Software

Systems and Application Software

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An Overview of Software

• Systems software - coordinates the

activities of hardware & programs
• Applications software - helps users solve
particular problems
• Computer program - sequences of
instructions for the computer

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 Importance of Software

Since the 1950s,

businesses have
greatly increased
their expenditures on
software as
compared with
hardware.

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Supporting Individual, Group,
and Organizational Goals
• System Software consists of all the
programs that enable the computer and its
peripheral devices to function smoothly.

• Application Software consists of

programs that helps users solve particular
computing problems.
• Both System and Application software can be
used to meet the needs of an individual, group,
or an enterprise.
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Supporting Individual, Group,
and Organizational Goals

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Systems Software
• System software is divided into two
main categories:
– The operating system
– System utilities (utility programs)

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 Operating Systems

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The Operating System
• The operating system (OS) is a set of programs
that coordinates:
– Hardware functions
– Interaction between application software and computer
hardware
• Traditionally included following categories:
– Single-user, single-task
• Example: MS-DOS
– Single-user, multitask
• Example: Apple’s Mac OS
– Multiuser
• Example: Microsoft Windows
– Real-time (RTOS)
• Example: found in measurement instruments
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Real-Time Operating Systems
• Systems with a
specific purpose and a
certain result
• Uses include:
– Automobiles
– Printers
– VoIP phones
– Medical devices
– Robotic equipment

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Operating Systems
• Five basic functions
– Starts the computer
– Manages applications
– Manages memory
– Handles input and
output device
messages
– Provides a user
interface for
communication

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Starting the computer

– Loads the OS into

RAM
– Called booting
– Involves six steps

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Operating Systems Basic Functions

– Step 1:Load BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

instructions into memory to allow computer to:
• Accept keyboard input.
• Show information on the monitor.
– Step 2: Conduct the power-on self-test (POST) to
confirm that both the computer and its peripheral
devices are working properly. If any part of the POST
fails:
• A beep will sound.
• An error message will appear on the monitor.
• The computer will stop.

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Operating Systems Basic Functions

– Step 3: Load the operating system.

• BIOS looks for the operating system.
• BIOS loads into memory the kernel, the central part
of the operating system.
– The Kernel, is the heart of the operating system, which
controls the most critical processes.
– The Kernel ties all of the components of the operating
system together and regulates other programs.
• The operating system loads the system
configuration information.

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Operating Systems Basic Functions
– Step 4: Check the system configuration.
• The registry, a database, stores information about software and
peripherals choices.
• The OS checks the configuration for drivers, utility programs
containing instructions for the proper functioning of peripheral
devices.
• The OS installs and loads needed drivers.
– Step 5: Load system utilities, such as:
• Antivirus software
• Speaker volume control
– Step 6: Authenticate users.
• If necessary, enter an authentication/login, a user name and
password.
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Operating Systems Basic Functions

– Step 6: Authenticate users.

• If necessary, enter an authentication/login,
a user name and password.
• Protection against unauthorized access
– The operating system needs to provide a high level of security
against unauthorized access to the users ‘Data and Programs’.
– Typically, the OS establishes a Log-On procedure that requires
users to enter and identification code and a matching password.

• Logins and passwords

– If the Identification Code (Login ID) is invalid or the if Password
does not go with the identification code, the user cannot gain
access to the computer.

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Operating Systems:
A set of computer programs that controls the computer
hardware and acts as an interface with application programs

• Perform common hardware functions

• Provide a user interface
• Provide hardware independence
• Manage system memory
• Manage processing tasks
• Control access to system resources
• Manage files

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The role of the Operating Systems and other
Systems Software is as an interface or buffer
between application software and hardware

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Perform common hardware functions

• Accept keyboard input or from other

input devices
• Storing data on disks
• Retrieving data from disks
• Send data to output devices like
monitor or printer

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User Interface:
• The user interface allows the user to:
• Start application programs
• Allows individuals to access and command the
computer system.
• Manage storage devices
• Safely shut down the computer

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User Interface:
• Command-Based User
Interface requires that
text commands be given to
the computer to perform
basic activities. For
example: RENAME or COPY
• Graphical User
Interface uses pictures
(called ICON) appear on
the desktop screen to a. Graphical user
send commands to the interface
computer system. b. Menu-driven user
interface
• The use of GUIs has contributed greatly to the
c. Command-line
increased use of computers because users no user interface
longer need to know command-line syntax to
accomplish tasks.

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Hardware Independence:

• Programmers can use

Application
Program
Interface (API) to
create application
software without
having to understand
the inner workings of
the operating system.

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Hardware Independence:

• Suppose a computer manufacturer design new hardware

that can operate much faster than before. If the same
OS for which an application was developed can run on
the new hardware, minimal (or no) changes are needed
to the application to enable it to run on the new
hardware.
• If APIs did not exists, the application software might
have to completely rewrite the application program to
take advantage of the new, faster hardware.

