Computer Software

4.1 What is Software?

Software, also called a computer program or simply a program, is a series of instructions that
tells the hardware of a computer what to do. For example, some instructions direct the computer
to allow you to input data from the keyboard and store it in memory. Other instructions cause
data stored in memory to be used in calculations such as adding a series of numbers to obtain a
total.
Before a computer can perform or execute a program, the instructions in the program must be
loaded into the memory of the computer. Usually, they are loaded into memory from storage like
hard disk.
When you purchase a program, you will receive one or more CD-ROMs or a single DVD-ROM
on which the software is stored. To use the software, you often need to install the software on the
computer’s hard disk. Sometimes, a program can be loaded in memory directly from a CDROM
or a DVD-ROM so that you do not have to install it on the hard disk to use it.
When you buy a computer, it usually has some software already installed in its hard disk. Thus
you can use the computer as soon as you receive it. Software is the key to productive use of
computers. With the correct software, a computer can become a valuable tool.

4.2 Categories of Software

Classification of Computer Software
1. System Software
a. Operating Systems
b. Utilty Software
c. Library programs
d. Programming Language Translaters
2. Application Software
a. General Purpose
b. Special Purpose
c. Bespoke

4.2.1 System Software

System software consists of the programs that control the operations of the computer and its
devices. Functions that system software performs include starting up the computer; opening,
executing, running, applications; storing, retrieving, and copying files; formatting disks; reducing
file sizes; and backing up the contents of a hard disk. Accordingly you can see that the System
Software will handle the smooth running of all the components of the computer as well as
providing general functionality for other programs to use, tools to speed up the computer, tools
to develop new software and programs to keep you safe from attacks.
Next sections will look at each type of system software together with examples.

Operating Systems (OS)

The Operating System contains instructions that co-ordinate all of the activities of hardware
devices of your computer. It also contains instructions that allow you to run any applications
software. One may define the Operating system as an interface between a user and all computer
resources.
When you start a computer, the operating system is loaded or copied into memory from the
computer hard disk. It remains in memory while the computer is sunning and allows you to
communicate with the computer and other software. A computer cannot function without an
operating system. It is an important component of the computer system, because it sets the
standards for the application programs that run on it. All programs must “talk to” the OS.
There are two main types of Operating Systems:
Single-user OS: A type of OS which allows only one user at a time. There can be single-user OS
either as single-user single-task or single-user multi-task. The Single-user single-task OS has
to deal with only one person at a time running only one application at a time. MS DOS is an
example for a single user single task OS.
Think of the OS of your Personal Computer. It is designed mainly with one user (i.e. you) in
mind but that only user: you can deal with many applications running at the same time. You may
word process a document with a word processing application like MS Word while listening to
music played in the windows media player in parallel. Or you might be answering the school
assignment while searching more facts on the internet while a suitable video is being
downloaded. This type of OSs is of single-user multi-task OS. An example of such OS is
Windows 95.
Multi-user OS: In some situations, we need to share the single computer among few users. So
the OS should be a multi-user where more than one user is logged on to the computer and uses it
at the same time. These multi users may work with remote desktop connections. Further, these
different users may need to run different applications at the same time. So the OS must support
multi-task facility as well. Obviously the computer should be a powerful one. Each user draws
on a big power of the computer in a shared way. This type of Multi –user multi-task OSs have to
manage some tasks as listed below:
 Each user logged on to the system, their workspace and so on.
 Allocate resources to the jobs they want to run.
 Keep logs of how much processing time and resources they use
 Work out the most efficient use of computer processing cycles
 Maintain security
Following are some examples of such OS:
 Windows XP, 7, 8 etc.
 Unix
  Linux (Ubuntu, Centos, Fedora etc.)

Desktop OS vs. Server OS

The OS can also be categorized as Desktop OS and Server OS depending on whether the OS is to
be installed in a desktop computer or a server. For example, the latest versions of the Windows
OS family can be categorized as follows:
Desktop OS: windows XP, windows 7, Windows 8
Server OS: Windows 2000Server, Windows 2005Server, Windows 2008Server
As most of you are using Desktop Personal Computers, following web article is extracted in
order to give you an overview on the different operating systems you may use.
Operating Systems for your Desktop PC
Following is a note extracted from the web regarding the OS and given for the reader for
additional facts about your OS
Recommended: Windows 7 Professional or alternative OS depending on your needs
Minimum: Windows 7 Home Premium

4.2.2 Utility Software

Utility software or utility programs are some small programs which performs specific task,
usually related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs. Most operating systems
include several utility programs. Also, you can buy them as stand-alone software that offer
improvements over the ones supplied with the OS. Following are some of the specific tasks done
by commonly used utility programs:
 Viewing files
 Compressing files
 Diagnosing problems
 Scanning disks
 Defragmenting disks
 Uninstalling software
 Backing up files and disks
 Checking for viruses
 Displaying screen savers

4.2.3 Library Programs

Library programs are collections of some pre-written codes or resources that are used to develop
other programs. For an example, you might have noticed that all Microsoft Programs look like
the same or have the same look and feel in the interfaces though the application differs. The
reason for this consistent look is the using of same graphical user interface libraries when
developing different applications by the Microsoft. Another classical example is, the computer
game developers often buy and use pre-done graphical user interface libraries and develop new
games as they need to save time and cost of entire development process. This will allow them to
quickly develop a good looking game that runs on the desired hardware. In w\Windows, you can
often identify library programs by their extension .dll (dynamic link library).

