System Software and Application Software

What is an example of general-purpose software?

a teacher can use a spreadsheet package to prepare students' end of term grade reports

What are some types of operating system?

-Windows 95 -Windows 2000 -Windows XP -Windows 98 Windows NT

What are commonly used general purpose packages?

-Word processing packages -Spreadsheet packages -Database packages

What does an integrated package contain?

-Word processor -spreadsheet -database

What can software be classified into?

1) Application Software 2) System Software

What is backup?

Backup allows you to make a duplicate copy of every file on your hard disk which can be stored on CDs/diskettes.

What is batch processing?

Batch processing is one where data is collected in a sequence batch queue before processing starts. The program is then run without interaction from the user.

What is booting?

Booting is the process of loading operating system software into a computer's main memory from disk.

What is multiprocessing?

Multiprocessing is the ability of a computer to execute programs on two or more processors simultaneously. The program is distributed over several processors.

What is multiprogramming?

Multiprogramming is the ability of a computer to execute two or more programs at the same time, using one CPU(or processor)

What is real time processing?

Real time processing is designed to respond to an event within a predetermined time. The response may create another response in the user.

1) Managing computer resources

The operating system allows application software/user programs to communicate with the computer's hardware, excel directs the operating system to select a printer to print the document then the operating system notifies the computer to begin sending data and instructions to the appropriate program to get the document printed. The operating system manages the use of input an output devices by the use of buffers.

2) Managing files and memory

The operating system manages all the files on a computer, it keeps track of the locations where programs and data are stored in computer's memory and allows you to easily find files stored in other secondary storage devices.

What is the user interface?

The user interface is the user controllable part of the operating system which allows you to communicate or interact with it.

What are word processing packages?

These packages are also called word processors and allow you to prepare documents such as letters, reports or books. Some popular word processors available are Microsoft Word, Lotus Word Pro and Word Perfect.

What is database software?

These programs allow you to organize and store related data together so specific pieces of information can be retrieved easily and quickly. Some common database packages in use today are Microsoft Access, Oracle and MySQL.

What is custom-written (tailor-made) software?

This is software written to meet the specific needs of a company because every company is unique and may have unique needs. It may be written by programmers within the company or may be contracted out to a software house.

What is customized software?

This refers to general -purpose software which has been modified to meet the needs of an individual/organization better. These packages are customized through the writing of code or macros.

What is touch user interface(TUI)?

Touch User Interface(TUI) allows the user to choose commands, start programs, start programs and many other by touching the icon on the screen.

What is Command-Driven Interface?

Command-Driven Interface requires you to enter commands by typing in codes or words.

What is device drivers?

Device drivers is a software application that enables a computer to interact with the hardware devices attached to it and can act as translators between hardware devices and programs.

What are examples of specialised software?

-Expert systems -Accounting programs -Theatre/airline booking systems

What can application software be categorized as?

-General-purpose software -Integrated software -Specialized software -Customized software -Custom-written software

What are examples of Integrated software?

-Microsoft Office -Microsoft Works -Lotus Smartsuite

What are the major categories of system software?

-Operating system -Utility programs -User interface -Device driver -Firmware -Language translators

What is a buffer?

A buffer is an area of memory that temporarily holds data being transferred to be processed or output.

What are the core codes?

A core code of the program allows for the macros to be added.

What is a multi-access system?

A multi-access system is one that allows a number of users with online terminals to interact with the same computer at the same time.

What is an instruction?

An instruction signals the computer to perform a predefined sequence of instructions.

What is Integrated software?

An integrated software package is a set of related programs combined in a unified package that allows data to be transferred easily between the programs.

What is an online system?

An online system is one where the terminals and the computer are linked interactively.

What is an operating system(OS)?

An operating system is a set of programs that governs the operation of a computer and without it the computer can't function. It remains in main memory until you turn the computer off.

What are output buffers?

An output buffer is used to store data waiting to be printed.

What is virus protection?

Antivirus software programs are also utility programs and they scan for computer viruses.