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Memory Management
• Controlling how memory
is accessed allows the
computer system to
efficiently and effectively
store and retrieve data
and instructions and to
supply them to the CPU.
• Memory management
programs convert a user’s
request for data or
instructions (called a
logical view of the data)
to the physical location
where the data or
instructions are stored.
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Memory Management
• Most Operating Systems support Virtual
Memory, which allocates space on the hard disk to
supplement the immediate, functional memory
capacity of RAM.
• Virtual Memory works by swapping programs or parts
of programs between memory and one or more disk
devices – a concept called Paging.
– Pages are units of fixed size and contain program
instructions and data.
– When RAM is full, copies of pages are temporarily stored in
a swap file, a special hard disk file.
– Transferring files between RAM and the hard disk is called
paging.

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Memory Management
• Adding more RAM is often the best way to improve computer performance
because:
– Paging slows the computer.
– Accessing data from the hard disk is slower than accessing it from RAM.

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Processing Tasks: Multitasking

• An operating system with multitasking capabilities allows a

user to run more than one application at the same time.
• Without having to exit a program, you can work in one
application, easily pop into another, and then jump back to
the first program, picking up where you left.
• Better still, while you are working in the FOREGROUND in
one program, one or more other applications can be
churning away, unseen, in the BACKGROUND, sorting a
database, printing a document, or performing other
lengthy operations that otherwise would monopolize your
computer and leave you staring at the screen unable to get
other work done.
• Multitasking can save users a considerable amount of time
and effort.

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Processing Tasks: Time-sharing
• Allows more than one person to use a computer
system at the same time.
– For example, 15 customer service representatives may be
entering sales data into a computer system for a mail-order
company at the same time.
– In other case, thousands of people may be simultaneously
using an on-line computer service to get stock quotes and
valuable business news.
• Time-sharing works by dividing time into small CPU
processing time slices, which can be a few milliseconds
or less in duration. During a time slice, some tasks for
the first user are done. The computer then goes from
that user to the next.
• This process continues through each user and cycles
back to the first user.
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File Management
• The operating system
provides an
organizational structure
for the computer’s
contents.
• Hierarchical structure of
directories:
– Drives
• Folders
 Subfolders
– Files

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Naming Files
• File name: Name assigned plus file name extension
• Up to 255 characters
• Characters not legal in Windows file names: “/\*?<>
|:
File path: Location of the file

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System Utility Programs
– Are essential to effective management of the computer system
– Perform tasks such as:
• Backing up files
• Full backups include all files and data.
• Incremental backups include only those files changed or added
since the previous backup.
• Providing antivirus protection
• protects the computer from viruses.
• Compressing files
• Decrease the size of files, resulting in faster downloads
• Create archives by storing files in a special format
• Drive imaging software creates a mirror image of the entire
hard drive.

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 Exploring Popular Operating Systems

• Microsoft Windows
• The most popular operating system
• Windows 7 is the latest version.
• Microsoft Windows Vista.

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Exploring Popular Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Windows Mobile
 Designed for smartphones and PDAs
• Mac OS
 Used on Macintosh personal computers
• UNIX
 Features preemptive multitasking
 Hard to use
• Linux
 Is open source software, meaning the source code is available to
users
 Powerful and free
• Embedded operating systems
 Used in cell phones, kitchen appliances, etc.
• MS-DOS (DOS)
 Short for Microsoft disk operating system
 A command-line user interface OS

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 Types and Functions of
Applications Software

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Application Software
• Application software is any program that gives the
user the ability to complete work on the computer.
• General-purpose applications, such as word-
processing or spreadsheet programs, enable users to
complete common tasks.
– Personal productivity programs
– Multimedia and graphics software
– Applications that work through and run from the
Internet
– Home and education programs

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Sources of Software

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General-Purpose/Off-the-shelf
Application Software
• Personal productivity
programs
– Make it easier to do work
– Examples
a. Word-processing
software
b. Spreadsheet or database
software
c. Presentation software

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General-Purpose/Off-the-shelf
Application Software
• Multimedia and graphics software
includes the use of two or more media, such
as graphics plus video or audio.

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General-Purpose/Off-the-shelf
Application Software
• Paint program standard file formats
– Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
• Lossless compression of simple images
• Often used for Web pages
– Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
• Lossy compression of complex images
• Also used for Web pages
– Windows Bitmap (BMP)
• Compression optional
• Files tend to be large

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General-Purpose/Off-the-shelf
Application Software

• Drawing
programs create
vector
graphics that
can be edited
and resized
without
distortion.

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General-Purpose/Off-the-shelf
Application Software

• Applications that work through the

Internet
– Examples
• E-mail
• Instant messaging software
• Web browsers
• Video conferencing programs

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General-Purpose/Off-the-shelf
Application Software

• Home and educational programs

– Computerized reference software
• Multimedia dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• How-to guides
– Personal finance software
– Computer games

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Personal and Application Software
Type of Software Explanation Example Vendor
Word Processing Create, Edit and Print text documents Word Microsoft
Word Perfect Corel
Spread Sheets Provide wide range of built-in-functions for statistical, Excel Microsoft
financial, logical, database, graphics, and date and time Lotus 123 Lotus/IBM
calculations
Quattro Pro Originally
developed by
Borland
Database Store, Manipulate and Retrieve Data Access Microsoft
dBase Borland
FoxPro Microsoft
Graphics Develop graphics, illustrations, and drawings. Illustrator Adobe
Free Hand Macromedia
Desktop Publishing Works with personal computers and high resolution Publisher Microsoft
(DTP) printers to create high quality printed output, including Page Maker Adobe
text and graphics; various styles of pages can be laid
out; art and text files from other programs can also be
integrated into published pages.

