SYSTEM SOFTWARE
◤
AND OPERATING
SYSTEM
◤
UNIT 1
▪ Introduction- System Software and machine
architecture. Loader and linkers: Basic loader
functions- Machine dependent loader features-
Machine independent loader features- Loader
design options.
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What is Software?
▪ Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate
computers and execute specific tasks.
▪ It is the opposite of hardware, which describes the physical aspects of
a computer.
▪ Software is a generic term used to refer to applications, scripts and
programs that run on a device.
▪ It can be thought of as the variable part of a computer, while hardware
is the invariable part.
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▪ The two main categories of software are application software and system
software.
▪ An application is software that fulfills a specific need or performs tasks.
▪ System software is designed to run a computer's hardware and provides a
platform for applications to run on top of.
▪ Other types of software include programming software, which provides the
programming tools software developers need; middleware, which sits
between system software and applications; and driver software, which
operates computer devices and peripherals.
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Types of Software:
Software
Application
System software
software
Utility software
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Utility software:
• Utility software helps to manage, maintain and control
computer resources.
• Example of utility programs are
• Antivirus software
• Backup software and
• Disk tool
System software:
◤
• Perform basic function necessary to operate a computer.
• Control computer hardware and other resources.
• Allows application software to interact with computer to perform
its tasks.
• Usually supplied by the manufacturer of the computer hardware.
• And it was intended to be used by all users of that system.
• The Operating System(OS) is the best known example of system
software.
• Other examples are Device Drivers, Language translators,
Assemblers, Loaders, Linkers, Text editors, Compilers, Debugging
system, Source code control system, Macro processors.
Operating System:
◤
▪ When Power ON operating system is the first software to load into
computer.
• Monitoring all the hardware components are in a ready state.
• It is an Interface between the user and the system.
• The OS manages all the other programs in a computer.
• Example: MacOS, GNU/Linux, Android, Windows.
• Many operating systems installing the Application software's along
with it.
• Such software is not considered system software when it can be
uninstalled usually without affecting the functioning of other
software.
• Example: Internet explorer, Microsoft edge.
Device Driver:
◤
• Computer parts need a driver because they do not use a standard
commands.
• A device driver is a program that lets the operating system
communicate with specific computer hardware.
• Examples:
• Computer printers
• Graphic cards
• Modems
• Network cards
• Sound cards
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Language Translator:
• Machine level language
(Binary Digit 0 and 1)
• Assembly level language
(Bit English keywords)
• High level language
(Normal English words)
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Assembler:
Convert “Assembly Level Language” to “Machine Level
Language”.
• Interpreter:
▪ Convert “High Level Language” to “Machine Level
Language”.
▪ It will convert this line by line. So it will take more time to
compile.
▪ It will lake less memory to work.
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Compiler:
▪ Convert “High Level Language” to “Machine Level
Language”.
▪ Convert whole program into executable format.
▪ It will take less time to compile.
▪ It will take more memory to work.
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What is an Application Software?
▪ The term “application software” refers to software that performs
specific functions for a user.
▪ When a user interacts directly with a piece of software, it is called
application software.
▪ An Application Software is basically is a program or set of programs
that perform a specific task.
▪ In addition to this, end-users use this software. Hence, the
name end-user programs.
▪ We can also name this software as an app. There are different types of
application software both for simple as well as complex tasks.
▪ The sole purpose of application software is to assist the user in
◤ specified tasks.
doing
▪ Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as popular web browsers
like Firefox and Google Chrome, are examples of application
software.
▪ It also encompasses the category of mobile apps, which
includes apps like WhatsApp for communication and games
like Candy Crush Saga.
▪ There are also app versions of popular services, such as weather
or transportation information, as well as apps that allow users to
connect with businesses.
▪ Global Positioning System (GPS), Graphics, multimedia,
presentation software, desktop publishing software, and so on
are examples of such software.
Advantages
◤ of Application Software
• It meets the client’s particular requirements. The client
recognizes that they must use one explicit program to
complete the task because it is planned explicitly for one
reason.
• Businesses that are associated with particular applications
can restrict access and consider ways to monitor their
operations.
• With the logic of health, standard updates from engineers
for Licensed application programming can be obtained.
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Disadvantages of Application Software
• Developing application software to achieve certain goals
can be quite expensive for developers.
• This can have an impact on their financial plan and income
stream, especially if an excessive amount of time is spent
on a product that is not generally worthy.
• Application software that is frequently used by many of us
and then published on the internet poses a genuine risk of
infection by a bug or other malicious projects.
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