Software

Computer software gives instructions that make computer hardware work. In other words, software is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it.

The four main types of software are operating systems, application programs, utility programs, and programming languages.

Introduction

Operating Systems

An operating system is a piece of software that controls how hardware resources such as memory, the central processing unit (CPU), disk space, and other devices are used. All other kinds of software (application, utility, and programming) need the operating system because of hardware resources.

Operating Systems

Operating Systems

An operating system has two parts, a kernel, and a shell. The kernel is the core of an operating system. It manages memory, files, and other devices; maintains the time and date; starts applications; and manages system resources.

The shell provides direct communication interface between the user and the kernel.

Operating Systems

There are many different types of operating system. They are classified systems according to the type of user interface, how many users they support (single-user or multi-user), how they perform tasks (single task or multitask), and how they work with other computers (single computer or network).

Command-line interface

Interface

Graphical user interface

Interface

A single-user operating system can be used only by a single user. A multiuser operating system can be used by more than one user. In some ways, a computer that several people share is like a multi-user system. However, a real multi-user system means a machine (and operating system) that several people can access at the same time, through communication facilities or network terminals. Server computers are multi-user systems whereas, PC’s or workstations are single-user systems.

Single or Multi-User

A network operating system is an operating system specifically designed to support computer networks. A computer network is a set of computers that can communicate with each other and share resources. A network operating system uses a special machine called a server to provide networking support for multiple simultaneous users as well as administrative, security, and management functions. Unlike a single-user operating system, a network operating system must respond to requests from many computers, managing network access and communications, resource use and sharing, data protection, and error control.

Stand Alone or Network

Single or Multi-Tasking

MS-DOS Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 8

Operating Systems

Mac OS Unix Linux Novell NetWare BeOS and Haiku

Operating Systems

Symbian OS Google Android Mobile Linux BlackBerry OS iOS

Mobile Operating Systems

OS Statistics – April 2012

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Application Programs

An application program is a program designed to help with a specific task, such as word processing, accounting, counting the items in a shop or warehouse, or maintaining a database. Application software makes a computer work to suit your needs.

Application Programs

A word processor is an application program for text documents. It is like an electronic paper, pen, typewriter, eraser, and even a dictionary.

Word Processor

Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, StarWriter, Windows WordPad, MacWrite, and WordStar

A spreadsheet application helps you to organize text and numeric data, perform calculations, and organize charts.

Spreadsheet

Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, StarCalc, and Gnumeric

Presentation software applications help you to create sequences of words and pictures that tell a story, or support a speech or a public presentation of information.

Presentation Software

Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance Graphics, Adobe Persuasion, OpenOffice.org Impress, Apple’s Keynote, and Corel Presentations

Data are the raw material of information. The term refers largely to the information entered into and stored as a file within a computer. A database is a set of collections of data, for example, a set of information about the students in a class, with their names, ages, and grades.

Database Management Software

dBase, Paradox, Microsoft Access, FoxPro, Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, InterBase, and Sybase

CAD/CAM is useful for engineers, scientists, andarchitects, who can develop models of cars, aircraft, integrated circuits, robots, tools, molecules, or even buildings using a computer.

CAD/CAM

AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, MathCAD, and Electronic WorkBench

A painting program is an application program that creates graphics as a set of dots called a bitmap.A drawing program allows you to create “object oriented” graphics instead of bitmaps.

Painting and Drawing

Windows Paint, Corel Painter, and Adobe Photoshop CS4 CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator

In the graphic design world, there are two main types of graphics: vector and raster (or bitmap). There are some major differences between the two graphic formats.

For more information please check Page 123.

Desktop publishing combines a personal computer and WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) page layout software to create publication documents on a computer for either large-scale publishing or small-scale local multifunction peripheral output and distribution.

Desktop Publishing and Page Layout

Quark XPress, Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher and Adobe Page Maker.

Computer animation is the process of simulating the movements of computer graphics. It is created by displaying a series of pictures, at least 12 per second. Showing similar frames with little differences tricks the eye and brain into thinking they are seeing a smoothly moving object.

Animation Programs

Adobe Flash CS5, Microsoft Silver Line, 3D Studio MAX, Animation FX, 3D Maya, and Xara.

Multimedia is the combination of sound, graphics, animation, and video formats of files. Multimedia applications allow you to play multimedia files, such as music and movies.

Multimedia Applications

Microsoft Media Player, Microsoft Media Center, Media Player Classic, Real Player, Quicktime Player, WinAmp, WinDVD, and PowerDVD

Games

Chess Master, Age Of Empires, SimCity, Fifa, Fifa Manager, Crysis Warhead, NFS Shift, and Counter Strike

The design of educational software programs for home use has been influenced strongly by computer gaming concepts; in other words, they are designed to be fun as well as educational.

Educational Software

Online applications are usually free, web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, form, and data storage service that allow users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users.

Online Applications

www.docs.google.com, www.acrobat.com, office.live.com, and www.zoho.com

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