TYPES OF SOFTWARE

Learning Goals for Today

1. To discuss the role of software in computing sys
tems

2. To learn to differentiate among software belon

ging to the system and application categories

3. To learn about software ownership

 DEFINITION

• SOFTWARES - are programs that make a co

mputer run. They are sets of instructions wh
ich tell the computer what to do to come up
with the desired result.
 Concept
• The HW needs SW to be useful; the SW ne
eds HW to be useful

• When the user needs something to be do

ne by the computer, he/she gives instructi
ons in the form of SW to computer HW

• These instructions need to be written in a

language that is readily understood by the
computer.
 Machine Language
• That language is called the machine language

• Machine language, though readily understood by mi

croprocessors, is very difficult to write in for human
programmers

• Language translators were invented to overcome thi

s problem
 Language Translators
• Human programmers write programs in a langu
age that is easy to understand for them

• They use language translators to convert that pr

ogram into machine language – a language that i
s easy to understand for the uPs
The Software Development
Process
 Categories of Computer Software
•• Computer
Computer
•• Software
Software

•• Application
Application •• System
System
•• Software
Software •• Software
Software

•• General-
General- •• Application-
Application- •• System
System •• System
System
•• Purpose
Purpose •• Specific
Specific •• Management
Management •• Development
Development
•• Programs
Programs •• Programs
Programs •• Programs
Programs •• Programs
Programs
 Hardware Device Driver
Operating System

Language Scientific Business Productivity Entertainment

Utility
Translator Apps. Apps. Apps. Apps.

System software

Application software
 S o ftw a re

S y s te m A p p lic a tio n
S o ftw a re S o ftw a re
 System Software
- Programs that work automatically once you open or boo
t your computer.
- Their task include loading and running programs, checki
ng and protecting computers, and controlling hardware.
- It is the control software that operates the hardware and
allows the application to run.
 Operating System (OS)
• Performs its work invisibly to control the internal functions
of a computer, e.g. maintaining files on the disk drive, man
aging the screen, controlling which tasks the computer per
forms and in what order
• It interacts directly with the computer HW
• Other SW normally does not directly interact with the HW,
but through the OS
 Examples
• Windows XP – home and business
• Windows 2000 – business network use
• Mac Operating System – GUI, graphics
• OS/2 Warp – commercial work
• UNIX – general purpose, mainframe
• Linux – alternative to Windows
• Dos – command driven
 Operating Systems
• Operating Systems run in the back
ground without the users being a
ware of it.
• It controls the inputs, outputs, int
errupts, and storage of files as req
uested by the applications softwar
e.
LINUX
DOS
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE
• Are programs installed in the computer. It ena
bles the user to do different tasks.
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE
• Used for a specific purpose or application.
– Word processing;
– Numerical analysis and storage;
– Recording of data;
– Designing and graphics;
– Image processing;
– Presentations;
– Desk top publishing;
– Web design.
 WORD PROCESSORS
• Used in creating letters, memos, reports and o
ther write-ups.

Examples: Wordstar
MS Word
WordPerfect
MS Word
 ELECTRONIC SPREADSHEET
• Software that are equipped with rows and col
umns where data may be entered and process
ed automatically or tabulated.
Examples:
Visicalc Quattro
Supercalc Ms Works
Lotus 123
Excel
VISICALC – the first Spreadsheet
SuperCalc
EXCEL 2007
QUATTRO PRO
 DATABASE
• Programs that can be use to organize data in a
customized way.
Examples:
MS Access MySQL
Dbase Oracle
Foxbase Lotus Approach
Dbase
Oracle Database
 Utility Programs
• Virus checking and cleaning.
• Security using identification and passwords.
• File and hard disk management for efficiency and sto
rage.
• Customising the computer to the users requirements,
i.e. short cut menus from mouse click.
• Setting peripheral devices to the users requirements,
i.e. setting the monitor resolution.
 Utilities
Computer programs that perform a particular func
tion related to computer system management
and maintenance

Examples:
1. Anti-virus SW
2. Data compression SW
3. Disk optimization SW
4. Disk backup SW
5. Disk cleaner
 Entertainment Software
• Specially designed for fun and relaxation.

Example
Real PlayerWinAmp QuickTime
Windows Media Player VLC Media
Multimedia, Desktop and Image Editing Soft
ware
• Used to create graphics and publications and t
o edit images

Examples
Adobe Photoshop Adobe Pagemaker
Corel Draw Publisher