Scribd
Upload
30 views

Lec. 12

Computer software is a collection of instructions that tell a computer how to work. It includes programs like operating systems, utilities, and applications. System software acts as an interface between hardware and users, controlling parts of the computer. Application software is designed to solve specific problems or tasks. Examples include word processors, spreadsheets, and games. Hardware requires software to make it usable, as software directs hardware to execute commands.

Uploaded by

Annie Leonhart
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
30 views

Lec. 12

Computer software is a collection of instructions that tell a computer how to work. It includes programs like operating systems, utilities, and applications. System software acts as an interface between hardware and users, controlling parts of the computer. Application software is designed to solve specific problems or tasks. Examples include word processors, spreadsheets, and games. Hardware requires software to make it usable, as software directs hardware to execute commands.

Uploaded by

Annie Leonhart
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 16

Computer

Software
Instructor: Habiba Arshad
What is a Computer Software?
• Computer software, or simply software, is a
collection of data or computer instructions that
tell the computer how to work.

• This is in contrast to physical hardware, from which


the system is built and actually performs the work.

• Examples

Ms word, excel, power point, spread sheets,


library management system etc.
Hardware vs Software
• H/W includes the physical parts of a computer, whereas , software is the
set of instructions that can be stored and run by hardware.
• They are complementary to each other same H/W may perform
different jobs using different S/W
• Hardware is so-termed because it is "hard" or rigid with respect to
changes, whereas software is "soft" because it is easy to change.
• S/W(Software) makes H/W(Hardware) usable by directing to execute
any command or instruction.
• A combination of hardware and software forms a
usable computing system.
Types of Software

• System Software
• Application Software
Types of Software
System Software
• “Program or set of program that are specially designed to
operate, control, and extend the processing capabilities of a
computer system”.
• System software serves as the interface between the hardware
and the end users.
• It controls the working of different parts of computer.
• It enables other application programs to work properly
System Software
Example
The examples of system software are:
• Operating System
• Utility Program
• Device Drivers
Operating System
An operating system is a collection of program that
controls and co-ordinates the overall operation of a
computer system
These programs provide interface between the user
and the computer system
A computer needs and an operating system to do
work, without operating system it is like a car with
no fuel.
An application program cannot access I/O devices
or execute program instructions itself. The
operating system performs these tasks through CPU
on behalf of application programs
Operating System
Operating system performs following tasks such as;
• Accepts input from input devices
• Sends output to output devices
• Manages the application program in memory
• Manages the files on the storage devices
• Manages and controls the I/O devices etc.
Utility Programs
A software which is manufactured to help ,analyze, configure,
optimize or to maintain a computer.
Some utility programs are;
• Diagnostic utility program
• Disk Scanner
• Disk Defragmenter
• Backup utility
• Virus-detection and recovery utilities
• File-compression utilities
• Spam and pop-up blocker utilities
Device Drivers
The programs that operate and control the devices attached to the
computer are called device drivers
Attached devices needs a software that tells the computer how to
use the device
It loads every time in memory.
When a new device is added the driver should be installed in order
to run the program
Features of System Software
•Close to system
•Fast in speed
•Difficult to design
•Difficult to understand
•Less interactive
•Smaller in size
•Difficult to manipulate
•Generally written in low level language
Types of Software
Application Software
Designed to solve a specific problem or to do a specific task.
It can be of different types such as; commercial software, scientific
software, Games and multimedia software etc.
Application Software
Categories of Application Software

Types of Application
Forms of Application Software
Types of Application Software

• Proprietary
• In-house

• Contract

• Off-the-shelf
Types of Application Software
• Proprietary
• Proprietary software is a licensed (non-free) software that legally remains the
property of the organisation, group, or individual who created it.
• Examples of proprietary software include Microsoft Windows, Adobe Flash
Player, PS3 OS, iTunes, Adobe Photoshop, Google Earth, macOS (formerly Mac
OS X and OS X), Skype, WinRAR, Oracle's version of Java and some versions
of Unix.
• In-house
In In-house software applications are developed with the help of
company resources for its own internal use.
Types of Application Software
• Off-the-shelf
An existing software program that can be used without any changes
expected.
• Contract
The software which is developed for a specific company for their
requirement.

You might also like