CHAPTER 7: SOFTWARE

1.0 Introduction

Computer software is a program or system consists of a series of related instructions

that tells the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them.

2.0 Types of Software

Software can be categorized into:
System software
o Operating Systems
o Utility Programs
Application software
o Off-the-shelf software
o Bespoke software

2.1 System Software

System software is a program that controls the operation of a computer system and
manages computer resources. It provides a bridge between software programs and the
hardware. Two types of system software: Operating system and utility programs.

2.1.1 Operating System

An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions that work
together to coordinate all the activities among computer and mobile device.

Start and shut down

Provide a user
a computer or Manage programs Manage memory
interface
mobile device

Establish an Internet Monitor

Coordinate tasks Configure devices
connection performance

Provide file
management and Updating operating
Control a network Administer security
other device or system software
media-related tasks

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Categories of Operating Systems (OS)

OS

Desktop Server Mobile

A desktop operating system is a complete operating system that works on desktops,

laptops, and some tablets.
Windows 8.1 the latest version from Microsoft Corporation.
The Macintosh operating system Mac OS has earned a reputation for its ease
of use.
UNIX is a multitasking operating system developed in the early 1970s.
Linux is a popular, multitasking UNIX-based operating system.
Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system designed to work primarily with
web apps.

Server Operating Systems

Windows OS X
Server Server

UNIX Linux

The operating system on mobile devices and many consumer electronics is called a
mobile operating system.
Android

Android is an open source, Linux-based mobile operating system

designed by Google for smartphones and tablets.

iOS

iOS, developed by Apple, is a proprietary mobile operating system

specifically made for Apples mobile devices.

Windows Phone

Windows Phone, developed by Microsoft, is a proprietary mobile

operating system that runs on some smartphones.

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Operating System Functions

Example

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OS can be in Command Line Interface (CLI) or Graphical User Interface (GUI). GUI
makes it easy for the user, therefore makes the OS user-friendly.

2.1.2 Utility Programs

A utility program is a type of system software that allows a user to perform
maintenancetype tasks.

There are stand-alone utility programs offer improvements over those features built-in
to the operating system. Functions include protecting against viruses, securing a
computer from unauthorized access and compressing files. Examples of stand-alone
utility programs: Antivirus programs, personal firewall and file compression

A file manager is a utility that performs functions related to file management

Displaying a list of files
Organizing files in folders
Copying, renaming, deleting, moving, and sorting files and folders
Creating shortcuts

A disk cleanup utility searches for and removes unnecessary files

Downloaded program files
Temporary Internet files
Deleted files
Unused program files

A disk defragmenter reorganizes the files and unused space on a computers hard disk
so that the operating system accesses data more quickly and programs run faster.

Activity 1

Take 5 minutes to reflect and discuss in pair about your experience of using any system
software. Present your discussion.

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2.2 Application Software
An application or app, sometimes called application software is written to perform a
particular job for the users.

Activity 2

Take 5 minutes to reflect and discuss in pair about your experience of using any
application software or apps. Present your discussion.

3.0 Software Development and Programming Languages

System development is a set of activities used to build an information system. System

development activities are grouped into phases, and is called the system development
life cycle (SDLC).

Software development is the process of creating a software product. It is also known as

application development or software design. The term "software development" may be
used to refer to the activity of computer programming, which is the process of writing
and maintaining the source code.

System development should follow three general guidelines:

Group activities or tasks into phases
Involve users
Define standards

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Programming Languages
A programming language is a set of words that enable a software developer to
communicate instructions to a computer or mobile device.

Computer programming (often shortened to programming, scripting, or coding) is

the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source
code of computer programs. The source code is written in one or more programming
languages (such as C++, C#, Java, Visual Basic and so on).

Generation of Programming Languages

1GL or first-generation language was machine language or the level of
instructions and data that the processor is actually given to work on (which in
conventional computers is a string of 0s and 1s).

2GL or second-generation language is assembly language. An assembler

converts the assembler language statements into machine language.
o A typical 2GL instruction looks like this:

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 3GL or third-generation language is a high-level programming language, such
as, C, C++, Visual Basic and Java. A compiler converts the statements of a
specific high-level programming language into machine language. The
programmer writes instructions that tell the computer what to accomplish and
how to do it.
o The C programming language is used to write many of todays programs.

o C++ is an extension of the C programming language.

o Visual Studio is Microsofts suite of object-oriented application

development tools that assists software developers in building programs and
apps for Windows or any operating system that supports the Microsoft .NET
Framework.

o Java is an object-oriented programming language developed by Sun

Microsystems.

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 4GL or fourth-generation language is designed to be closer to natural language
than a 3GL language. A 4GL enables users and programmers to access data in
a database. One popular 4GL is SQL.
o A 4GL language statement might look like this:

5GL or fifth-generation language is natural language that uses a visual or

graphical development interface to create source codes. Fifth generation
programming allows people to interact with computers without needing any
specialised knowledge. People can talk to computers and the voice recognition
systems can convert spoken sounds into written words. Prolog and Mercury are
the best known fifth-generation languages.

End of Chapter 7

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 Tutorial 7

1. Define the term of software. (1 mark)

2. Identify TWO (2) types of system software. (2 marks)

3. Give TWO (2) examples of desktop operating system. (2 marks)

4. Discover FIVE (5) functions of operating system. (5 marks)

5. The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting. It can be done

through cold boot or warm boot. Explain how cold boot and warm boot can be done.
(2 marks)

6. Write a paragraph about utility programs with examples. (3 marks)

7. Disk defragmenter is one of the utility programs. Explain the purpose of disk
defragmenter. (2 marks)

8. Briefly discuss about the purpose of the application software. (5 marks)

9. Classify TWO (2) categories of application software. (2 marks)

10. In your opinion, why bespoke software is expensive? (2 marks)

11. Sketch a diagram to illustrate the flows of System Development Life Cycle
(SDLC). (5 marks)

12. Summarize FIVE (5) generation of programming languages. (10 marks)

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