COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Software - an interface between user and the

computer.
An application that specify what and how to do in
the computer system. All the hardware will be
lifeless without software.
Computer software consists of the instructions
and the data that the computer manipulates to
perform the various data processing tasks.
Sequence of instruction for the computer is
called a program.
Types of software:
System software - it is group of programs,
languages etc which allows the user to
communicate with the hardware. All the
resources related to the computer system are
managed by it. This software is specially
designed for one type of the computer and so
can't use by the system without modification.
Operating systems, utilities and services
program, data base management systems
(DBMS) are the types of the system software.


Application software - it is designed to do
certain specific tasks. These are supplied by
the software companies and computer
manufacturers. They are categorized into:
1.User Application program
Accounting
Inventory Management
Payroll
Statistical analysis
Personal management

2.Application Packages
a. Tailored software - it is designed and developed
especially for a certain specific job, e.g. processing
and printing SLC result, maintaining school MIS etc.
b. Packaged software - it is developed for general
purpose. For example: producing account reports,
bill or payroll etc.
Hardware
Physical components that can be touched and feel.
Hardware consists of all the electronics as well as
non electronics devices that denotes the physical
entity of the devices. It consists of CPU, input and
output devices , RAM as the memory devices.

INTRODUCTION
Computer is a system comprised of two major components:-
Hardware and software
Hardware is any physical device that makes plugs into the
computer. It is that part of computer that is attached to the
computer and can be seen and touched. It is like a body in
human. The various types of hardware found are input
devices, output devices, storage device etc.
Software: The program that allow performing the various task.
Software is that part of computer that cannot be seen or
touched .It is like a soul of human body. It includes operating
system, word processors,database,spreadsheet,system
utilities, antivirus programs ,email programs, web browsers
etc

System Software
System Software consists of three kind of programs.
1)System Management Programs: These programs manage
the application software, computer hardware, and data
resources of the computer system. These programs include
operating systems, operating environment programs,
database management programs and telecommunications
monitor programs.
2)System Support Programs: These programs helps the
operations and management of a computer system.
Support services ,computer hardware and other system
programs to run efficiently. The major program are system
utility programs, system performance monitor program and
system security(virus checking programs)

3) System Development Programs: These are
programs that helps user to develop
information system programs and prepare
user programs foe computer processing.
These programs may analyze and design
systems .
a)Operating System: operating system is a
program that controls the execution of
application programs and act as an interface
between the user and computer hardware.
Operating system can be three objectives



