What is a Software?

Software is the general term for various kinds of programs used to operate and manipulate computers and related devices. Software is the variable part of a computer whereas hardware the invariable part.

Types of Software
Computer Software Application Software
General Purpose Application Programs Software Suites Web Browsers Electronic Mail Word Processing Spreadsheets Database Managers Presentation Graphics Personal Information Managers Groupware Application-Specific Programs Business-Accounting, Transaction Processing, Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Electronic Commerce, etc Science and Engineering Education, Entertainment, etc.

System Software
System Management Programs Operating Systems Network Management System Development Programs Programming

Language Programs Translators Database Management Programming Editors Systems and Tools Application Servers Computer-Aided System Utilities Software Performance and Security Engineering (CASE) Monitors Packages

Types of Software

1. Application Software Programs that Perform Information Processing Tasks for End Users. It serves as an interface between the end user and the system software. 2. System Software Programs that Manage and Support the Operations of Computer Systems and its Information Processing Activities. It serves as an interface between the application software and the computer hardware.

Application Software Types

1.1 General Purpose Application Programs Performs common information processing jobs for end users. Examples are Word processing programs, Spread sheet programs, Database management programs and Graphics programs Web browsers and e-mail

Application Software Types

1.2 Application Specific Programs Supports specific applications of end users in business and other fields. Examples are Reengineering and automation of business processes E-commerce Human resource management, accounting, finance, etc. Decision support tools

System Software Types

2.1 System Management Programs Programs that manage the hardware, software, network, and data resources of computer systems during the execution of the various information processing jobs of users. Examples are
Operating systems Network management programs Database management systems System Utilities, etc.

System Software Types

2.2 System Development Programs Programs that help users - develop information system programs and procedures and prepare user programs for computer processing. Examples are
Programming Language Translators Programming Language Editors CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) Tools, etc.

System Management Programs

1.Operating Systems

An operating system is an integrated system of programs that, i) manages the operations of the CPU, ii) controls the input/output and storage resources and activities of the computer system, and, iii) provides various support services as the computer executes the application programs of users. It minimizes the amount of human intervention as well as maximizes the productivity of the computer system.

Functions of Operating Systems

User Interface

Resource Management

Task Management

File Management

Utilities and Other Functions

Functions of Operating Systems

1) User Interface :- It is a part of the OS that allows you to communicate with it so that you can load programs, access files and accomplish other tasks. There are 3 types of interface:a. Command-Driven b. Menu-Driven c. Graphical User Interface (GUI) 2) Resource Management :- An OS uses a variety of resource management programs to manage the hardware and networking resources of a computer system, including its CPU, memory, secondary storage devices, telecommunication processors, and input/output peripherals.

Functions of Operating Systems

3) Task Management :- They manage the accomplishment of the computing tasks of the end users. They control which task gets access to the CPU and for how much time. Multitasking Preemptive Cooperative Multiprocessing 4) File Management :- They control the creation, deletion, and access of files of data and programs. They help in maintaining directories of information about the location and characteristics of files stored on a computer systems secondary storage devices.

Functions of Operating Systems

5) Utilities and other Functions :- Provides utilities and functions such as backup, scheduling, de- fragmentation, synchronization, sound recording, browsing, multimedia playing, calculating, chatting, system restoring, remote login, etc.

Examples of Operating Systems

MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows 2000 Windows Millennium Edition Windows New Technology Windows Server 2003 Windows XP Windows Vista Linux (RedHat, Caldera, SUSE) Unix (Solaris by Sun, AIX by IBM) Mac OS X Jaguar

System Management Programs

2.Network Management Programs
Network Management packages such as network operating systems and telecommunications monitors determine transmission priorities, route messages, poll terminals in the network, and form waiting lines (queues) of transmission requests. They also detect and correct transmission errors, log statistics of network activity and protect network resources from unauthorized access. Functions of Network Management Programs:Traffic Management Security Network Monitoring Capacity Planning

Examples of Network Management Programs

NOVELL NETWARE UNIX LINUX MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2003 SERVER

System Management Programs

3.Database Management Systems
Database Management System is a system that allows inserting, updating, deleting and processing of data. DBMS Softwares:Oracle Ingress Sybase Dbase 3+ Foxbase Foxpro MS Access Dataease Dataflex Advanced Revelation, etc

System Management Programs

4.Application Servers
They provide a middleware interface between an Operating System and the application programs of users. Middleware is a software that helps diverse software applications and networked computer systems exchange data and work together more efficiently. Examples:-BEAs WebLogic, IBMs Websphere helps ecommerce, -Apache, Java, Internet Information Services -Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) Software

System Management Programs

5.System Utilities Softwares

They perform a variety of helpful chores for computer users such as data backup, data recovery, virus protection, data compression, file defragmetation, etc. Examples:Norton Utilities Nero Express

6.Performance and Security Monitors

Performance Monitors are programs that monitor and adjust the performance and usage of one or more computer systems to keep them running efficiently. Security Monitors are packages that monitor and control the use of computer systems and provide warning messages and record evidence of unauthorized use of computer resources. Examples:A recent trend is to merge both types of programs into OS like Microsofts Windows 2003 Datacenter Server or into system management software like Computer Associates CA-Unicenter.

System Management Programs

Programming Languages
A Programming Language allows a programmer to develop the sets of instructions that constitute a computer program. Machines Languages -Use Binary coded instructions 1010 11001 1011 11010. Assembler Languages -Use symbolic coded instructions LOD Y, ADD Z, STR X High-Level Languages (BASIC,COBOL,FORTRAN) -Use brief statements or arithmetic notations X=Y+Z Fourth Generation Languages (SQL, PowerBuilder) -Use natural and nonprocedural statements SUM THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS Fifth Generation Languages (INTELLECT) -Very close to English or other human languages What are the average exam scores in IM Object Oriented Languages (Visual Basic, C++, Java)

Web Languages & Services

HTML XML Java Web Services

1.Programming Language Translators

Programming language translators are programs that translate other programs into machine language instruction codes that computers can execute. Examples: Assembler Compiler Interpreter

System Development Programs

System Development Programs

2.Programming Editors and Tools
Programming Editors are programs that help programmers to write programs by providing a variety of program creation and editing capabilities. It provides real time error checking and rectification of errors. Examples: Forte From Sun Microsystems Borland C and C++ Microsoft Visual Studio

System Development Programs

3. Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) Packages

Case Tools are programs that automate or support one or more phases of a systems development life cycle. Examples:CAD CAM Visual Basic