SYSTEM SOFTWARE
1. OPERATING SYSTEMS
An operating system (OS) is a software program that manages a computer's
hardware and software resources. It acts as an interface between the user and the
computer's hardware, allowing the user to interact with the computer's
applications.
2. TRANSLATOR PROGRAM
A translator program is a computer application that converts source code into
object code, or text from one language to another.
FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM
1. POST POWER ON SELF TEST
a. POST (Power-On Self-Test) is a diagnostic process that occurs when a
computer is powered on.
2. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is firmware embedded on a computer's
motherboard that initializes and manages hardware during the booting process.
3. USER INERFACE
A user interface (UI) is the way a user interacts with a device, application, or
website. It can include the appearance of a desktop, display screens,
keyboards,
a. CUI-COMMAND USER INTERFACE
b. GUI GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
c. NATURAL USER INTERFACE (NUI)
d. TOUCHSCREEN
CUI-COMMAND USER INTERFACE
User interface that allows users to interact with a computer system or
software by typing commands
BENEFITS
You can fix problems
Run faster
Works with ordinary hardware devices
DRAWBACKS
Long commands
Too many commands
Have to type
More chances errors
Typing takes time
No colour effects
No sound
Difficult to learn and use
GUI GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
Based On WIMP Stands For (Window, Icon, Menus, Pointers)
BENEFITS
Easy commands ENGLISH like words
You can click and type, give appropriate errors
Colour effects, sound effects
Easy to learn and use
More secure, more enjoyable
Net connectivity, safe
DRAWBACK
Suitable hardware needed
More memory, better graphics card etc
NATURAL USER INTERFACE (NUI)
Voice recognition
o Audio input
Voice synthesis
o Audio output
TOUCHSCREEN
4. PROGRAM–HARDWARE INTERFACE
Programmers write software and users run the software.
The software uses the hardware.
The operating system has to ensure that what the hardware does
What the software wants it to do.
The operating system then has to provide the mechanism for running
the developed program.
5. MEMORY MANAGEMENT-PROCESS
Process of allocating memory to the program(s)
There are three important aspects of memory management.
MEMORY PROTECTION
Ensures that one program does not try to use the same memory
Memory organisation scheme is chosen size, for example, virtual
memory involving paging...MEMORY...PAGE FRAMES or segmentation.
MEMORY USAGE OPTIMISATION
Involves decisions about which processes should be in main memory
6. HARDWARE/DEVICE MANAGEMENT
PROCESS OF DEVICE CONTROLLING
To avoid conflictions between devices
Every computer system has a variety of components that are
categorised as ‘devices’ in the device manager.
Examples include the monitor screen, the keyboard, the printer and the
webcam. the management of these requires:
Installation of the appropriate device driver software
Control of usage by processes.
7. INTERRUPT HANDLING
Interrupts are electronic signals can be sent by
Sources of interrupts?
o Device/program/user
All states of the processes are detected using interrupts
o Busy, idle (free), malfunction
Incidents when interrupts are executed?
o Click-print-save-error-i/o operation
All interrupt programs executed from ISR
ISR-Interrupt Service Routines
8. FILE/FOLDER MANAGEMENT FUNCTION/PROCESS
File naming conventions
o [Link]/xlsx/pdf
Create/move/cut/copy (file manipulation)
Compress/zip
Send to email/fax/computer
Access control / attributes /rights allocation / permissions
o Read / write / modify / print / full
File password
Backup/restore
Sharing on the network
9. SECURITY
Data protection using password
User ids and passwords
Encryption a . .y y...a decryption
o Plain....cypher .... plain
User logs (history/past usage details)
o Date time in time out pc printing of bill report
Anti-virus / anti hacking /
Anti phishing - to prevent email scams
Anti pharming - to prevent URL misdirection
Backup to avoid disasters (least important)
o Move data from computer to external drives
Restore
o Move data from external drives to computer
Lock the computer using ctrl+alt+delete
Security features not provided by an operating system
o Physical checks-(Lock The Door)
o CCTV camera
[Link] DETECTION/RECOVERY
PROCESS TO DETECT OR TO REPORT ERRORS
o EXAMPLES
Path does not exist
Printer is out of paper
Printer is out of ink
Device not connected/ready
Driver is missing
[Link] SOFTWARE (DISK MANAGEMENT)
Additional programs
Useful to do something different
Sometimes plugged in with an OS
Examples: Disk Utility Software
DISK CLEAN UP
TO CLEAN THE BAD SECTORS FROM THE DISK
REMOVE UNNECESSARY FILES
o [Link]
o [Link]
ANTI-VIRUS
TO DETECT AND CLEAN VIRUSES
COMPRESSION
TO REDUCE FILE SIZES
FORMAT (DISK)
To remove all data and folders
Make your disk empty
All tracks/sectors and clusters are recreated
FAT - create file allocation table
NTFS- new technology file system
Quick/full
PARTITION DIFFERENT SECTION OF HARD DISK (DISK)
Can be denoted as c/d/e/f drive
DISK CLEAN UP (DISK)
Check you computer disk
Marks all the bad sectors (if any)
Can remove unnecessary files also
Removes internet files/deleted file
DEFRAGMENTER
A Defragmenter utility program re-organises the data on a
storage device, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), to improve its
efficiency and performance. Over time, as files are created,
modified, and deleted, data can become fragmented, meaning
that pieces of a single file are scattered across different
locations on the disk. This fragmentation can lead to slower read
and write speeds because the read/write head of the drive has
to move to multiple locations to access a single file.