Convenience: OS makes a computer more
convenient to use.
Efficiency :OS allows the computer system
resources to be used in an efficiency manner.
Ability to Develop: OS should be constructed
in such way to permit the effective
development, testing, and introduction of new
system function. Example MS/PC DOS,
Windows 3x , Macintosh System, Windows
9x,UNIX,Linux, Windows NT, Windows
2000,Windows Vista, Windows 7 etc
US is a collection of those programs that helps the programmer in
performing some specific task to reduce the overall programming
effort of the programmer. It provides a useful service to the user for
performing common task such as data transfer, search and merge of
file, data and file recovery, diskette management, disk cleaner, Disk
Defragmenter, system restore and antivirus etc.knows as house
keeping utility or service programs. Some of example:
Sort: A program designed to arrange record into pre-determined order.
Copy: A program that copies data from one storage to other e.g. HDD
to pen drive.
File maintenance: A program designed to carry out an insertion, delete
and updating of record in any files.
Antivirus Utility: The operating system is ready with antivirus program
in order to keep the computer system free from any sort of virus
interfacing.
Data Recovery Utilities: It helps in recovering the valuable data in case
of system damage or system crash.
Utility Software
Device Driver: The operating system provides the programs to support
and work various devices. But sometimes some device like printer,
camera, scanner, Modem, various cards etc cannot be supported by
the operating system. The special program is required for the running
of these devices is known as device driver or software driver.
Antivirus: computer virus is potentially destructive software program that
spreads from program to program or from disk to disk or internet. Such
destructive programs may effect computer operation, corrupt files and
data, delete data etc. any software program that minimizes or
removes/avoids the effects of such viruses called Antivirus. Virus may
be different type such as Logic Bombs, Trojans, Worms, etc. some virus
are extremely strict and may cause system to stop working. So should
be careful and should avoid use of the defected disks, DVD ROM, and
unsecured websites. The uses should also update the antivirus
frequently and regularly. Example of antivirus software are
NOD32,AVG,MacAfee,Norton,Kespersky etc.
Application Software
The software that is designed to solve a specific
problem, to perform specific jobs for the user using
the computer. Application software may be job
oriented, games, entertainment, research and
analysis, simulation etc and used in the field of
accounting, inventory management,payroll,statistical
analysis, personal management etc some example of
application word processing, spreadsheet,
Presentation tool,Graphices Designing, Animation etc
Application software can be categorized in two ways
Tailored software is that software that are
specially designed and developed to solve
specific job or task.eg schooling billing, result
processing system, printing of software.
Packaged software: software that is
generalized set of programs designed and
developed for general purpose e.g. office
package, accounting package, bill or payment
(tally, fact) etc.
Word Processor
Spread Sheet
Presentation tools
Word Processor
A program that enables to perform word processing
function. Word Processor use a computer to create,
edit, and print document; alone with defining the
text size, font, color, style; defining layout, aligning,
justification, paragraphing, inserting bullet number
etc provides the features of inserting of images,
graphics, charts, clips, tables, object, diagrams,
symbols, mathematical equations etc. Currently
available newer word processor allows creating
various diagrams such as data flow diagram,
organizational diagram etc
Some commonly used Ms Word, Notepad, WordPad,
etc.
Spread Sheet
Spreadsheet is a table with rows and columns
into which data is entered. Spreadsheet
software makes it possible to enter data into a
tabular format, manipulate them, store ,print,
and create reports and graphs. It also provide
calculating sum, average, and results using
various formulas and equations, generating
charts, sorting data, formatting data and
complex mathematical and statistical
calculations and analysis.
Presentation Tools
Presentation Tools is a special type of application
tools that helps to make slides incorporating
different types of media such as text, audio , video ,
image etc presentation of paper is seminar,
conferences, demonstration of product, class
lectures etc.
It has it provides number of views such as normal
view, outlet view, slide view and slide show with
preview facilities.
It allows adding and deleting of before and after any
existing slide.
It allows inserting picture.


Software suites
A software suite or application suite is a
collection of computer programs, usually
application software and programming
software of related functionality, often sharing
a more or less common user interface and
some ability to smoothly exchange data with
each other. Example
Office suite
Internet suite
Graphics suite

Office suite sometime it is called an office software suite or
productivity suite is a collection of programs intended to be used by
knowledge workers. The components are generally distributed
together, have a consistent user interface and usually can interact with
each other, sometimes operating system would not normally allow.
Internet suite is an internet related software include web browser,
email client, HTML editor etc
Graphics Suite, There is no hard, fast rule regarding the programs to be
included in a graphics application suite but most will include at least
bitmap graphics.
Advantage:
1.Less cost than buying individual package
2. All have similar GUI
3. Work well together
Disadvantage
1.All features not used
2.Takes a lots of disk space
Introduction to program and
programming language
A program is set of sequenced instructions to
cause a computer to perform particular
operation or to solve a given problem. The
process of developing, such program is called
programming. The language that is used to
develop the program is called programming
language. A person who does programming is
called programmer.
Machine Language or First generation
Language
Assembly Language or Second generation
language
Procedural Language or Third generation
language
Problem Oriented Language or Fourth
generation language

Machine language
Instruction and Command are written in binary from using 0s and 1s .
It is written in binary, it doesnt require translation and can be
understood by the computer.
Machine language has two parts: the first part is called command or
operation, which tells what function is to carry out. the second part is
called operand, which determines the data to be manipulated.
Advantage :
1.It is written in machine code so no need to translate into machine code.
2.It has faster execution than other language.
3.Other translator type subsidiary programs are not required.
Disadvantage
1.It is difficult to understand and develop a program using machine
language.
2.It is machine oriented language.
3. Time consuming coding
4.Debugging is tough and difficult.

