TYPES OF

SOFTWARE
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FUNDAMENTALS
 OBJECTIVES
• At the end of this session students will be able to:
• Define the following terms giving examples
• Software , Application , general-purpose , Specialised , Customised , Custom-written ,
Operating System , GUI , utilities program
• Language translators , real-time , batch , time-sharing , file-management , booting
• State the different types Software
• Briefly explain the difference between Application Software and Systems Software
 WHEN A COMPUTER TURNS ON
• The first thing a computer has to do when it is turned on is start up a special program called
an operating system. It’s job is to help other computer programs to work by handling the messy
details of controlling the computer's hardware.
• The process of bringing up the operating system is called booting (originally this
was bootstrapping and alluded to the process of pulling yourself up "by your bootstraps").
Your computer knows how to boot because instructions for booting are built into one of its
chips, the BIOS (or Basic Input/Output System) chip.
• The BIOS chip tells it to look in a fixed place, usually on the lowest-numbered hard disk
(the boot disk) for a special program called a boot loader (under Linux the boot loader is called
Grub or LILO). The boot loader is pulled into memory and started. The boot loader's job is
to start the real operating system.
 What is Software?
• It is a collection of programs
(programs are sets of instructions
that allow the computer execute
operations and tasks)
 Types of software
• There are three main types:
• Programming software – This refers to software that is used by computer
programmers to help write computer code.
• Application Software - refers to all those applications – such as word processors
and spreadsheets – which are used for specific purposes. Applications are usually
stored on disks loaded into the RAM memory when activated by the user.
• Systems Software - This refers to all programs which control the basic functions
of a computer. They include operating systems, systems, system utilities (e.g. an anti-
virus program, a back-up utility) and language translators (e.g. a compiler – the
software that translates instructions into machine code).
 Types of Software

Computer
Software

Programming Systems Application

software Software Software
 Application Software
• Are often called productivity programs or end-user programs - they enable
the user to complete tasks such as creating documents, spreadsheets,
databases, and publications, doing online research, sending email, designing
graphics, running businesses, and even playing games!
• It is specific to the task it is designed for and can be as simple as a calculator
application or as complex as a word processing application.
• There are two sub-types of Application Software
 Types of Application Software

Application
Software

General- Specialised
Purpose Software

Custom- Special-
Personal Workgroup Enterprise Customized
written Purpose
 General-Purpose Software
• is a type of application that can be used for a variety of tasks. It is not
limited to one particular function.
• For example a word processor could be classed as general purpose
software as it would allow a user to write a novel, create a restaurant menu
or even make a poster.
 Single Purpose
• Software which is designed to carry out a specific set of tasks, usually in line
with the requirements of a paying customer.
 Integrated
• Software that combines several applications in one program, typically
providing at least word processing, spreadsheet and database management.
 Customized
• Is a general purpose software that has been altered through the use of
Macros to meet the needs of the user or organization.
 Custom written
• Custom software (also known as bespoke software or tailor-made software)
is software that is specially developed for some specific organization or other
user.
 Special purpose
• Special purpose application software is a type of software created to
execute one specific task. For example a camera application on your phone
will only allow you to take and share pictures. Another example would be a
chess game, it would only allow you to play chess.
 Systems Software
• Handles technical details
• Works with end users, application software, and computer hardware
• Four types of programs
• Operating system
• Utilities
• Device drivers
• Language translators
Types of Systems Software

Systems

Operating Utilities Device Language

System Program Drivers translators
 Operating system
• is the core software that allows a computer to run as an useful device.
• It manages the hardware, the user interface and all other software running on the
computer.
• Without an operating system, a computer is just a collection of components heating
up the room as no-one would be able to make any practical use of the machine.
• The operating system provides services that include process management, virtual
memory, file management, security, fault tolerance, and the user interface.
Functions of a Operating System
 Types of Operating Systems

Operating
System

Real-time
Single-user, Single-user,
operating Multi-user
single-task multi-tasking
systems
 Real-time operating systems (RTOS)
• Are used to control machinery, scientific instruments, and industrial systems.
• The user does not have much control over the functions performed by RTOS.
• It has no end-user utilities, since the system will be a "sealed box" when delivered
for use.
• It manages the resources of the computer so that a particular operation executes in
precisely the same amount of time, every time it occurs.
• In a complex machine, having a part move more quickly is just as catastrophic as
having it not move at all.
 Single-user, single-task
• task operating systems allow one user to do one thing at a time.
• An example is the operating system used by personal digital assistants
(PDAs), also known as handheld computers.
 Single-user, multi-tasking
• allow a single user to simultaneously run multiple applications on their
computer.
• This is the type of operating system found on most personal desktop and
laptop computers.
• Examples of such OS’s are : Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Linux
 Multi-user
• allow multiple users to simultaneously use the resources on a single
computer.
• It must ensure that the requirements of the various users are balanced,
• That each programs being used has sufficient and separate resources
• A problem with one user doesn't affect the entire community of users
• Example of such a software are Unix, VMS and mainframe operating
systems, such as MVS
 Utilities software
• is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer.
• A single piece of utility software is usually called a utility or tool.
• If we are having any problem related to system then we can solve it through utility software.
• For example - Antivirus:- Utility scan for computer virus.
• Memory tester check's for memory failure etc.

The following are the activities those are coming under the utility software are -
• Formatting.
• Back-Up Recovery.
• Disk Defragmenter.
• Registry Cleaners.
• Disk Partitions. Etc
Utilities
software
 Device Driver
• is a program that controls a particular type of device that is attached to your
computer. It essentially converts the more general input/output instructions
of the operating system to messages that the device type can understand.
• There are device drivers for printers, displays, CD-ROM readers, diskette
drives, and so on.
• Many device drivers are built into the operating system. Without
the driver file, the computer will be unable to communicate with the device.
 Language Translators
• It is another system software which convert the high level language to machine level language for the
purpose of machine understanding.

• The Machine can only understand the machine level language or binary language 0's & 1's. The language
translator rectify the errors within the program through different ways.

• There are 3 types of language translator, they are as follows :-

• Compiler.
• Interpreter.
• Assembler.