COLLEGE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION

(CBE-Mwanza)
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

SMB 07307

LECTURE FIVE
COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Computer software, or just software, is the collection of computer programs and related
data that provide the instructions telling a computer what to do and how to do.

A Point to understand: The term software and program are used interchangeably as
they often refer to the same thing in daily usage. Even though they very close to
synonymous, there are still major (technical) differences between them should distinguish
one from the other. Software is a very broad term that is used to identify programs, data,
and other related files that are used to instruct what and how a certain task in a computer
or any other device can be performed. In this sense, we can say that even a program is
also software. But in the broader meaning of the word, a program is any set of
instructions that are executed by a machine and tells the computer what to do and how to
do (Computer or any other device that is performs a computing task).

Example: let’s say that you have software that records names and addresses in a
database. The program and the database are parts of the software but the database is not
program. It is simply an accessory to the program that makes it more useful.

TYPES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Software can be categorized according to what it is designed to accomplish. There are two
main types of software:

1. Systems software and

2. Application software.

System software - is responsible for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual
hardware components of a computer system so that the application program and the users
of the system see it as a functional unit without having to be concerned with the low-level
details such as transferring data from memory to disk, or rendering text onto a display.

In other words: System Software is a type of computer program that is designed to run
a computer's hardware and application programs.

TYPES OF SYSTEM SOFTWARE

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System Software can be expressed in terms of Operating System, Utility Program, Device
Driver and language Translator:

a. Operating System (OS): is system software that manages computer

hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer
programs.
Note: All computer programs, excluding firmware, require an operating system to function.
A computer's operating system is its most important program. It is considered as the
backbone of a computer managing both software and hardware device. Operating systems
are responsible for each and everything from the control and allocation of memory to input
from external devices and output to the computer display. An operating system also plays a
vital role in security. Its job includes preventing unauthorized user from accessing the
computer system.

Basic Functions of an Operating System

 Booting the computer

 Performs basic computer tasks e.g. managing the various peripheral devices e.g.
mouse, keyboard
 Provides a user interface, e.g. command line, graphical user interface (GUI)
 Handles system resources such as computer's memory and sharing of the central
processing unit (CPU) time by various applications or peripheral devices
 Provides file management which refers to the way that the operating system
manipulates, stores, retrieves and saves data.
 Provide a software platform that other programs (i.e., application software) can run.
 Enforce security to computer system.
 Detects reports and handles system errors (eg. IO errors).

Booting the computer - The process of starting or restarting the computer is known as
booting. A cold boot is when you turn on a computer that has been turned off completely.
A warm boot is the process of using the operating system to restart the computer.

Performs basic computer tasks - The operating system performs basic computer tasks,
such as managing the various peripheral devices such as the mouse, keyboard and printers.
For example, most operating systems now are plug and play which means a device such
as a printer will automatically be detected and configured without any user intervention.

Provides a user interface- A user interacts with software through the user interface. The
two main types of user interfaces are: command line and a graphical user interface
(GUI). With a command line interface, the user interacts with the operating system by
typing commands to perform specific tasks. An example of a command line interface are
DOS (Disk Operating System), Unix and Linus. With a graphical user interface, the user
interacts with the operating system by using a mouse to access windows, icons, and menus.
An example of a graphical user interface is Windows Vista, Windows 7, Window 8, Window
XP, Window 2008, Window 2012.

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Handles system resources - The operating system also handles system resources such as
the computer's memory and sharing of the central processing unit (CPU) time by various
applications or peripheral devices. Programs and input methods are constantly competing
for the attention of the CPU and demand memory, storage and input/output bandwidth. The
operating system ensures that each application gets the necessary resources it needs in
order to maximize the functionality of the overall system.

Provides file management- The operating system also handles the organization and
tracking of files and directories (folders) saved or retrieved from a computer disk. The file
management system allows the user to perform such tasks as creating files and directories,
renaming files, coping and moving files, and deleting files. The operating system keeps
track of where files are located on the hard drive through the type of file system. The type
two main types of file system are File Allocation table (FAT) or New Technology File
system (NTFS).

