S . N E E B A R

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

System software controls the

hardware and how it works. System

software includes:

Operating systems

Translators

utilities programs

OPERATING SYSTEM

The operating system is the core

program of a computer. It controls the

hardware and the running of

application programs. All application

programs runs on top of the operating

system

OPERATING SYSTEM

When you start up your computer, you are booting it.

The booting instructions are contained in the ROM

chip. During booting the computer looks for the

operating system. Here are some examples of

operating systems:

• Windows, which has different versions such as XP,

Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 etc.

• Mac OS X (Apple)

• Linux

• Unix

• Dos

TRANSLATORS

These are system software that convert a

programming language into code that the

computer can understand and process.

An interpreter is a translator program that

converts a program to machine language

line by line.

A compiler translates all program lines in one

go to create a stand alone program

UTILITIES

Utilities programs are usually bundled with an

operating system. They maintain and protect

the operating system. Here are some tasks

performed by utility programs :

• Manages files

• Perform disk formatting which include

clearing a hard disk and reprogramming it

form scratch

• Scans and defragments a hard disk

• Scan for viruses on a hard disk

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application programs or

application software are programs

that allow the computer to perform

specific tasks but they are not

essential for the computer to work.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE CONTINUED

Application software can be

classified under three main

categories:

General purpose software

Special purpose software

Custom written or Tailor made

software

GENERAL PURPOSE SOFTWARE

A general purpose application, sometimes

known as 'off-the-shelf' is the sort of software

that you use at home and school. Examples

include word processors, spreadsheets,

databases, desktop publishing packages,

graphics packages etc.

This type of software tries to be a “jack of all

trades”. It provides many features that the

majority of users may want e.g. formatting

text, creating charts, organising tables.

REASONS FOR USING GENERAL PURPOSE SOFTWARE

• It is relatively cheap

• It is easily available

• It will have been thoroughly tested so

there won’t be any serious problems or

bugs

• There will be lots of user support i.e.

books, user guides, online help and

discussion forums on the internet

GENERAL PURPOSE SOFTWARE

SPECIAL PURPOSE SOFTWARE Special purpose application software is a

type of software created to execute one

specific task. Special purpose software is

more limited in what it will do in and handles

the specific needs of a particular profession

or business. For example, TurboTax (a tax

preparation package) is a special purpose

application. It adds and substracts numbers

like a spreadsheet but it can't be used for

other purposes apart from preparing taxes

returns.(Special purpose application software

is a type of software created to execute one

specific task.)

CUSTOM WRITTEN SOFTWARE

Custom written Software or tailor made software is a computer program or Web

site written specifically for your

company, according to your

company's way of doing business. The

opposite of custom software is off-the-

shelf software.

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF CUSTOM WRITTEN SOFTWARE

Advantages : 1. They are just what the company required. 2. They are made according to the demand of the company so it is easier to process the data and user-friendly.

Disadvantages: 1. They are very expensive as hiring a programmer to create software is very costly. 2. Users need to be trained before using the new software.

INTEGRATED SOFTWARE

Integrated software is a collection of software

bundled together and are sold in a package. A

good example of integrated software package is

Microsoft Office, which contains programs used in an

office environment.

INTEGRATED SOFTWARE

Integrated software is a very cost effective

way of buying applications because you can

get several applications for one good price.

These applications are usually similar in their

layout and design so that once you can use

one the others should be easy to use.

It is also very easy to transfer data between

applications because they are designed to

be used in conjunction with each other.

THE END