“how” remains the same. A few examples of General purpose software
are given below:

4.1.2.1 Word Processing

Word processing software enables users to make use of a computer for creating,
editing, and viewing, formatting, storing, retrieving and printing documents.
Software like MS Word, Open Office Writer and Lotus Smart Suite Word Pro
are word processing software.

4.1.2.2 Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet software is a numeric – data – analysis tool. It allows the user to
perform various functions on numbers. Software like MS Excel, and Lotus
Smart Suite 1 2 3 Spread Sheet are spreadsheet software.

4.1.2.3 Database
A database is a collection of related data stored and treated as a unit for
information retrieval purposes. Database software is a set of programs that
enable us to create and maintain a data base. Software like MS Access and
Oracle are such database software.

4.1.2.4 Graphics
Graphics software enables the user to use a computer system to work with
designs, drawings, pictures and graphs. MS Paint is one of the most basic
graphics software.

4.1.2.5 Personal assistance

Personal Assistance software allows the user to use personal computers for
storage and management for schedules, contacts, finances, etc. MS Outlook is
one such software.

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4.1.2.6 Education
Such software allows the computer to be used as a teaching and learning device.
Software used to teach mathematics, linguistics, typing, are a few examples of
such software.

4.1.2.7 Entertainment
Entertainment software allows a computer to be used as an entertainment
console.

4.2 Integrated function Package

Such package combines several of single function packages into one package. Like
Ms Office and Lotus Office Suite.

5. Conclusion
To sum up, the relationship between Hardware, System Software and Application
Software may be shown as in the following figure.

F igur
e 2: Relationship between Hardware, System Software and Application Software
1. Users interact directly with application software.
2. Application software, in turn, depends on the system software to use hardware
to perform the tasks assigned.
3. System Software interacts directly with the hardware to get the instructions
executed by the hardware.

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6. Reference
Books
1. Computers Today – Donald H. Sanders
2. Foundations of computing - P.K. Sinha & Priti Sinha
3. The Architecture of Computer Hardware and Systems Software: An Information
Technology Approach - Irv Englander
URL
1. http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons/lesson8/lesson8-1.htm
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTOS
3. http://www.tu-harburg.de/rzt/tuinfo/allgemein/kurse/edv-intro/node5.html
4. http://www4.dogus.edu.tr/bim/bil_kay/genel/selfstudy/opsys/os01a.htm

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