Point to understanding: There various types of operating system and these are:

o Multi-user: Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some
operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users.
o Multiprocessing: Supports running a program on more than one CPU or processor.
o Multitasking: Allows more than one program to run concurrently.
o Multithreading: Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.
o Real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such
as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time.
o Embedded: These operating systems are designed to be compact, efficient at
resource usage, and reliable, forsaking many functions that non-embedded computer
operating systems provide, and which may not be used by the specialized
applications they run

Note: Example of Operating System can be: Linux, Unix and DOS (For Non Graphical
OS) and Window XP, Window 7, Window 8, Window Vista, Window 2012, Window 2008 and
etc (Graphical OS).

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Fig 1.1 screenshot for Non graphic Operating system

Fig 1.2 screenshot for graphic Operating system

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 b. Language Translator: It is system software which converts the high level
language to machine level language for the purpose of machine understanding. The
Machine can only understand the machine level language or binary language 0's
& 1's. The language translator rectifies the errors within the program through
different ways.
Point to understand: There are 3 types of language translator, they are as follows:-

o Compiler.
o Interpreter.
o Assembler.

c. Utility Software or Service Program: Utility Software is a kind of system software

designed to help, analyses, configure, optimize and maintain the computer. A single
piece of utility software is usually called a utility or tool.

Note: in other words, we can say utility program is the system software design to
help/assist operating system to work at its high peak. If we are having any problem related
to system then we can solve it through utility software.

For example - Antivirus: - Utility detects and remove computer virus. Memory tester
checks for memory failure etc.

The following are the activities those are coming under the utility software are -

o Formatting.
o Back-Up Recovery.
o Disk Defragmenter.
o Registry Cleaners.
o Disk Partitions etc.

Examples of utility program are: antivirus, Back-Up Recovery, Disk Defragmenter,

Registry Cleaners programs.

d. Device Drivers - Device drivers are needed for every peripheral and device
connected to a computer, from the mouse and keyboard to the printer. This type of
system software allows the Operating System (OS) to effectively identify and
communicate with hardware connected to a machine. The OS can include device
drivers for basic components, like the mouse and keyboard, while peripheral
manufacturers often provide discs with drivers for users to install with their
hardware.

Application software, application software is the type of computer software designed to

accomplish specific or multiple user tasks during computing process.

Note: Application software may consist of a single program, such as an image viewer; a
small collection of programs (often called a software package) that work closely together

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to accomplish a task, such as a spreadsheet or text processing system; a larger collection
(often called a software suite) of related but independent programs and packages that
have a common user interface or shared data format, such as Microsoft Office, which
consists of closely integrated word processor, spreadsheet, database, etc.; in other words,
we may say, example of application software are: Ms Word, Ms Excel, Ms PowerPoint, Ms
Publisher, Adobe Reader, Window Media player e.t.c

TYPES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application software may follow under the following types:

 General purpose application software - General purpose application software is a

type of software that can be used for a variety of tasks. It is not limited to one
particular function. For example a word processor could be classed as general
purpose software as it would allow a user to write a novel, create a restaurant menu
or even make a poster. Examples of General purpose application software include:
Word processors, Spreadsheet and Presentation software.

 Special purpose application software - Special purpose application software is a

type of software created to execute one specific task. For example a camera
application on your phone will only allow you to take and share pictures. Another
example would be a chess game; it would only allow you to play chess. Other
examples of special purpose application software are web browsers, calculators,
media players, calendar programs etc

 Bespoke application software - Bespoke application software is tailor made for a

specific user and purpose. For example a factory may require software to run a robot
to make cars, however, it is the only factory making that car in the world, so the
software required would have to be specially built for the task. Other examples
might include software for the military, missile/UAV operations, software for
hospitals and medical equipment, software being written inside banks and other
financial institutions.

Exercise

1. Differentiate the following as applicable to computer software:

 Application software from system software
 Application Suite from Application Package
 Bespoke application from Specific Application software
 Service programs from Operating System

2. Briefly, explain the major functions of Operation System

3. State the advantages and disadvantages of Graphical Operating System from Non-
Graphical Operating System
4. Briefly, explain how computer software depends computer hardware when it’s come
to the matter of performing a computing task.
5. With examples, describe types of application software

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 6. With examples, describe types of system software
7. Write short notes on the following as applicable in software industry:
 Open Source
 Freeware
 Shareware
 Spyware
 Adware
 Malware
 Netware
 Plagiarism
 Copyright
 Enterprise
 Suite
 Package

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