Computer Software
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Software
The set of instructions that direct the
computer what to do and how to do
A compute needs instruction for doing a
job b/c it is a machine
Instructions are written in a specific
computer language
The set of such instructions (programs)
are called software
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Software
Shareware
Shareware is also called trial-ware and refers to licensed
software that is delivered to the user without payment for
trial uses with limited functionality and for a specific period
after which it expires.
Freeware:
The term freeware refers to the meaning “free software”.
It is computer software available to the user with no cost
or for an optional free, but usually with one or more
restrictions to the user.
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Software
What is licensed software?
A computer software that is licensed and user have the full
rights to use it. The user is restricted from modification,
distribution and re-building of the software without the
permission of the copyright holder.
What is firmware?
It is a term often used for the fixed, small programs
embedded in hardware that controls various electronic
devices. These programs are written in machine languages
and are permanently embedded in the hardware for which it
is developed.
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Types of software
System software
Application
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System software
Set of programs that operate and control
the computer system
System software can do one or more of the
following jobs:
◦ Supports the development of the other
application software
◦ Supports the execution of other application
software
◦ Monitors the use of hardware resources
◦ Operating system, device drivers and language
processors are the examples of system software
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Application Software
The type of software that can be used for
a variety of tasks
It is not limited to one particular function
Examples are:
◦ Accounting software
◦ Office suites
◦ Graphics software
◦ Media players
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Types of system software
Operating System
The set of programs that manages and
coordinates the hardware of a computer
It provides services to application software,
programmers and users of computer
Without of operating system a computer
can not do anything useful
Common examples are:
◦ Windows
◦ Macintosh
◦ UNIX
◦ Linux
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Device Driver
It controls a particular type of device that
is attached to the computer
Without device driver, a hardware device
would not be able to work with the
computer
Examples are
◦ Device drivers for printers, scanner, graphics
card, network card
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Language Processor
It translates a source program (other than
machine language) into object program
(machine language)
There are three types of language
processors:
◦ Interpreter
◦ Compiler
◦ Assembler
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Interpreter
It translate high level language program
line by line
It carries out the specified actions in a
sequence
It converts one program statement into
machine language, execute it and then
proceeds to the next statement
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Compiler
It translates source code into a set of
machine language instruction
It translate the source code as a whole
Compiler has the capability of error
checking, provides helps to the
programmer
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Assembler
It is a translator which is used to convert
an assembly language program into a
machine language
It only translates assembly language
program
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Types of application software
General purpose application software
Special purpose or customized application
software
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General purpose application
software
These application software are programs
that perform common information
processing jobs for users
These are called packages or commercial
software
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Exp: of Application software
Database software: used for creating
database, to retrieve, manipulate, and
update the data that we store in database
◦ MySQL, MS-SQL and Oracle
Multimedia software: to create and play
audio and video media
◦ Real player and Windows Media player
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Exp: of Application software
Word processors: to create, edit and
format text documents
◦ MS-Word, WordPad and Notepad
Presentation software: to create on-
screen presentation, reports and
slideshows
◦ it allows to combine both text and graphics in
a single documents
MS-PowerPoint
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Special Purpose Software
Designed to perform a specific task
It is also called custom software
It performs only one task for which it has
been designed
For large organization, custom software
may be extremely complex and takes a lot
of time to develop
◦ Software to maintain Bank Accounts
◦ Software to process inventory control, etc
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Thank you
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