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Operating Systems: System Software, or Systems Software, Is

System software provides services to other software and includes operating systems, computational science software, game engines, industrial automation software, and software as a service applications. In contrast, application software allows users to create documents, play games, browse the web, etc. The line between system and application software is sometimes blurred, as operating systems often bundle applications and cloud-based software provides services to other software clients. System software also includes kernels, device drivers, and utility programs that help configure, optimize and maintain computers.

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88 views

Operating Systems: System Software, or Systems Software, Is

System software provides services to other software and includes operating systems, computational science software, game engines, industrial automation software, and software as a service applications. In contrast, application software allows users to create documents, play games, browse the web, etc. The line between system and application software is sometimes blurred, as operating systems often bundle applications and cloud-based software provides services to other software clients. System software also includes kernels, device drivers, and utility programs that help configure, optimize and maintain computers.

Uploaded by

Badder Danbad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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System software, or systems software, is computer software designed to provide services to

other software.[1] Examples of system software include operating systems, computational


science software, game engines, industrial automation, and software as a service applications.
[2]

In contrast to system software, software that allows users to do things like create text
documents, play games, listen to music, or web browsers to surf the web are
called application software.[3]

The line where the distinction should be drawn is not always clear. Many operating systems
bundle application software. Such software is not considered system software when it can be
uninstalled usually without affecting the functioning of other software. Exceptions could be
e.g. web browsers such as Internet Explorer where Microsoft argued in court that it was
system software that could not be uninstalled. Later examples are Chrome OS and Firefox
OS where the browser functions as the only user interface and the only way to run programs
(and other web browser can not be installed in their place), then they can well be argued
to be (part of) the operating system and then system software.

Another borderline example is cloud based software. This software provides services to a
software client (usually a web browser or a JavaScript application running in the web
browser), not to the user directly, and is therefore systems software. It is also developed
using system programming methodologies and systems programming languages. Yet from the
perspective of functionality there is little difference between a word processing application
and word processing web application.

Operating systems or System control programs[edit]


The operating system (prominent examples being Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
X and Linux), allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like
transferring data between memory and disks or rendering output onto a display device. It
provides a platform (hardware abstraction layer) to run high-level system software
and application software.
A kernel is the core part of the operating system that defines an API for applications
programs (including some system software) and an interface to device drivers.
Device drivers, including also computer BIOS and device firmware, provide basic
functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer.
A user interface "allows users to interact with a computer." [4] Either a command-line
interface (CLI) or, since the 1980s a graphical user interface (GUI). Since this is the part of
the operating system the user directly interacts with, it may be considered an application and
therefore not a system software.

Utility software or system support programs[edit]


For historical reasons, some organizations use the term systems programmer to describe a job
function which is more accurately termed systems administrator. Software tools these
employees use are then called system software. This so-called Utility software helps to
analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer, such as virus protection. In some
publications, the term system software also includes software development tools (like
a compiler, linker or debugger).[5]

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