COMPUTER SOFTWARE
DEFINITION OF SOFTWARE
The Computer Software (or just software) is a general term used to describe a set of instructions
usually called a program, which control the operations of a computer. These instructions are written
by people, called Programmers, and it is used to direct the hardware component on what, when and
how to accomplish a given task. A program is a sequence of instructions (steps) that the computer
follows to perform a task.
The software is the intangible part of the computer system, though they come in CDs according to
today’s standard.
TYPES OF SOFTWARE
Software can be broadly divided into two, namely,
1. System software.
2. Application software
SYSTEM SOFTWARE:
These are programs that direct and control the running of computer’s hardware and other connected
devices. System software helps the computer to manage its internal and external resources such as
memory and processor. It is also refered to as a permanent component of the computer that controls
its fundamental functions; it provides and maintains a platform for running application software.
The basic types of System Software are:
Operating system
Utility software
Language translators
Device Drivers
OPERATING SYSTEM:
Computers require an operating system (OS) to work. The operating system is a group of programs
that manage the computer system resources, including the data in main memory and in auxiliary
storage. It is the most important piece of software in a computer system. A computer's operating
system (OS) is the systems software that allows all the dissimilar hardware and software components
to work together. It consists of a set of programs that manages all the computer's resources, An OS
provides services that are needed by applications and software, such as reading data from a hard
disk. Parts of an OS may be permanently stored in a computer's ROM.
The operating system has three major functions:
(i) It coordinates and manipulates computer hardware, such as computer memory, printers, disks,
keyboard, mouse, and monitor
(ii) it organizes files on a variety of storage media, such as floppy disk, hard drive, compact disc,
digital video disc, and tape; and
(iii) It manages hardware errors and the loss of data.
General examples of operating systems
i. Microsoft Windows: 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP, NT, Vista, 7, 8, 10, Windows NT, Windows server 2003
ii. Unix: Linux, Ubuntu,
iii. MS-DOS,
iv. Symbian,
v. XENIX,
vi. Novel Netware, etc
Types of Operating System:
(i) Graphical User Interface
(ii) Command based OS
(iii) Single-user OS
(iv) Multi-user OS
(v) Network OS
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
This is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical
icons and visual indicators such as secondary notation, as opposed to text-based interfaces, typed
command labels or text navigation. The actions in GUI are usually performed through direct
manipulation of the graphical elements. Besides in computers, GUIs can be found in hand-held
devices such as MP3 players, portable media players, gaming devices, household appliances, office,
and industry equipment.
Examples of GUI includes Microsoft Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP, NT, Vista, 7, Linux, Ubuntu, etc
COMMAND BASED OS
Command based OS is a text-based interface that is used to operate software and operating systems
while allowing the user to respond to visual prompts by typing single commands into the interface
and receiving a reply in the same way. It is quite different from the graphical user interface (GUI) that
is presently being used in the latest operating systems.
Command based OS allows a user to perform tasks by entering commands. Its working mechanism
is very easy, but it is not user friendly. Users enter the specific command, press “Enter”, and then
wait for a response. After receiving the command, the CLI processes it accordingly and shows the
output/result on the same screen; command line interpreter is us ed for this purpose.
Examples includes MS-DOS, Unix, etc.
SINGLE-USER OS
This is an operating system that is designed to manage the computer resource and allocates them to
one user at a time. Examples include is MS-DOS, Symbian (used in mobile phones e.g nokia,Samsung,
etc. ), etc.
It can be splitted into two;
Single user, single application OS: As the name implies, this operating system is designed to
manage the computer so that one user can effectively do one thing at a time. Eg. Palm OS for
handheld computers
Single user, multitasking OS: This is the type of operating system most people use on their
desktop and laptop computers today. Microsoft Windows and Apple’s MacOS platforms are
both examples of operating systems that will let a single user have several programs in
operation at the same time.
MULTI-USER OS
This is an operating system that allows concurrent access by multiple users of a computer. This
operating system allows more than one user at the same time by making sure that the requirements
of the various users are balanced, and that each of the programs they are using has sufficient and
separate resources so that a problem with one user doesn’t affect the entire community of users.
The process of running more than one program concurrently is known as multiprogramming.
Examples includes UNIX, XENIX, VMS.
NETWORK OS
A network operating system links computers and users together to share resources and
communicate with one another. Common examples of this operating system includes Windows NT,
Windows server 2003, Novel Netware, etc
UTILITY SOFTWARE
They are used for general house-keeping or maintenance functions of the computer. In order words
it is a system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer. It is
also known as service programs because it performs tasks related to the control and allocation of
computer resources. Most utilities are built in as part of the system software.
Examples of utility programs includes Disk management, Back up, Data recovery, Security (antivirus),
scan disk, Editors, etc.
