Introduction to computer
software
•G. Vanitha, Assistant Professor,
•Department of Information Technology
•Bishop Heber College, Trichy-17
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
SOFTWARE
•Introduction
•Computer software
•Hardware/software interaction
•Classification of S/W
•Operating Systems
•Utilities
•Compilers & interpreters
•Word processors
•Spreadsheets
•Presentation S/W
•Image processors
•Database management system
INTRODUCTION
A computer needs both hardware &
software for its proper functioning
Software –computer instructions or data.
Anything can be stored electronically is
S/W.
The storage device and display devices are
hardware.
Firmware is a combination of software &
hardware.
ROM’s & PROM’s that have store data or
programs recorded on them are firmware.
COMPUTER SOFTWARE
s/w is a set of instructions or statements i.e
carried out by the computer’s CPU.
Computer s/w also called programs.
A program is an organized list of instructions
that , when executed causes the computer
behave in a predetermined manner.
A program contains list of variables,
statements, variable can be text, numeric or
images.
Low –level languages close to computer.
High-level languages close to human
languages. C, C++, Java, Pascal, BASIC, COBOL
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
INTERACTION
An interrupt is a signal informing a
program that an event has occurred.
When a program receives an interrupt
signal , it takes a specified
action(ignore the signal). Interrupt
signals can cause a program to
suspend itself temporarily to service
the interrupt.
An interrupt is a preprogrammed set of
steps.
FETCH-DECODE-EXECUTE CYCLE
The cycle of events is being constantly
repeated which the computer is turned
on.
When a program is running, a copy of its
stored in the memory.
The CPU uses a register to keep track of
which program instruction is going to be
executed next.
The instruction is stored somewhere
within the CPU(instruction register)& PC
holds the next construction.
SOFTWARE TYPES
software
System software Application software
Operating Image Word
File Mgnt Tools processors processors
systems
Spreadsheet
Assemblers Compilers Databases
s
Communicati
Debuggers Utilities Games
on S/w
CLASSIFICATION OF SOFTWARE
s/w is divided into 2 categories.
Systems S/W: Includes the Operating
System, compilers & all the utilities
that enables the computer to function.
Application S/W: includes programs that
do real work for users. Ex. Processors,
spreadsheets, & database Management
systems.
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Operating systems are the most important
programs that run on computer.
It perform basic tasks recognizing input
from the keyboard, sending output to the
display screen, keeping track of files &
directories on the disk & controlling
peripheral devices such as disk drives &
printers
Ex . Ms .windows, linux, mac os, os/2, unix,
MVS.
UTILITIES
Utility is a program that performs specific
task,
Related to managing system resources .
It contains number of utilities for
managing disk drives, printers & other
devices.
Utilities differ from applications mostly in
terms of their size & complexity.
Ex. Word, ppt, excel are large programs
that perform variety of functions not
directly related to system resources.
COMPILERS & INTERPRETERS
Compilers is a program that translates
source code into object code.
a compiler differs from interpreter, -
analyzes & executes each line of the
source code in succession, without
looking at the entire program.
Advantage of interpreter: execute a
program immediately.
Compilers run faster than the same
programs executed by an interpreter.
WORD PROCESSORS
A word processor is a program that
enables you to perform word
processing functions. Word processors
use a computer to create, edit and
print documents.
Basic capabilities of word Processors:
Insert text
Delete text
Cut & paste
copy
WORD PROCESSORS
Page size & margins
Search & Replace
Word wrap
Print
Advanced features of word processors
File management
Font specification
Graphics
Footnotes and Cross - References
WORD PROCESSORS
Headers & Footers
Page Numbering
Layout
Macros
Merges
Spell checker
Table of Contents & Indices
Thesaurus
Windows
SPREADSHEETS
Characteristics of Spreadsheet
Table format
Recalculations
Data forms
Presentation
Storage & retrieval
standard format
SPREADSHEETS
Spreadsheet packages
Presentation software's
Image processors
paint programs
Draw programs
Adobe illustrator, CorelDRAW, smartdraw
and concept draw
Image editors
Adobe photoshop & corel paint shop pro
