Chapter 5
Computer Software – System
Software & Application Software
Dr. Khalid S. Rabayah
1
Outline
Introduction
The System Software
Application Software
2
Objectives
Study the different kinds of computer software.
Explain the different functions of an operating system.
Be familiar with the most widely used operating systems.
3
System, application and programming
software
System software helps run the computer hardware
and computer system. It includes operating systems,
device drivers, diagnostic tools, servers, windowing
systems(GUI) , utilities (Anti-Virus) and more.
Application software allows a user to accomplish one
or more specific tasks. Typical applications include
office suites, business software, educational
software, databases and computer games.
Programming software usually provides some useful
tools to help programmer to write computer
programs and software using different programming
language in a more convenient way. The tools
include text editor, compiler, interpreter, linker,
debugger, and so on.
4
Software classification
shell is the interface that allows the kernel is the core of the operating
users to communicate with the system that controls all the tasks5
Application Software
Application software makes computer popular
and easy to use
Common application software:
Microsoft Word, WordPerfect
PowerPoint
Netscape, Internet Explorer
Photoshop, Photo-Paint
Quick Time
Dreamweaver
…
6
System software: Operating System
Users Application programs
Operating system
hardware
Definition : An operating system is a
collection of programs that manages the
activities of the computer system.
7
Computer Software Relationships
User Interface Application Programs
User Interface Operating System
User Basic Input and Output Services (BIOS)
Interface • needed for a computer to boot up
Computer Hardware
8
ifferences Among Operating Systems
Command line
interfaces/ graphical
user interfaces
Personal/network
operating systems
Multiple
processors/shared
CPU to speed up
processing
9
Common Operating Systems for Desktop PCs and Servers-2
Windows: a series of graphical interface operating systems
developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft.
Mac OS : is an icon-oriented operating system, and used with
Apple Macintosh computers.
Unix: PC and server operating system,
• Not built around any one particular family of
microprocessors,
• Variety of computers-from mainframes to PCs.
• Command-line operating system, newer versions use a
GUI.
Linux: Linux is a version of Unix originally created in 1991.
• Open-source software
• Traditionally a command-line operating system, some
versions now use a GUI.
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Functions of the operating systems
Boot up (start up) the computer and configure
devices
Schedule programs for execution
Coordinate the execution of programs
Interface with users
Manage system resources and jobs
Monitor activities such as terminating programs
that perform illegal operations
Keeping track of free disk space and memory
Perform several computer security procedures
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Processing Techniques for Increased Efficiency
Multitasking, the computer
can work on several programs
or tasks concurrently.
[edit one document while another program
is running]
Multiprocessing: use of two
or more CPUs, linked together,
to perform work on different
programs at one time.
Parallel processing where
multiple CPUs work on one job
at the same time
12
Batch processing
13
Time-sharing principle:
active programs in the system that need
processing, giving each one a small slice of
time on each cycle.
14
Operating System
Components
Shell: Communicates with users
◦ Text based
◦ Graphical user interface (GUI)
Kernel: Performs basic required functions
◦ File manager
◦ Device drivers
◦ Memory manager
◦ Scheduler and dispatcher .. Sec#3
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The shell as an interface
between users and the
operating system
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File Manager
Directory (or
Folder): A user-
created bundle of
files and other
directories
(subdirectories)
Directory Path: A
sequence of
directories within
directories
17
Memory Manager – Additional
OS Tasks
Allocates space in main memory
May create the illusion that the
machine has more memory than it
actually does (virtual memory) by
playing a “shell game” in which
blocks of data (pages) are shifted
back and forth between main
memory and mass storage
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Getting it Started
(Bootstrapping)
Bootstrap: Program in ROM
◦Run by the CPU when power is
turned on
◦Transfers operating system from
mass storage to main memory
◦Runs operating system
19
The booting process
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