Monday, December 10, 2007

Essay - Computer Software and its Types

Computer Software and its Types

A computer cannot do anything on its own. It must be instructed to do a desired to do a desired job. Hence, it is necessary to specify a sequence of instructions, which a computer must perform to solve a problem. Such a sequence of instructions, written in a language, which can be understood by a computer, is called a computer program. It is the program, which controls the activity of processing by the computer, and the computer performs precisely what the program wants it to do. When a computer is using a program, we say, it is running or executing that program. The term software is refers to the set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documents (flowcharts, manuals, etc.), which describes the programs, and how they are to be used. To be precise, software means a collection of programs, whose objective is to enhance the capabilities of the hardware. A software package is a group of programs, which solve a specific problem or perform a specific type of job. For example, a word-processing package may contain programs for text editing, text formatting, drawing graphics, spelling checking, etc. Hence, a multipurpose computer system has several software packages, one each for each for every type of job it can perform.

Types of software
Although, the range of software available today is vast and varied, most software can be divided into two major categories:

System Software,
Application Software

System Software:

System software is a set of one or more programs, designed to control the operation and extend the processing capability of a computer system. In general, a computer’s system software performs one or more of the following functions:
Supports the development of other application software.
Supports the execution of other application software.
Monitors the effective use of various hardware resources, such as CPU, memory, peripherals, etc.
Communicates with and controls the operation of peripheral devices, such as printer, disk, tape, etc.
Hence, system software makes the operation of a computer system more efficient and effective. It helps the hardware components work together, and provides support for the development and execution of application software. The programs included in a system software package are called system programs, and the programmers who prepare system software are referred to as system programmers.

Some of the most commonly known types of system software are:

Operating Systems: Every computer has an operating system software, which takes care of the effective and efficient utilizationof all the hardware and software components of the computer system.
Programming Language Translators: Programming language translators are system software, which transform the instructions prepared by programmers in a programming language, into a form, which can be interpreted and executed.
Communication Software: In a network environment, communications software enables transfer of data and programs from one computer to another.
Utility Programs: Utility programs are set of programs, which help users in system maintenance tasks, and in performing tasks of routine nature. Some of the task commonly performed by utility programs include formatting of hard disk or floppy disks, taking backup of files stored on hard disk, sorting of the records stored in a file, etc.

Application Software:

Application software is a set of one or more programs, designed to solve a specific problem, or to do a specific task. For example, application software for payroll processing products pay slips as the major output, and application software for processing examination results produces mark sheets as the major along with some other statistical reports. Similarly, a program written by a scientist to solve his/her particular research problem is also application software. The programs included in application software package are called application programs, and the programmers who prepare application software are referred to as application programmers. There are literally millions of application software for a wide range of application, ranging from simple applications, such as word processing, inventory management, preparation of tax returns, banking, hospital administration, insurance, publishing, to complex scientific and engineering applications, suck as weather forecasting, space shuttle launching, oil and natural gas exploration, design of complex structures like aircrafts, ships, bridges, sky-rise buildings, etc. with so many applications available, it is not possible to categorize them all, and to cover them here. Some of the most commonly known application software’s are:

Word-Processing Software: Word processing software enables us to make use of a computer system for creating, editing, and viewing, formatting, sorting, retrieving and printing documents.
Spreadsheet Software: Spreadsheet software is a numeric data analysis tool, which allows us to create a kind of computer ledger. A manual ledger is a book having rows and columns, which accountants use for financial transactions, and for preparing financial statements.
Database Software: A database is a collection of related data stored and treated as a unit for information retrieval purposes. Database software is a set of one or more programs, which enable us to create a database, maintain it, organize its data in desired fashion, and to selectively retrieve useful information from it.
Graphics Software: A graphics software enables us to use a computer system for creating, editing, viewing, sorting, retrieving and printing designs, drawings, pictures, graphs, and anything else that can be drawn in the traditional manner.
Personal Assistance Software: Personal assistance software allows us to use personal computers for sorting and retrieving our personal information, and planning and managing our schedules, contacts, financial and inventory of important items.
Education Software: Education software allows a computer system to be used as teaching and learning tool. A few examples of such applications are those that teach young children to do
(a) mathematics; (b) recognize alphabets; and (c) read whole and sentences.
Entertainment Software: Entertainment software allows a computer system to be used as an entertainment tool. A good example of such an application is computer video games.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

This is huge information of computer operating system. Recently computer is one of the most important thinks without it we cannot pass a daily life. The computer makes our life easier to easier.

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Unknown said...

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