Lec 5

• Computer Software - a set of programs and procedures that are

  loaded in the memory of the computer which are intended to

  perform specific tasks on a computer system
• Major Types of Software (3)

  -System Software

  -Application Software

  -Programming Software
• System Software

  
  

  - the platform for running application software

  -Operating systems

  -Device drivers

  -Utility programs
• Application Software - developed to perform a particular

  task/problem for users
• Programming Software - tools used by programmers in writing

  programs - compilers, linkers, debuggers, etc.
• Operating System :

  -manages the basic operation of the computer system resource management services

  -handle the control and use of hardware resources:

  -disk space

  -memory

  -CPU time allocation - peripheral devices
• Operating System: What it does? (5)

  -Booting

  -CPU Management

  -File Management

  -Task Management

  -Security Management
• Drivers & utility programs add functionality to your computer

  and help it perform betterv
• Device drivers - specialized software programs that allow

  input & output devices to communicate with the computer

  system (help the computer control peripheral devices)
• Utility programs - service programs, tasks like control,

  allocation, & maintenance of computer resources (support,

  enhance, expand existing programs in a computer)
• Software licensing protects the copyright by restricting the users
• Commercial software - proprietary software/packaged
• Public-domain software - may be duplicated by anyone
• Shareware - copyrighted software initially distributed free

  of charge, but later requires registration fee to continue

  using the program
• Freeware - copyrighted software distributed free of charge
• Rentalware - online software that users lease for a fee and

  download whenever they need it
• Pirated software - software obtained illegally
• Custom software - written specifically for individuals or

  organizations with unique needs
• Abandonware – does not refer to a way to obtain software. It

  refers to software that is no longer sold or supported by its

  publisher.
• Tutorials is an instruction book or program that can help the user to

  use the product by taking through a prescribed series of steps
• Documentation is all information that describes a product to

  users, including a user guide or reference manual that provides a

  narrative and graphical description of a program
• Types of Application Software

  
  

  Word Processing Software: This software enables users

  to create and edit documents. The most popular examples

  of this type of software are MS-Word, WordPad, Notepad,

  OpenOffice, Pages, among other text editors.
• Types of Application Software

  
  

  Database Software: allows users to

  store and retrieve data from databases. Ex. Oracle,

  MSAccess, Visual Basic, etc.
• Types of Application Software

  Spreadsheet Software: Excel, Lotus 1-2-3 and Apple

  Numbers are some examples of spreadsheet software.

  -allows users to perform

  calculations using spreadsheets.

  -They simulate paper worksheets by displaying multiple

  cells that make up a grid.
• Types of Application Software

  Multimedia Software: They allow users to create and play

  audio and video files. They are capable of playing media

  files.

  Audio converters, audio players, burners, video

  encoders and decoders are some forms of multimedia

  software.

  Ex. Real Player, Media Player, VLC, etc
• Types of Application Software

  Presentation Software: The software that is used to

  display information in the form of a slide show

  -This type of software includes three functions, editing that allows insertion and formatting of text, methods to include graphics in the text and a functionality of executing slide shows.

  -Microsoft PowerPoint is the best example
• Types of Application Software

  Enterprise Software: It deals with the needs of

  organization processes and data flow.

  Customer relationship management or the financial

  processes in an organization are carried out with the

  help of enterprise software.
• Types of Application Software

  Information Worker Software: Individual projects within a

  department and individual needs of creation and

  management of information are handled by information

  worker software.

  Documentation tools, resource management tools and

  personal management systems fall under the category

  of this type of application software.
• Types of Application Software

  Educational Software: It has the capabilities of running

  tests and tracking progress.

  It also has the capabilities of a collaborative software. It

  is often used in teaching and self-learning.

  Dictionaries like Britannica and Encarta, mathematical

  software like MATLAB and others like Google Earth

  and NASA World Wind are some of the well-known

  names in this category.
• Types of Application Software

  Simulation Software: Used to simulate physical or abstract

  systems, simulation software finds applications in both,

  research and entertainment.

  Flight simulators and scientific simulators are examples

  of simulation software.
• Application Suites: It consists of a group of applications

  combined to perform related functions.

  OpenOffice and Microsoft Office are the best examples

  of this type of application software.

  These application suites come as bundles of

  applications like word processors, spreadsheets,

  presentation software, etc. Applications in the suite

  can work together or operate on each other's files.
• Licensed: A majority of software applications are licensed

  and not sold.

  -In this case, a user purchases a software license and

  not the software itself.

  -The vendor allows for the installation of this software on

  a specific number of machines.

  -Sometimes, the license is limited to a certain number of

  users. Most software licenses allow you to run the

  application on only one machine,
• Sold: As opposed to licensed software, these software are

  sold to users.

  There is a need to purchase this type of software from

  the vendor in which case, the user own a legitimate

  copy of the software. Thus allows for resale of the

  software.
• As Freeware: Application software that can be

  downloaded, used and copied without any restrictions is

  known as freeware.

  Generally small programs are released as freeware and

  are open for use.
• As Shareware: These application software can be

  downloaded but you need to pay some amount for using

  them.

  Generally, mid-size software developed by software

  companies are made available as shareware.
• Open Source: Open source software, as their name

  suggests, are made available with their source code. The

  code is open for modification and use.

  People mistake open source software for free. But note

  that 'free' refers to the freely available source code,

  thus making the software open for further development

  by users.
• Needs to be Installed: This is true with many application

  software; for example spreadsheet software, word

  processors, data management software, etc.

  They need to be installed on your computer hard drive

  for use.
• Runs Online: Antivirus software runs online.

  Internet games that you can play online and which don't

  need to be downloaded fall under this category.
• There is only one reason for having application software: to

  take raw data and manipulate it into useful files of

  information
• File is (1) a program (program file) that exists in a

  computer’s secondary storage – hard disk/f.drive/CD, or (2) a

  named collection of data (data file)