Assembly Language is the 2GL and also know
as symbolic language. It uses symbols
mnemonic code to replace the 0s and 1s of
machine language. The program written in
assembly language must be converted into
machine code before execution. The assembly
language program is referred to as source
program where the machine language
program is object program.
Assembly language
program
Assembler
Object code in
Machine language
Example of assembler language
LDA,5 Load register A with a value 5
LDA,6 Load register B with value 6
ADD A,B add value of register A and B and keep sum in A
LD(1050),A Display content of register A through device address 1050
HALT end
Advantage
1.They are standardize and easier to use than machine language.
2.They are easier to debug because program and identify syntax errors
Disadvantage
1. Assembly language programs are usually very long.
2. Less abstract than machine language, assembly language are still
complex
3. Assembly language are still machine dependent.
Machine and assembly language are low level language.
High level language is 3GL :A program written in high level language
must be translated into machine language before it can executed and
this is knows as compiler or interpreter. Each and every statement is
taken directly from English words and each of them has syntax.
Original program written is called source code" and the codes that
converted into machine or intermediate code by compiler or
interpreter is called object code.
Example: PASCAL, C, C++,JAVA etc.
Advantage
1.Easy to write ,debug and test the program.
2.No need to remember commands and instruction for program
development
3.To write the source code, it doesnt required the knowledge of internal
structure of the computer.
Disadvantage
1.Program runs slower because it is heavy in size and design.
2.it is written in users language so it should be convert into machine
code. So it required translator.

Problem Oriented Language or Fourth generation language: This is
one step ahead from high level language. These are result oriented and
included database query language.4GL programs are also needed to be
translated either by compiler or interpreter.4GL cannot be used for all
purpose. They are dedicated for some particular application
developments.e.g SQL(Structured Query Language)
General Features of 4GL
Define data ---- 4GL focuses on data
Define what processing must be performed on the data.
Define layouts of reports or screen based forms,including the format of
printed or display data.
Define the processing operations to be carried out in the preparation
of reports.
Define input data and validation checks.
Select combinations of standard processing operations.
Handle user queries.



Compiler Interpreter Assembler
1)A compiler is a program which takes
something written in a higher level
language, usually called source code,
and translate into low level language,
usually called object code at once.
1)A interpreter is a program
which takes something
written in a higher level
language, usually called
source code, and translate
into low level language,
usually called object code
line by line.
Assembler translate a
program written in the
assembly language into
its equivalent machine
language.
2) It read human readable source code,
produces machine executable binary
code.
2) It read human readable
code, line at a time, produces
and executable machine
instructions.

2) It is of two types: one
pass assemblers and
Two pass assemblers.
3)Example are C, COBOL, Java, etc. 3) Example are BASIC,
JavaScript, etc.
3) It produces the most
efficient execute, but is
most difficult (for
human)to work with.
4)It is easiest for human to program, but
doesn't always produce the most efficient
executables.
4) It is good for testing but is
very slow.
5)The syntax error are found only after
compile of complete program.
5) The syntax error can be
trapped after translation of
every line.
HTML
Scripting language, script language or extension language, is a programming
language that allows some control of a single or many software
application.Script are often treated as distinct from program", which
execute independently from any other application. There are two type of
scripting language
Client side Scripting Language
Server side Scripting language
Client side Scripting Language: It refer to end user. These are little program
that is written and attached to HTML(Hyper Text Markup Language)Creating
an HTML document is easy. To begin coding in HTML ,Notepad is the most
basic of simple-text editors . This Script can be supplied in a separate file or
embedded directly within HTML form to process input as it is entered, to
ensure that values conform to specified patterns, to check consistency
between fields and to compute derived fields. The web browser like, Mozilla,
Internet Explorer, Opera etc. web browser have inbuilt interpreters to
javaScript,VBScript, Scripting language is basically used in web programming to
make pages dynamics, and to give web page good look and feel .