Bring all used clusters together and unused clusters together
o How do you do it?
Using utility program called defragmenter
FRAGMENTATION (Caution:)
Process of recording data with spaces in between
BACKUP MAKE COPIES
What is backup? Second copy of original data
What is a backup utility?
o Additional program used to make copies
o How frequently do you create backup? It depends upon the:
Importance of data
Volume of data
o Where are backup kept?
At multiple places
Cloud drive
USB
o Backup types/options:
Backup all files
Incremental backup newly/recently added files
Differential backup changes are recorded e.g. update
info
Conditional/schedule backup e.g. every Mon/Wed/Fri
at 5:00 pm
FILE COMPRESSION
Reduces the file size
so that you can transfer easily
after compression, decompression is must
types are lossy and loss less
VIRUS CHECK/ANTI-VIRUS
Scan your pc to detect viruses
Removes all viruses
Can be scheduled: e.g. Scanning automatically at startup time
LANGUAGE
Machine language, also known as machine code, is the lowest-level programming language that is
directly understood by a computer's central processing unit (CPU). It consists of binary code (0s and
1s) that represents instructions for the CPU to execute.
01010111 00000100
Assembly Language: Uses mnemonic codes and symbols to represent machine-level
instructions. Assembly language is more readable than machine language
LDM #4
High-level languages (HLL) are programming languages are designed to be easy for
humans to read and write, allowing programmers to focus on problem-solving rather than
the intricacies of the computer's architecture.
For i=1 to 10
[Link](“Sample program”
Next
for i in range(1,11):
print(“Sample program”)
LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS
COMPILERS made for HLL
INTERPRETER made for HLL
ASSEMBLER (ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE)
ASSEMBLER
An assembler is a type of software tool that translates assembly language, a low-level
programming language, into machine code, which is the binary code that a computer's
processor can execute directly.
COMPILER
How it works?
A compiler is a specialized software tool that translates source code written
in a high-level programming language into object code or machine code.
Read your program in one-go from top to bottom
Produces either an
o Error code/file
o Object code (if no errors)
You can refer to error code to remove all errors
Then recompile again.
This process is repeated until all errors are removed
Object code is sent to the linker program (link up all modules)
o .exe file is created
o .exe is sold out
Original program is kept by the programmer (becomes secure)
Benefits:
Best for commercial purposes
Secure
Faster translation
No recompilation is done once compiled
Drawback:
Complex to debug
INTERPRETER
How it works? Interpreter
Read, decode, and run your program line by line
halts in case of error
users have to make correction (debugging)
re-translation starts from line one every time
re-translates your translated program every time you run it
interpreter and original program should be present on your pc to run
Benefits:
Easy debugging
One can learn and understand easily
Mistakes are removed gradually
Drawback:
Time consuming it would re-translate your program every time you run
Non-secure as you have to hand over the code to your client
Caution: Never recommended for commercial applications
Java
Your computer should have java virtual machine
You write your program in it
Your written program is called java byte code
Program Libraries
Definition: A program library is a collection of precompiled routines that a
program can use. These routines can be functions, classes, or other code
structures that provide specific functionality.
Usage: Libraries are used to promote code reuse, modularity, and organization in
software development.
Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs)
Definition: A DLL is a specific type of dynamic library used primarily in Windows
operating systems. It contains code and data that can be used by multiple
programs simultaneously.