Software
Presented By Sarah Hanif
Overview of todays lecture
What is a Software?
Types of Software
System Software
Operating System
Device Drivers
Firmware
Utility
What is a Software?
A software or computer software essentially a type of programs which
enable the users to perform some particular specific task or actually
used to operate their computer. It essentially directs all of the
peripheral devices on the entire computer system- what exactly to do
and how exactly to perform a task.
A software plays a key role of a mediator between the user and the
computer hardware.
A software is an interface between Users and computer.
In the absence of software, a user essentially can’t perform any task
on a computer. A software product development company or a
softwarehouse is the one which develops software for the users.
Interface between Users and
computer
Types of Software
Generally, there are two main types of software, which are namely,
1. System Software
2. Application Software
Let’s discuss them.
System Software
In case of a system software, it helps the user as well as the hardware to
function and even interact with each other easily. Essentially, it is a
software which is used to manage the behavior of the computer
hardware in order to offer basic functionalities which are needed by the
user. In simpler word, it can be said that system software is essentially
an intermediator or even a middle layer between the user as well as
hardware
System Software
These software provides an environment or platform for the other
software to easily work in. Hence, it is the reason why the system
software is quite important in the management of the entire
computer system. Whenever you turn on the computer first, it is this
system software which gets initialized and then gets loaded in the
system’s memory. A system software essentially runs in the
background, and it isn’t actually utilized by the end-users. Due to this
reason, the system software is also known popularly as “low-level
software”.
Few of the common system software examples are:
Operating System
Being a prominent example for system software, it is essentially a collection of
software which handles resources(Input output devices, hard disks, printers etc)
as well as offers general services for various other application which actually run
over them. There are different types of operating systems like embedded, single-
user, multi-user, mobile, internet and much more. Full stack web development
services develop apps to operate on a mobile operating system like Android and
iOS. Some of the key examples of operating systems are as follows:
MS Windows
macOS
Linux
iOS
Android
Device Driver
This type of software controls particular hardware which is attached
to the system. Different hardware devices which require a driver to
connect to a system easily consist of displays, printers, sound cards,
hard disks, keyboard, and mice. Few of the examples of such drivers
are:
Printer Drivers
USB Drivers
Sound Card Driver
Motherboard Drivers
Display Driver
Utility
These software are designed to assist and maintaining a given
computer system. It provides support to the computer infrastructure.
Software like disk cleanup and management tools, anti-viruses,
defragmenters, compression tools etc. are all utility software. Some of
its examples are:
Norton Antivirus
McAfee Antivirus
WinRAR
WinZip
Functions of operating system
Process Management.
Resource Management.
File Management.
Communication Management.
Security Management.
Memory Management.
Device Controlling.
Process management
All process from start to shut down, Open, Save, Install, Copy, Print.
CPU can perform one task at one time. if there are many tasks,
operating system decides which task should get the CPU
Resource Management
Installing drivers required for
input
communication output,
memory,
power,
communication devices.
File Management
Name
Folders.
Location.
Attributes – size, type, modified, protection, password etc
Communication Management
Downloading-Uploading.
One computer to other computer in One computer to other computer
in LAN/WAN.
Security Management.
Virus management.
Alert messages.
Dialogue boxes.
Firewall.
Passwords./ Access protection
. Memory Management
its also an important function of operating system. The memory
cannot be managed without operating system.
If there is no operating system, the programs may mix with each
other. The system will not work properly.
Primary RAM-ROM.
Secondary – Hard Disc, CD, DVD, Pen Drive etc.
Device Controlling
Operating system also controls all devices attached to computer. The
hardware devices are controlled with the help of small software called
device drivers.