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Software Suite
– A software suite (office
suite) is a bundle of
standalone programs.
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet
• Presentation graphics
• Database
• Personal information
– Share common code, drivers,
and graphic libraries.

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Major Components of Leading
Software Suites

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Object Linking and Embedding
(OLE)

• Allows you to copy text from one document to

another or embed graphics from program into
another program or document.
• Such as, a table developed in a spreadsheet
program that can be linked to a word
processing document.
• When you make a link, you are actually
referencing the original document or program.

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Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)

• If the operating system and the

application support OLE, data can be
shared among application in three ways:
copying, linking and embedding.
• The data you transfer among
applications is called an object.
• An object can be a picture, text, graph,
spreadsheet, or other data.

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Object Copying, Linking and
Embedding
• A project manager wants to create a project status
report using a word processing program.
• The manager wants to include a copy of a photo of
the project team stored in digital format from a
graphics program, a linked spreadsheet showing
project actual costs vs. budget, and an embedded
chart showing the project schedule stored in a
project management program.
• Assuming that the project manager is using personal
productivity software in an operating environment
that supports object linking and embedding.

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Object Copying, Linking and
Embedding
Word Processing Program
Spreadsheet Program

Graphics
Program Copy
Team Photo

Actual vs. Budget Link

------- ---------- --------

-------- -------- --------
-------- -------- ---------
Project Management
Program
Chart
------- ---------- --------
Embed
-------- -------- -

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Enterprise Application Software
A set of integrated programs that manage a company’s
vital business operations for an entire multi site, global
organization

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Enterprise Application Software
Use of Integrated Supply Chain Management Software

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Programming Languages

• Coding Schemes used to write both systems and

application software.
• Commands and statements combined according
to a particular syntax
• Syntax is a set of rules associated with a
programming language
• Different languages have different characteristics

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First-Generation Languages

• Machine language
• ASCII (American Standard Code for
Information Interchange)

00100101 00000010 00001101

Operation Code Address Address
Location 1 Location 2

A machine language instruction consists of all 0s and 1s. Here, just a

few elements of a single instruction are presented.

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Second-Generation Languages
• Assembly languages
• Assemblers
• Symbolic language
– A for add
– MVC for Move
• System software programs such as
operating systems and utility programs are
often written in an assembly language.

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Third-Generation Languages

• BASIC, COBOL, C, C++ and FORTRAN

are examples of 3rd generation
languages that use English like
statements and commands.
• Easy to learn and use than machine and
assembly language.

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Third-Generation Languages

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Fourth-Generation Languages
• 4GLs are even more English Like than 3GLs.
• They emphasize what output results are desired
rather than how programming statements are to
be written.
• One popular 4GL is standardized language called
STRUCTURED QUERY LANGUAGE (SQL).

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Fifth-Generation Languages

• 5GLs
• Uses a visual or graphical development
interface to create source language
• Examples: Visual Basic and Visual C++

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Object-Oriented Programming
Languages
• Language that allow interaction of programming objects, including
data elements and the actions that will be performed on them.
• Most other languages separate data elements from the procedures
or actions that will be performed on them, but object oriented
programming languages tie them together into objects.
• OOP systems, programs tell objects to perform actions on
themselves.
• For example, a video display window does not need to be drawn on
the screen by a series of instructions. Instead, a window object
could be sent a message to open and the window will appear on the
screen.

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OOP Languages:
Reusable Code in OOP

By combining existing program objects with new ones, programmers can easily and
efficiently develop new OOP to accomplish organizational goals.
Note that these objects can be either commercially available or designed internally.

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Language Translator
• System software that converts a programmer’s source
code into its equivalent in machine language.
• Source Code – Program code written by the
programmer.
• Object Code – Machine Language Code
• Interpreter – a language translator that translates one
program statement at a time into machine code.
• Compiler – a language translator that converts a
complete program into a machine language to produce
a program that the computer can process in its entirely.

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Software Issues & Trends
• Software bugs
• Open source software
• Software Licenses & Registration
– Commercial Software
• Users must purchase before using
• Examples: Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Apple iLife
– Shareware
• You may try software before purchasing it.
• If you like it, pay for it and continue using it.
– Freeware
• Free to users as long as users do not sell it to others
– Beta versions of software are sometimes available to users.
• Software is in the final testing stages and may contain bugs.
• Access is free.
• Software upgrades
– Small fixes to software are called patches.
– Large or major fixes to software are called service packs or service releases.

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How to Deal with Software
Bugs

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