UNIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, ACCRA

Lecture 3

OVERVIEW OF SOFTWARE SYSTEMS

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Learning Objectives

Describe several important trends occurring in computer software Give examples of several major types of application and system software Explain the purpose of several popular software packages for end user productivity and collaborative computing

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Learning Objectives

Define and describe the functions of an operating system Describe the main uses of computer programming software, tools, and languages Describe the issues associated with open source software

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Definition

A software is a set of machine-readable instructions that directs a computer's processor to perform specific operations. The term is used to contrast with computer hardware, which are the physical objects (processor and related devices) that carry out the instructions. Hardware and software require each other; neither has any value without the other
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Types of Software

There are 2 main types of software. They are the Application software and System Software. The application software performs information processing task for end-users such as preparation documents and or calculation of figures. The system software System software is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computers hardware and applications such as word processors
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Types of Software

Types of Application Software

General Application: As the name implies they are software that anybody at can use for either business or personal purposes, e.g word processor, browser etc Application Specific: These are software used for specific business purposes. Individuals normally do not use these applications. They include marketing and accounting software
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Types of Software

Types of System Software

System Management Software. It enables IT support staff to manage network systems. They include server software, Operating systems, Database Management systems System Development Software: It enables IT staff to develop software applications such as e-commerce software, websites, banking and finance software. Experts who develop these software are called programmers or software developers. They use programming software such as HTML, Java and Java Script Lecture 3 -7

Types of Application & System Software

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Examples of Business Application Software

Application Specific Software Customer Relationship Management Human Resource Supply Chain Management Web-enabled electronic commerce

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Examples of General Purpose Software

Software Suites Browsers Search Engines E-mail/Instant Messaging Word Processing/Desktop Publishers Spread Sheets/Presentation Graphics Personal Information Managers Groupware
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Software Suites, Integrated Packages

A software suite or Integrated software package is software that merges several applications in one program and is accessed via a common launching pad. They typically provide at least word processing, spreadsheet and database management, presentation graphics, page layout, paint, calendar, address book, e-mail as well as other applications.

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Examples of Top Software Suites

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Web Browsers

Software used to locate, retrieve and also display content on the World Wide Web It is the universal platform from which end users launch Information searches E-mail Multimedia file transfer Discussion groups Other Internet-based applications
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Search Engines

Computer program that searches databases and internet sites for the documents containing keywords specified by a user.
Google, Ask Jeeves, Look Smart (Business), Lycos, Overture, Yahoo! Using search engines to find information has become an indispensable part of Internet, intranet, and extranet applications

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E-mail, Instant Messaging

E-mail
Sending and receiving messages and attachments via the Internet, intranet, or extranet

Instant messaging (IM)

A software that allows users connected to the Internet or a corporate network to send text messages and files between other IM users e.g is Yahoo messenger, Google Talk, Whatsapp, Skype,

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Word Processing/Desktop Publishing

Word Processing
Software that enable a user to Create, edit, revise, and print documents E.g., Microsoft Word, Lotus WordPro, Corel WordPerfect

Desktop Publishing
Produce printed materials that look professionally published E.g., Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher, QuarkXPress
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Electronic Spreadsheets

Used by virtually every business for calculations, analysis, planning, modeling Worksheet of rows and columns Can be stored on local computers or a network Requires designing format and developing the relationships (formulas) Most help you develop charts and graph displays of spreadsheet results Supports what-if questions
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Presentation Graphics

Software that converts numeric data into graphics

Common presentation graphics packages

Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance, Corel Presentations

Top packages can tailor files for transfer in HTML format to websites

Are used to create multimedia presentations of graphics, photos, animation, video

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Personal Information Managers

Software for end user productivity and collaboration Stores information about clients Manages schedules, appointments, tasks Most have ability to access the Web and e-mail Some support team collaboration by sharing information with other PIM users e.g., Lotus Organizer, Microsoft Outlook
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Groupware

Software that helps workgroups collaborate on group assignments

E-mail, discussion groups, databases, audio, and video conferencing E.g., Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, Microsoft Exchange Windows SharePoint Services and WebSphere both allow teams to create websites for information sharing and document collaboration
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Cloud Computing