TYPES OF UTILITIES
1. ANTI-VIRUS: These utilities scan for viruses and remove them.
2. ARCHIEVERS: There output a stream or a single file when provided with a directory or a set of files.
3. BACKUP SOFTWARES: These softwares make copies of all information stored on a disk and restore
either (e.g. in an event of disk failure) the entire disk or selected files (e.g. in an event of accidental
deletion).
4. CLIPBOARD MANAGER: It expands the clipboard functionality of a operating system.
5. CRYPTOGRAPHIC UTILITIES: There encrypt and decrypt streams and files.
6. DATA COMPRESSION UTILITY: It outputs a short stream or smaller file when provided with a stream
or file.
7. DISK CLEANER: It finds a file that is unnecessary to computer operation, or take up a considerable
amount of space.
8. SYSTEM MONITORS: There monitor resources and performance in a computer system.
9. FILE MANAGER: Provides a convenient method of performing routine data management, email
recovery and management task such as deleting, remaining, moving, merging, etc.
10. DISK DEFRAGMENTER: Detects computer files whose contents are scattered across several
locations on the hard disk, and moving the fragment to one location to increase efficiency.
NOTE: Each utility program should be explained in details
LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS:
As the name implies, language translator is a software that converts programs written in a source
code, into an object code that a computer understands. There are three types of language
translators:
Assemblers: converts an assembly program into machine code also known as object code or
object program
Compilers: translates a high level language into machine code before execution
Interpreters: translates high-level source code into executable code during execution.
However, the difference between a compiler and an interpreter is that an interpreter
translates one line at a time before execution while a compiler translate the entire source
code at once.
DEFINITION OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software is all the computer software that causes a computer to perform useful and
specific tasks. A specific instance of such software is called a software application or app.
The term is used to contrast such software with system software, which manages and integrates a
computer's capabilities but does not directly perform tasks that benefit the user. The system
software serves the application, which in turn serves the user.
Examples of application software include accounting software, enterprise software, graphics
software, media players, and office suites. Many application programs deal principally
with documents.
Application software applies the power of a particular computing platform or system software to a
particular purpose. They are developed to perform specific task for the end-user.
Some applications are available in versions for several different platforms; others have narrower
requirements and are thus called, for example, a Geography application for Windows,
an Android application for education, or Linux gaming.
SPECIALIST APPLICATION SOFTWARE: Specialist application package is a complete suite of
programs with documentation or associated explanation about what it does and how it is to be
used. It is a standardized ready-made program which is specially designed to solve specific
problems for a number of organization or users. They are packages because they include a number
of programs along with operating instructions, documentation, etc. They are used in specialized
areas such as medicine, education, military, aviation, media etc.
Specialist application package is also called user application software.
GENERAL PURPOSE APPLICATION PACKAGE:
General Purpose application package are packages designed and directed at the micro-computer
market. It is usually intended to meet the needs of a wide variety or range of users needs.
Examples are word processing application packages, and other office suites such as excel, power
point, access, etc. others are accounting payroll, sales ledger, sales invoice, shares register etc.
General purpose application package is also called application package.
CATEGORIES OF APPLICATION PACKAGES AND THEIR USE
No. Category of Purpose of package Example
Package
1. Word Processing For texts, letters, arts, spell Microsoft Word, Word
checking, layouts, saving and perfect, Word star.
printing of document.
2. Desktop Publishing For Journals, magazine and MS Publisher, venture
books. publisher
3. Database For creation of membership list, MS Access, Oracle, FoxPro
student list, grade reports, and Dbase
instructor schedule.
4 Graphic packages For drawings, charts, and graph. Corel Draw, lotus 123,
instant artist, paint, quick
art.
5. Presentation For presentations in seminars, Power point, Adobe
packages meetings, etc. Workshop, reader, Soft master.
classroom teachings, etc.
6. Web browsers For browsing or surfing on the Internet explorer,
internet. Netscape navigator,
Mozilla Firefox, Google.
Packages for Specialized Areas
These application packages are usually developed by companies specializing in software
development and distributed to a variety of businesses and individuals. They perform specific
functions, prominent among these are;
i. Accounting Packages: These packages are used for accounting purposes Examples
include; MS Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Quattro, and Super calc.
ii. Payroll Packages: These are packages that are used for pay rolling workers salary.
iii. Banking Packages: These are packages used by banks for their operations.
iv. Educational Management Package: These are packages used for school management,
curriculum development and expansion, reference aids etc. Example is the web based
learning software.
v. Statistical packages: These are packages used for statistical analysis such as budgets,
payrolls, grade calculations. Example; SPSS (Spreadsheet package for social sciences.
vi. Hospital Management package: These are application packages used for hospital
administration and health care. Examples are hospital information and billing system,
computer assisted treatment or surgery, scanning, and medical records and delivery
management.