What is Application Software?

Application software are programs developed to carry out specific tasks or solve particular problems. Each type of application software is designed for a particular activity.

What is the function of the operating system?

Functions depend on the size and complexity of the computer system and whether the system is a single user system or a multi-access system.

What is graphical user interface(GUI)?

Graphical User Interface (GUI) also called the WIMP, allows the use of graphics, menu and simple keystrokes to choose commands and start programs.

What are input buffers?

Input buffers take data from a device and hold the data releasing it to the CPU at a rate the CPU can cope with.

What are Language Translators?

Language translators translate a program written by a programmer into machine language (the language the computer can understand) without losing the functional or logical structure of the original code.

What are macros?

Macros are short programs written to automate several steps in software like databases. They are written by experience end-users of the program once it's complete.

What is menu-driven interface?

Menu-Driven Interface allows you to use either the mouse or cursor movement to make a selection from a menu.

What is multi-user(time-sharing) processing?

Multi-user processing makes user in a multi-access environment believe they have the individual attention of the CPU by giving each terminal a small amount of processing time before it goes back to the first terminal.

What is multitasking?

Multitasking is the concurrent execution of two or more related tasks.

What is online processing?

Online processing/ transaction processing or pseudo-real-time processing is where data is processed as soon as it's available.

What is Software?

Software is the general name given to all programs(set of instructions) that computers use to perform different tasks.

What is General-purpose software?

Software that isn't written for any specific business or organization but can be used/adapted to suit their specific needs. Its packages are also called "off the shelf" software.

What is specialised software?

Specialised software is software that is written for a specific task rather than a broad application area. They provide facilities specifically for the purpose for which they were designed.

What is system software?

System software is software that manages and supports the resources and operations of a computer system and it acts as a buffer between the hardware and application software.

3) Maintaining security

The operating system keeps a register of all the users' usernames and IDs so that only persons with valid ones and passwords can access the system. It keeps a log which records that users logged in, length of time they stayed on the system and what they did.

What are spreadsheet packages?

These packages allow you to organize information into rows and columns so that it can be operated on easily. It enables you to store numerical data. Some common spreadsheet packages in use today are Microsoft Excel, Lotus 123 and Quarto Pro.

What are utility programs?

Utility programs are a set of system software programs that provide useful services by performing common tasks and "housekeeping" routines such as Backup, disk repair, virus protection and file defragmentation

What are the disadvantages of custom-written software?

1) Cost- the cost of developing the software, on-site installation, support and training are often high 2) Lengthy development time- it takes time to acquire the information necessary and write the code for the new software 3) Increased probability of undetected error- the probability of undetected error decreases the length of time a product is in service and the number and variety of users.

What are some disadvantages of integrated software?

1) Not all the features of single applications are included 2) Some integrated packages do not contain all the applications that may be required to complete a task

What are some advantages of an integrated package?

1) The ease which data can be transferred from one component to another 2) It takes up less disk space than individual applications 3) It is less likely to crash and contains fewer errors since it has been widely tried and tested

What are advantages of custom-written software?

1) The solution it offers give the greatest depth, breadth and flexibility possible in meeting the needs of the organization 2) It performs tasks the general-purpose software can't perform 3) The software can be quickly changed when the needs of the business change since the source code belongs to the company

What is disk repair?

A disk repair utility scans a hard disk/floppy disk for bad sectors and either makes repairs to these sectors or marks the defective area so that the operating system will not store any data in that location.

What are disk checkers?

Disk checkers can scan the contents of a hard disk to find files or areas that are corrupted in some way or were not correctly saved and eliminate them for a more efficiently operating hard drive.

What is file defragmentation?

File defragmentation is when files are stored in a new computer or hard disk they are stored next to one another. After a while the constituent parts of a typical file are scattered all over your disk and a defragmenter utility finds these fragmented files or organizes them back in a contiguous manner.

What is Firmware?

Firmware is programming that is added to a computer's non-volatile (ROM) memory at the time of manufacturing and is used to run user programs on the device.