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Computer Software
Mainly based on: James A. O'Brien, and George Marakas. Management Information Systems with MISource 2007, 8th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 2007. ISBN: 13 9780073323091
What is software?
Software is a product consists of computer programs and data files that work together to provide a computer with the instructions and data necessary for carrying out a specific type of task
Software includes
A computer program is a set of detailed, instructions that tells a computer how to solve a problem or carry out a task Executable files have an .exe file extension, and can be double-clicked to start the program (run by users) Support modules are extra programs that are not run by users, but help the main program to run (file extension such as .dll and .ocx) Data files contain data that is necessary for the program to run, but not supplied by the user
For example, text of Help file or license agreement, word lists for a dictionary, graphics File extensions .txt, .bmp, and .hlp
Computer programmers write the instructions for the computer programs Software publishers distribute the software, they specialize in packaging, marketing, and selling commercial software Users who write macros and customize software
Categories of Software
General Purpose
Custom
Custom Software
Software applications developed within an organization for use by that organization
Function-Specific Application Software Thousands of these packages support specific end-user applications Customer Relationship Management Enterprise Resource Planning Supply Chain Management Web-enabled electronic commerce
Disadvantages
1. All features not used 2. Takes a lot of disk space (bloatware)
Desktop Publishing
Produce printed materials that look professionally published E.g., Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher, QuarkXPress
GP : Electronic Spreadsheets
Used by virtually every business for analysis, planning, modeling Worksheet of rows and columns Can be stored on local computers or a network Requires designing format and developing the relationships (formulas) Most help you develop charts and graph displays of spreadsheet results Supports what-if questions
GP : Presentation Graphics
Top packages can tailor files for transfer in HTML format to websites
GP : Graphics Software
Software used to create graphics Examples: Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Quark XPress Adobe PageMaker CorelDraw
Software for end user productivity and collaboration Stores information about clients Manages schedules, appointments, tasks Most have ability to access the Web and e-mail Some support team collaboration by sharing information with other PIM users e.g., Lotus Organizer, Microsoft Outlook
GP : Web Browsers
Software that supports navigation through point-and-click, hyper-linked Web resources Becoming the universal platform from which end users launch Information searches E-mail Multimedia file transfer Discussion groups Other Internet-based applications
GP : Search Engines
Weblog or blog
A personal website in dated log format Updated with new information about a subject or range of subjects
GP : Groupware
Software that helps workgroups collaborate on group assignments
E-mail, discussion groups, databases, audio, and video conferencing E.g., Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, Microsoft Exchange Windows SharePoint Services and WebSphere both allow teams to create websites for information sharing and document collaboration
GP : Integrated Packages
Integrated packages combine the functions of several programs into one package
E.g., Microsoft Works, AppleWork
Advantages
1. Many functions for lower price 2. Uses less disk space 3. Frequently preinstalled on PCs
Disadvantages
1. Limited functionality
Software Alternatives
Outsource software development and maintenance Application service providers (ASPs)
Companies that own, operate, and maintain application software and computer system resources Use the application for a fee over the Internet Pay-as-you-go Use expected to accelerate
Software Licensing
COTS and ASP software is licensed, which involves Intellectual property rights Copyright and trademark Trade secrets Traditional contract law, including Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) You dont buy software You buy a license to use the software Licensed to protect vendors property rights
Manages hardware, software, network, and data resources of computer systems Operating systems, network management programs, database management systems, system utilities Helps users develop IS programs and procedures, and then prepare them for processing Includes language translators and editors, CASE, and programming tools
Operating Systems
Integrated system of programs that
Controls the input/out, storage resources, and activities of the computer system Provides support services as the computer executes application programs
The operating system must be loaded and activated before other tasks can be accomplished
Resource Management
Part of the operating system that manages the hardware and networking resources of a computer system
Includes CPU, memory, secondary storage devices, telecommunications, and input/output peripherals
Common functions
Keeping track of where data and programs are stored Subdividing memory; providing virtual memory capability
File Management
Part of the operating system that controls the creation, deletion, and access of files and programs
Keeps track of physical location on storage devices Maintains directories of information about the location and characteristics of stored files
Task Management
Part of the operating system that manages the accomplishment of end user computing tasks
Controls which task gets access to the CPU, and for how long Can interrupt the CPU at any time to substitute a higher priority task Supports preemptive and cooperative multitasking and multi-processing
Unix
Multitasking, multi-user, network-managing Portable - can run on mainframes, midrange, and PCs
MAC OS X
Apple operating system for the iMac GUI Multitasking Multimedia
User Interface
The part of the operating system that allows you to communicate with it Determines how user friendly the computer is Three main types
Command-driven Menu-driven Graphical user interfaces (GUI)
Command Line
Early computers used only this Have to memorize codes Not very user friendly Not colorful usually written in black and white No pictures
Application Servers
Provide an interface between an operating system and the application programs of users Middleware
Helps diverse software applications exchange data and work together more efficiently
Performance Monitors
Programs that monitor and adjust computer system to keep them running efficiently
Security Monitors
Monitor and control use of computer systems to prevent unauthorized use of resources
Programming Languages
Machine Languages
The most basic of programming languages Strings of binary codes unique to each computer Requires specific knowledge of the internal operations of the CPU being used Must specify the storage location for every instruction and item of data used Difficult to work with, and error prone
Assembler Languages
High-Level Languages
Uses brief statements or arithmetic expressions Statements translated into machine language by compilers or interpreters Less efficient than assembler language and requires greater translation time Machine dependent Examples: BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN
Fourth-Generation Languages
Fourth-Generation Languages
Variety of programming languages that are nonprocedural and conversational Programmers specify the result wanted; the computer determines the sequence of instructions that accomplish the result Simplifies the programming process Natural language; very close to English Sometimes called fifth-generation (5GLs)
Object-Oriented Languages
Object-Oriented Languages
Combines data elements and the procedures that will be performed upon them into objects Example: data about a bank account and the procedures performed on it, such as interest calculations
Web Languages
HTML XML
A page description language that creates hypertext documents for the Web Describes Web page content by applying identifying tags or contextual labels to the data Object-oriented programming language that is simple, secure, and platform independent Java applets can be executed on any computer
Java
Programming Tools
Help programmers identify and minimize errors while they are programming
Graphical programming interfaces Programming editors Debuggers
CASE Tools
A combination of many programming tools into a single application with a common interface Used in different stages of the systems development process
Language Translators
Converts code written in programming language to a language the computer can understand Translator helps computer process data
I dont understand! I need a translator.
Interpreter Interpreter A compiler that translates and executes each statement in a program, one at a time
Web Services
Web services are software components that are
Based on framework of Web and object-oriented standards and technology Used to link the applications of different users and computing platforms via the Web
OSS
Is copyrighted & distributed with license terms Sometimes carries a fee for packaging, distribution, or support
Mac OS X
Based on a form of UNIX Advanced GUI Supports multi-tasking and multimedia Integrated Web browser, e-mail, instant messaging, search engine, digital media player, and more Includes software development tools