4.2.4 Programming Language Translators

You are already aware that a Program is a set of instructions written for performing a specific
task. These instructions are just like English words. We call that these programs are written in
programming languages that can be understood by human beings. These written programs are
called that Source codes. However, some programs run on a machine code that is executed
directly on computer architecture. Machine code is not easily read by humans and it is a long
series of bits (i.e. ones-1 and zeros-0). Therefore, the source code is to be converted into machine
code which is called an object program. This translation can be done by translator. Simply, the
translators translate source code into machine code. There are three approaches of program
translating:
 Assembler
 Interpreter
 Compiler

Assembler:
An assembler translates the symbolic codes of programs of an assembly language into machine
language instructions. The symbolic language is translated to the machine code in the ratio of
one is to one symbolic instructions to one machine code instructions. Such types of languages are
called low-level languages. The assembler programs translate the low-level language to the
machine code. The translation job is performed either manually or with a program called
assembler. In hand assembly, the programmer uses the set of instructions supplied by the
manufacturer. In this case, the hexadecimal code for the mnemonic instruction is searched from
the code sheet. This procedure is tedious and time-consuming. Alternate solution to this is the
use of assemblers. The program called assembler provides the codes of the mnemonics. This
process is fast and facilitates the user in developing the program speedily.

Interpreter:
Interpreters also come in the group of translators. It helps the user to execute the source program
with a few differences as compared to compilers. The source program is just like English
statements in both interpreters and compilers. The interpreter also generates object codes from
the source program. Interpreter reads the program line by line, whereas in compiler the entire
program is read by the compiler, which then generates the object codes. Interpreter directly
executes the program from its source code. Due to this, every time the source code should be
inputted to the interpreter. In other words, each line is converted into the object codes. It takes
very less time for execution because no intermediate object code is generated.
Compiler:
Compilers are the translators, which translate all the instructions of the program into machine
codes, which can be used again and again. The source program is input to the compiler. The
object code is output for the secondary storage device. The entire program will be read by the
compiler first and generates the object code. However, in interpreter each line is executed and
object code is provided. M-BASIC is an example of an interpreter. High-level languages such as
C, C++ and Java compilers are employed. The compiler displays the list of errors and warnings
for the statements violating the syntax rules of the language. Compilers also have the ability of
linking subroutines of the program.

4.3 Application Software

The second major class of Software is the Application Software. Application software consists of
programs designed to perform specific tasks of users. Application Software, also called a
software application or an application, can be used for the following purposes, among others:
 As a productivity/business tool
 To assist with graphics and multimedia projects
 To support household activities, for personal business, or for education
 To facilitate communications
A variety of application software is available that you can buy from software vendors in retail
stores or on the Web. A specific software product, such as Microsoft Word, often is called a
Software Package.
Based on the purposes as listed above, the application software is three-fold namely General
Purpose, Special purpose, and Bespoke. Let us look at each type of applications software briefly.

4.3.1 General Purpose Application Software

A general purpose application is also called ‘off-the-shelf’ applications. These are the software
you use at home, university, or at work place to make you more effective and efficient while
performing daily activities. These include applications such as word processors, spreadsheets,
databases, desktop publishing packages, presentation packages, graphics packages, text editors,
etc. Following Table gives example uses of different general purpose applications.
Uses of General Purpose Applications
General Purpose Application Example Uses
Word Processor Writing reports, memos, letters to customers
Spreadsheet application Keeping simple company accounts,
calculating employee payments, simple stock
control systems, modeling
Database application Keeping student data of a university, Keeping
customer records, sales records, appointments
 system
Desktop Publishing application Creating leaflets, posters, business cards, etc.
Presentation software Creating presentations to be used for an
audience of customers/staff.
Graphics application Manipulating images that can be used at
home, university, or a business
Web Design application Creating personal or business web sites

Note: Within this course, you will learn deeply on one from each categories of Word Processor,
Spreadsheet application, Database application, and Presentation software as tabled below.
Application software covered in ICT Skills Course
General Purpose Application Software covered within this course
Word Processor Microsoft Word 2007
Spreadsheet application Microsoft Excel 2007
Database application Microsoft Access 2007
Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

4.3.2 Special Purpose Application Software

Special Purpose Application Software is the software created for execution of a single specific
task. Some examples are Chess game, calculator, camera application in your mobile phone which
allows you only to capture and share pictures, web browsers, media players, calendar programs.

4.3.3 Bespoke Application Software

Some organizations may feel that the general purpose software are not suitable for their task and
it does not exactly what they want or it does not tallying with the current system in the
organization. In this type of situation, they decide on designing and developing software
specifically for them. These softwares are also called as the ‘tailor-made software’ or ‘Bespoke
software’ as they are made to a specific user and customized for a specific task only. Following
are the advantages and disadvantages of bespoke software:

Advantages:
 The organization will get the exact system that they need
 The software will work exactly how they want it to work
 The software will only have the features that they specifically need in their job or
business feeling them comfortable to use

Disadvantages:
 It takes more time to develop such systems.
 The development duration several months or years
 Developmental cost is very high
  Sometimes it is required to employ a team of people at different stages of the
development process such as analysts, programmers, testers, etc.
Following are some examples for bespoke software:
 Membership database (Insurance Industry)
 Dispatch Systems (Factory/Processing Industries)
 Sales order Systems (Newspaper Industries)
 Invoicing System (Motor Industries)
 Freelancer System (Newspaper Industries)
 Calibrating Software (Pharmaceutical Industries) Software that checks all medical
devises to ensure that all are correctly calibrated
 Educated Marketing database (Education)
 Event Planning Database (Manages invitations, member registrations, and seminar
places)
 Marketing Databases (territory management, telemarketing, direct mail campaigns,
analysis)
 Sales Training Databases (Management reports of personal attainment, history, and team
performance).