What is HTML?
HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language
HTML is not a programming language, it is a markup language
A markup language is a set of markup tags
HTML uses markup tags to describe web pages
HTML Documents = Web Pages
HTML documents describe web pages
HTML documents contain HTML tags and plain text
HTML documents are also called web pages
The purpose of a web browser (like Internet Explorer or Firefox) is to read
HTML documents and display them as web pages. The browser does not
display the HTML tags, but uses the tags to interpret the content of the page:
<html>
<body>
<h1>My First Heading</h1>
<p>My first paragraph.</p>
</body>
</html>

Example Explained
The text between <html> and </html> describes the web page
The text between <body> and </body> is the visible page content
The text between <h1> and </h1> is displayed as a heading
The text between <p> and </p> is displayed as a paragraph
Editing HTML
HTML can be written and edited using many different editors like
Dreamweaver and Visual Studio.
However, we use a plain text editor (like Notepad) to edit HTML.
.HTM or .HTML File Extension?
When you save an HTML file, you can use either the .htm or the .html
file extension.
HTML Paragraphs
HTML paragraphs are defined with the <p> tag
Example
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>
<p>This is another paragraph.</p>

HTML Links
HTML links are defined with the <a> tag.
Example
<a href="http://www.w3schools.com">This is a link</a>


HTML Element Syntax
An HTML element starts with a start tag / opening tag
An HTML element ends with an end tag / closing tag
The element content is everything between the start and the end tag
Some HTML elements have empty content
Empty elements are closed in the start tag
Server side scripting: It is a web server technology in which a users
request is fulfilled by running a script directly on the web server to
generate dynamic HTML pages. Its is used to provide interactive
web sites that interface to database or other data stores. This is
different from client side scripting where scripts are run by the
viewing web browser, usually in JavaScript. The primary advantage
to server side scripting is the ability to highly customize the
response based on the users requiremement, access right or
queries into data stores. Server side scripting language manipulates
the data, usually in a database, on the server. Some of the popular
server side scripting language are PHP,ASP/ASP. NET,JSP,Perl etc.
Dynamically edit, change or add any content to web page.
Respond to user queries or data submitted from HTML forms.
Access any data or databases and return the result to a browser.
Customize a web page to make useful for individual users.
Provide a security since server code cannot be viewed from
browser.
Software package selection and evaluation
criteria
1.Function included:
How many of the function requirement will the package meet?
How many of these function are standard?
How extensive are modification required?
Which function cannot be supported by the package?
How well the package support the function as well as current needs?
2.Flexibility
How easy is the package?
What customization feature are included?
Is the vendor willing to modify the software for client?
3.User friendliness
How east is the package to use from a nontechnical stand point?
How much training is required to understand the package system?
How much use control does the package allow?
4.Hardware and software resources
What model of computer can the package run on?
What OS is required?
Is the package release dependent?
What is the package disk storage?
How much computer time is needed to run the package?
5.Database characteristics
What type of database file structure does the package use?
Does the database for file design support the clients processing and retrieval
requirement?
6.Installation effort
How much change in procedure would the package necessaries?
How difficult would it be to convert from current system to package system?
7.Maintenance
Does the vendor supply updates the system?
How easy are these changes to apply?
What is the minimum internal staff necessary for outgoing maintenance and
support?
Is the source code clear structured and easy to maintenance?
8.Documentation
What kind of document is provided with the package?
Is it easy to understand and use?
Is the document complete?
9.Vendor quality
Is the vendor experienced in this application area?
Does the vendor have strong sales and financial record?
Will the vendor continue in business and support the package?
What kind of support facilities does vendor provide?
10.Cost
What is the purchase or lease price of the basic software?
What does the purchase price include?
Is there a yearly maintenance costs?
How much would it cost to tailor the package to users requirement
and installation it?
Software Licensing
Software licensing is a contract of agreement between
the software company and the end user(End User
License Agreement, EULA) software licensing can be
paper agreement. It protect the copyrights by placing
restrictions on the end user in relation to the
product. Duplications for purpose other than backup,
installation more than one computer, editing the
code, or changing the program is usually forbidden.
Some companies have held that once the shrink wrap is
broken on retail product, the end user automatically
accepts the license. Once the shrink wrap is opened,
the item is not returnable.


