TYPES OF SOFTWARE
Introduction
Computer being an electronic device, understands only electric
pulses i.e. whether the electricity is flowing through a circuit or
not. We denote these two states of pulses (electricity flowing &
not flowing) by 1 and 0, and thus computer understands a
language that consists of only two 'characters' namely 1 and 0.
This special language is popularly known as Binary language or
Machine language, which is directly understood by the
computer. 0 and 1, the digits of binary language or Binary
Digits are also known as Bits (Binary Digits). Binary language
consists of ones and zeros, typically in groups of 8 or 16 bits,
used for storing characters and numbers.
Interacting with Hardware
An ordered set of instructions given to the computer is known as a
program and a set of such PROGRAMS that governs the operation of a
computer system and/or its related devices is known as SOFTWARE.
User
Appn Software
System software
Hardware
Types of Software
Type Of Software
System Software Application Software
BIOS Utility Software
Operating System General Purpose SW
Device Driver Customized Software
Language Processor
System Software
The functions of all the physical components of a computer
system are guided by some instructions or program collectively
known as System Software. System Software controls all
internal activities inside a computer system and between all
attached components of a computer system.
Major activities performed by System Software are :-
Reads data and instructions through the input devices
Translates all data and instruction into computer
understandable form and vice versa
Controls all devices attached to the computer system
Processes and generates the result on the output devices
System Software - OS
Operating system is a set of system programs that controls and
coordinates the operations of a computer system. It provide
interaction between user and computer.
It is stored (installed) on the hard disk or any other external storage
device.
It is the first program to be executed on a computer after the BIOS.
Need of Operating system: it provides a software platform, on top
of which, other programs, called application programs are run.
System Software - OS
Major Functions of Operating System are :-
Device Manager - Communicate with hardware and the attached
devices.
Memory Manager - Manage different types of memories
Interface Manager - Provide a user interface
Program Manager - Provide a structure for accessing an application
Task Manager - Enable users to manipulate programs and data
File Manager - Manage the files, folders and directory systems on a
computer
Network Manager - Provide basic networking structure for LAN and
Internet
Security Manager - A smart OS also provides a minimal security to the
computer system through authorization (user name) and authentications
(password)
User Interface
It is the medium by which user interact with any
software. This interface may by text based on
graphical based or it may be touch screen.
Based on this User interface may be categorized
as:
CUI (Character User Interface)
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
Character User Interface
This type of interface requires user to type each
instructions on its prompt to send request to
computer.
User must remember each command with proper
syntax to perform its operation.
It is not very easy and user friendly.
Example of this type of interface was DOS (Disk
Operating System), it is still available with windows
as CMD program where we can type the DOS
commands
Character User Interface
Graphical User Interface
It is more user friendly interface than CUI which uses
images, icons to represent the option, commands.
Various GUI components are used like: Labels, Text
Box, Buttons, Check Box, Radio Buttons, List Box,
Combo Box, Password field, Menus, Dialog Box etc.
GUI Interface is Event Drive i.e. user must perform
event like – Click, Double Click, Drag to trigger the
action.
Now days every OS/Applications are GUI based
Graphical User Interface
LABEL
TEXT BOX
DROP
DOWN
LIST
RADIO BUTTON
BUTTON
Touch Screen Interface
A touch screen is a computer/mobile display screen
that is allows user to interact with the application by
directly touching it by hand or by stylus. The screens
are sensitive to pressure; a user interacts with the
computer by touching pictures or words on the screen.
System Software - BIOS
The basic input/output system (BIOS) is also commonly
known as the System BIOS. The BIOS is boot firmware, a
small program that controls various electronic devices
attached to the main computer system.
It is designed to be the first set of instructions run by a
Computer when powered on. The initial function of the
BIOS is to initialize system devices such as the RAM, hard
disk, CD/DVD drive, video display card, and other
hardware.
Device Driver
A device driver is a system software that acts like an
interface between the Device and the user or the
Operating System. All computer accessories like Printer,
Scanner, Web Camera, etc. come with their own driver
software. These driver software help the operating system
and other application software to communicate with those
devices for optimal use
Language Processor
As discussed computer understand only binary language so
it is very difficult for the programmer to write the entire
program as a bunch of 0 and 1. So need arises to have a
language which is easy to write, learn and understand. The
solution was High Level Languages which used simple
English like statements to write the application.
Common Language processors are :
Compiler
Interpreter
Application Software
Application software runs on Operating system. It uses the
services of operating system to interact with hardware.
Set of software to carry out specific task like creating
documents (word processor ), calculations and analysis
(Spreadsheet), Presentations (Power point), Railway
reservation, library management etc.
It is of 4 type:
Utility software
General Purpose Software
Customized software
Developer tool
Utility Software
Utility software for efficient working of our computer and other task.
Various utility softwares available like
Text Editor : for storing short notes, message, coding. Examples
are : Notepad, Notepad++, WordPad
To-Do task : to manage the work.
Compression : to compress i.e. reduce the size of file to transfer
file from one computer to another. Examples are :
WinZip, WinRAR, jZIP etc.
Disk Defragmenter : Disk de-fragmentation utility software
speeds up the system by rearranging such fragmented files
stored on a disk in contiguous locations in order to optimize the
system performance.
Anti-Virus : to protect our computer from threats like Virus, worm,
Trojan horse, banking frauds etc.
General Purpose software
These are the common software used by everyone in
the world. Examples are:
Word Processing : for creating document, letters,
applications. Example : MS-Word, Writer etc
Spreadsheet : for storing data in tabular form, performing
simple calculation, visualization etc. Examples : MS-Excel,
calc.
Presentation : for creating personal of professional
presentation in attractive and interactive way. Examples:
MS-PowerPoint, Impress
Database : to store huge amount of data and also perform
queries on stored data. Examples: Oracle, MySQL, etc
Customized Software
These are tailored software i.e. it is created as per
the need of the customer for their specific
requirement like – for maintaining school operation,
Restaurant management, banking, Hotel, Hospital
management etc.
Compiler
Compilers are used to convert High Level Language
program to machine language
It convert the entire program in machine language
in one go.
If encounter errors, it report all the error along with
the line number.
It convert HLL code in machine code if all errors are
remove, once converted we can directly execute
program without interacting with the compiler.
Interpreter
It is also used for converting HLL into machine
language.
It translate the HLL code line by line as well as
execute at the same time.
If any error occurs, it stops the execution and report
the error.
Difference between Compiler and Interpreter
COMPILER INTERPRETER
It convert the HLL code to machine It convert the HLL code to machine
code in one go code line by line
It report all the error after compilation It report error for only that line where
error encountered
It execute program only when all It convert and execute simultaneously
errors are rectified
It is fast It is slow as compare to compiler
It takes less memory, because after It takes more memory because
conversion compiler is not required in Interpreter is required in memory with
memory with execution every execution.
Not suitable for debugging purpose Suitable for debugging purpose