Software and virtualized hardware resources are provided as a service over the Internet. It is the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server. It advantages include:
No technology knowledge, expertise, or control needed. Pay-for-use avoids capital expenditures Capacity can be scaled upward almost instantly Immediate access to broad range of applications Contracts can generally be terminated Lecture at any time 3 -21

Software Licensing

A software is licensed, which involves Intellectual property rights Copyright and trademark Trade secrets So you dont buy software You buy a license to use the software Licensed to protect vendors property rights

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System Software

System Management Programs

Manages hardware, software, network, and data resources of computer systems Operating systems, network management programs, database management systems, system utilities Helps users develop IS programs and procedures, and then prepare them for processing Includes language translators and editors, and programming tools

System Development Programs

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Operating Systems (OS)

It is system of programs that

Controls the input/out, storage resources, and activities of the computer system Provides support services as the computer executes application programs

Manages the operations of the CPU

Without an OS, all software applications cannot be operated

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Operating Systems

There are two main types of Operating System. They are:

Desktop OS: It runs on a single desktop PC, or laptop . Examples are Windows XP and Windows 7. When that single PC or laptop is on a network, the OS enables the PC to access resources on a Server. Server OS: It runs on a server which is a higher capacity PC. Examples are Windows 2008 Server, Linux, and Unix
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Popular Operating Systems

Windows
It has Graphical User Interface, multitasking, networking, multimedia Different versions manage servers

Standard, enterprise, data center, Web

Unix
Multitasking, multi-user, network-managing Portable - can run on mainframes, midrange, and PCs

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Popular Operating Systems

Linux
Founded by Linus Torvalds Low-cost, powerful, reliable, Unix-like operating system Open-source

MAC OS X
Apple operating system for the iMac GUI Multitasking Multimedia
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OS for Smartphone and Tablets Computers

ios by Apple Android by Google (Open Source) Symbian by Nokia ( Sold to Microsoft in August 2013) Windows Phone by Microsoft Bada meaning sea or ocean in Korean by Samsung

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Open Source Software

Open-source software is computer software with its source code made available and which the copyright holder provides the rights to anyone to study, change and redistribute the software to anyone and for any purpose The basic idea is that when programmers can modify and redistribute source code, the software evolves quickly. This can happen at astonishing speed and produces better software than the traditional commercial (closed) model
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Open-Source Licensing Characteristics

The License
The program must include the source code and allow distribution in source code as well as compiled form It shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the software as a component of another software distribution. Must allow modifications and redistribution under the same terms as the license of the original software Must not discriminate against any person or any group of persons Must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor
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Examples of Open Source Software

Open Office
Can be used for any purpose: domestic, commercial, educational, or public administration. Made up of Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw and Base

Mac OS X
Based on a form of UNIX Advanced Graphical User Interface Supports multi-tasking and multimedia Integrated Web browser, e-mail, instant messaging, search engine, digital media player, and more Includes software development tools
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System Monitoring Software

Utilities
Miscellaneous housekeeping functions Example: Norton utilities includes data backup, virus protection, etc.

Performance Monitors
Programs that monitor and adjust computer system to keep them running efficiently

Security Monitors
Monitor and control use of computer systems to prevent unauthorized use of resources
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Programming Languages

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Object-Oriented Languages

Most widely used software development languages

Easier to use and more efficient for graphicsoriented user interfaces Reusable: can use an object from one application in another application Examples: Visual Basic, C++, Java Most object-oriented languages provide a GUI that supports visual programming

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Web Languages

HTML

A page description language that creates hypertext documents for the Web

Java

Object-oriented programming language that is simple, secure, and platform independent Java applets can be executed on any computer

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Language Translator Programs

Translate instructions written in programming languages into machine language

Assembler Translates assembler language statement

Compiler Translates highlevel language statements

Interpreter A compiler that translates and executes each statement in a program, one at a time

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Programming Tools

Help programmers identify and minimize errors while they are programming
Graphical programming interfaces Programming editors Debuggers

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END OF LECTURE

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