TYPES OF SOFTWARE

Software is an organized instructions/code written by programmers using any of various special

computer languages for specific purpose.
Types of software:
(1) System software: controls the basic functions of a computer & hides complexity of computer
system from user and application software. E.g. Operating System, Compiler, Interpret etc.
(2) Application software: It handles specialized/ common tasks a user wants to perform, such as
banking, hotel management, any data processing, word processing etc.
(3) Utility software: Which helps to manage, maintain and control computer resources. E.g. are
antivirus software, backup software
1) System software
OPERATING SYSTEM
An Operating System (OS) is a system program that controls and manages the computer
resources(resource manager) so that application software can run on it.
Example: Microsoft Windows, Solaris, Linux, MAC OS,Ubuntu, Apple’s i-Phone OS etc.

HOW OPERATING SYSTEM WORKS

In any computer or mobile device, the operating system can be termed as the back bone when it comes
to software. This is because it has to be there before other programs can be run.It works as a
middleman (interface) between machine and user.
At the simplest level, an operating system does two things:
• It manages the hardware resources of the computer system. These resources include such
things as the processor, memory, disk space, etc.
• It provides a stable, consistent way for applications to deal with the hardware without having to
know all the details of the hardware.

FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEM

• Processor management
• Memory management
• Device management
• Storage management
• Application interface
• User interface
• Process management
• Process a program in execution is known as process
• Handling of multiple processes at a time is known as process management.
• Process States
TYPE OF OPERATING SYSTEM
* Single-User, Single Task Operating System:
These operating systems work on single task & single user at a time.E.g. DOS
* Single-User, Multi-Task Operating System:
These operating systems works on more than one task and process them concurrently at a
time.E.g. windows 95 or later version of windows
* Multiuser Operating System:
In these OS, multiple users are allowed to access the same data or information at a time via a network.
E.g. Unix,Linux,Windows7.
* Multiprocessing Operating System:
Here, a single process runs on two or more processors. All the processing and their management takes
place in a parallel way, hence this OS are also called as Parallel Processing. E.g. Linux, UNIX and
Windows 7.
* Embedded Operating System:
These are embedded in a device, which is located in ROM.E.g. OS of microwaves,washing
machine.
* Distributed Operating System:
In these OS, the computers work in co-operation with each other.

SYSTEM SOFTWARE/PROGRAMMING SOFTWARES

Language processor/Programming tool
As the computer understand machine language(0/1) where as Humans understand High level/Human
Lang. Language Processors does the conversion task(high level to machine lang.)
These are of 3 types Language processors
1. Compilers-It convert high-level language code to machine code in one session. It takes time
because it have to translate high-level code to lower-level machine language all at once and then save
the executable object code to memory.
2. Interpreters-It translates code like a compiler but reads the code and immediately executes that
code, and therefore it is faster than a compiler.
3. Assemblers-It translates an assembly language program into machine language. One-pass
assemblers go through the source code once. Any symbol used before it is defined will require "errata"
at the end of the object telling the linker or the loader to "go back" and overwrite a placeholder which
had been left where the as yet undefined symbol was used.
Multi-pass assemblers create a table with all symbols and their values in the first passes, then use the
table in later passes to generate code.
(2) Application software
* General Purpose application software
These are ready to use software for daily use purpose
e.g. word processor,spreadsheet,presention,DBMS etc.
* Specific Purpose application software Softwares which are designed for specific task
e.g. Payroll,HotelMgmt,HospitalMgmt,StockMgmt etc.
(3) Utility software/System Utilities
that assist OS in carrying out certain specialized tasks are called utility software.
Antivirus - An anti-virus scans the system for any virus and if detected, gets rid of it by deleting
or isolating it.
Compression tools - Compression tools are utilities that assist operating systems in shortening
files so that they take less space.
(3) Utility software/System Utilities
Disk Cleanup - Disk cleanup tools assist users in freeing up disk space.
Disk Defragmenter - Disk defragmenter is a disk management utility that increases file access
speeds by rearranging fragmented files on contiguous locations.
Backup - Backup utility enables backing up of files, folders, databases or complete disks.
File management tools - Utility software providing regular file management tasks like browse,
search, update, preview, etc. are called file management tools.
Restore – This utility restores the backup earlier taken.
Device driver or hardware driver is a group of files that enable one or more hardware devices
to communicate with the computer's operating system. Without drivers, the computer would not be
able to send and receive data correctly to hardware devices, such as a printer

MCQ
1. Smallest measurement unit of computer memory is?
(a) Megabyte
(b) Bit
(c) Byte

(d) Killo Byte

2. How many bytes are in 1 Kilobyte?

(a) 8 Bytes
(b) 128 Bytes
(c) 1024 Bytes
(d) 256 Bytes

3. Read Only Memory (ROM) is a memory.

(a) Non Volatile Memory
(b) Volatile Memory
(c) Both (a & b)
(d) None of these
4. Which of the following is designed to control the operations of a computer?
a) Application Software
b) System Software
c) Utility Software
d) User

5. The software designed to perform a specific task:

a) Synchronous Software
b) Package Software
c) Application Software
d) System Software

6. The software substituted for hardware and stored in ROM.

a) Synchronous Software
b) Package Software
c) Firmware
d) Middleware

7. Which of the following is not application software?

a) Windows 7
b) WordPad
c) Photoshop
d) MS-excel

Very Short Answer Questions

1. Namethesoftwarerequiredtomakeacomputerfunctional.Writedownitstwoprimaryservices
.
2. What is the need for secondary memory?
3. Draw the block diagram of a computer system. Briefly write about the functionality of each
component.

Short Answer Questions

1. State the basic units of Computer along with its sub units and their functions.
2. Differentiate between RAM and ROM.
3. What is the role of CPU in Computer System?

Long Answer Questions

1. Name any four secondary storage media.
2. Define software. Explain with examples- System Software, Utility Software and
Application Software.
3. Write short notes on Assembler, Compiler and Interpreter.