Shareware
The term shareware(also know as trial ware or demo ware) software
that is provided to user without payment on a trial basis is often
limited by any combination of convenience. Shareware is often offered
as download from internet website or compact disc. Shareware is to
give buyer opportunity to use the program and judge its usefulness
before purchasing a license for full version of the software. The trial
period can be 10-30 days or even 45- 60 days.
Trial software Vs Shareware
It is similar type, shareware is an older terms thats being outdated by the
term trial software. In the early days of shareware, many users thought
it was OK to register the software and then share the registered
version with other. To avoid this problem, the more precious term trial
software was introduced.
Freeware Vs Trial Software
Freeware software is completely free for anyone
to use or pass along to other to use. Freeware
is completely free. You never have to pay to
use freeware, and you can pass it to other to
use.
Disadvantage to using freeware author may
stop developing and improving; may not
getting technical support; This is dependent
on the developer; Use a freeware program on
regular basis; check with the developer to see,
if they plan to continue developing it and
offering updates.
Advantage of shareware / trial software.
We can try the software before we buy it, using
shareware through the trial period gives you sample
time to test out the software before you buy it. It
also give you opportunity to try out several different
product and see which one best suits your need.
Shareware and trial software is that its usually a lots
less expensive than store brought software because
the software authors dont have to pay the extra
overhead for package, which allow them to pass the
savings on to the consumer.
Software upgrade
The term upgrade refers to the replacement of a product with a newer
version of the same product. It is most often used in computing and
consumer electronics, a replacement of hardware, software or
firmware with a newer or better version, to bring the system up to
date or to improve its characteristics. The replacement of a product
with a better quality product with the aim of bringing enhancement.
software update: A software update provides bug fixes and minor
software enhancement and is made available by free download.
Software updates sometimes include new drives to support the latest
hardware such as printer,CD drives and DVD Drives. Sometime called
software patch because it is applied over software that you already
installed. Software update doesnt provide a full software package
installation.

What is open source code?
All software application are built from source code. The
source code is made up of the numerous lines of
instruction that programmers write computer to
interper.ths instructions tell a computer what to do and
how to do it. It may be written in any one of the various
programming languages used today. We have open and
proprietary software.
Open source must be made freely available with the software,
anyone should be able to download the source code. View
it, and alter it as they see fit.

Enterprise Application Software
EAS is software that performs business functions such as order
processing, procurement, production scheduling, customer
information management and accounting. It is hosted on servers and
provides simultaneous services to a large number of users, over a
computer network. This is in contrast to a single user application that is
executed on a users personal computer and serves only one user at a
time.
Enterprise software is a collection of computer programs with
common business applications, tools for modeling how the entire
organization works, and development tools for building applications
unique to the organization. Enterprise level software aims to improve
the enterprises productivity and efficiency by providing business logic
support functionality.
Types
ES can be design and implemented by an information technology group
within a company.
It may also be purchased from an independent enterprise software
developer, that often install and maintains the software for their
customers. Installation, customization and maintenance can also be
outsourced to an IT consulting company.
Another model is based on a concept called on-demand software, or
software as a service(SaaS).The on-demand model of enterprise software
is made possible through the widespread distribution of broadband access
to the internet. Software as a Service vendors maintain enterprise
software on server within their own company data center and then
provide access to the software to their enterprise customers via internet.
Some of the more common type of enterprise application
Automated billing system
Payment processing
Email marketing system



Call center and customer support
Customer relationship support
HR management
Enterprise Application Integration
Security systems and Intelligence
Forms Automation & IT Service Management
EAS may use a client server platforms using web browsers, or may be use
a different user interface altogether.
Computer-aided Design Software
Architects,drafters,engineers and artists use CAD software to create
plan and construction drawing.
Before the age of computers, drawing were drafted by hand .CAD is
more efficient because the software records lines as vectors based on
mathematical equations. The picture as a whole will automatically
adjust.
Switch between two dimensional (2D) and Three dimensional (3D)
views.
Zoom in and out for close up and distant views.
Rotate images to view them from different perspectives.
Change the scale of image: When one value changes, related values
are automatically adjusted.
Manipulate the shape of image: Changing one portion of an image
automatically change the entire picture.