COMPUTER SOFTWARE

A computer system consists of hardware, the electronic devices capable of computing

and manipulating information, and software that carries out predefined instructions to
complete a given task. The combination of physical equipment (hardware) and logical
instructions (software) gives power and versatility to the modern computing systems.

Software
Software is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the
instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it. A software is a interface
between user and computer. It is a set of instructions, programs that are used to give
command to hardware. It is responsible for controlling, integrating and managing the
hardware components of a computer system and for accomplishing specific tasks.
Types of Software
Sofrware can be divided into two major categories.
1. System software
2. Application software

System Software The purpose of system software is to

System software consists of several insulate the applications programmer as
programs, which are directly much as possible from the detail of the
responsible for controlling, integrating particular complex computer being
and managing the individual hardware used.
components of a computer system. Depending on the functionality, the
It also provides the interface between system software can be further divided
the user component of the computer. into two major categories;
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE
system management program and between the device and the user. Every
developing software. device, whether it is a printer. monitor,
1. System Management Program mouse or keyboard has a driver
It includes an integrated system of program associated with it for its proper
programs, which manages the functioning.
operations of the processor, controls  Device drivers are a set of
input/output, manages storage instructions that introduce our PC
resources and provides various support to a hardware device.
services. Some common examples of  Device drivers are not independent
system management programs are programs, they assists and are
operating system, device driver and assisted by the operating system for
system utilities. the proper functioning.
Operating System
It consists of programs, which controls, BIOS
coordinates and supervises the The Basic Input/Output system (BIOS)
activities of the various components of is commonly known as System BIOS.
a computer system. Its function is to The BIOS controls various electronic
provide link between the computer components within the main computer
hardware and the user. system. The initial function of the BIOS
It performs all internal management is to initialize system devices such as
functions (disk access, memory the RAM, hard disk, CD/DVD drive,
management, task scheduling and user video display card and other hardwares.
interfacing) and ensures systematic The BIOS sets the machine hardware
functioning of a computer system. It into a known state that helps the
provides an environment to run the operating system to configure the
programs. e.g. MS-DOS, Windows hardware components. This process is
XP/2000/98, Unix Linux, etc. known as booting Up.
The operating system performs the
following functions System Utilities
(i) It recognises input from keyboard, These programs perform tasks related
sends output to the display screen. to the maintenance of the computer
(ii) It makes sure that programs running system. These are the packages which
at the same time do not interfere are loaded into computer during time of
with each other. installation of operating system. They
(ii) It is also responsible for security, are used to support, enhance, expand
ensuring that unauthorized users do and secure existing programs and data
not access the system. in the computer system.
Device Drivers System utility mainly consists of the
A software, which is written with the following functions
objective of making a device functional (i) Disk Compression It increases the
when it is connected to the computer is amount of information that can be
called device driver. It is a system stored on a hard disk by compressing all
software that acts like an interface information stored on a hard disk. This
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE
utility works automatically and the user Language (LLL) and High Level
does not need to be aware of its Language (HLL).
existence. (i) Low Level Language (LLL)
(ii) Disk Fragmenters It detects Low level language is divided into two
computer files whose contents are parts
broken across several locations on the (a) Machine Language
hard disk and moves the fragments to It is sometimes, referred to as machine
one location to increase efficiency. It code or object code. It is a collection of
can be used to rearrange files and binary digits or bits that computer reads
unused space on your hard disk. and interprets.
(iii) Backup Utilities It can make a (b) Assembly Language
copy of all information stored on á disk It is used to interface with computer
and restore either the entire disk or hardware. It uses instructed commands
selected files. as substitutions for numbers allowing
(iv) Disk Cleaners It is used to find human to read the code more easily than
files that have not been used for a long binary. It uses English like
time. This utility also serves to increase representation to write a program.
the speed of a slow computer. Medium Level Language
(v) Anti-virus It is the utility which is It serves as the bridge between raw
used to scan computer for viruses and hardware and programming layer of a
prevent the computer system files from computer system. It is designed to
being corrupt. improve the translated code before it is
executed by the processor
2. Developing Software
It is a software which provides service (ii) High Level Language (HLL)
required for the development and It is machine independent language and
execution of application software. The uses translator. It is also called source
programming languages, language code. Some commonly used high level
translator, loader, linker are required for languages are C, BASIC, FORTRAN,
the application software development. PASCAL, etc.
Language Translator
Programming Languages A language translator helps in
A programming language is a primary converting to machine programming
interface of a programmer with a languages language. The translated
computer. A programming language is program is called the object code. There
an artificial language to express are three different kinds of language
computation that can be performed by a translator
computer. (i) Assembler It is used to convert the
Each language has its own syntax i.e. assembly language into machine
the set of specific rules and expresses language (i.e., 0 or 1). This language
the logical steps of an algorithm. consists of mnemonic codes which are
Programming languages are divided difficult to learn and is machine
into two categories; Low Level dependent.
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE
(ii) Compiler It is used to convert the software are also called the end-user
source code (written in high level programs. These programs do the real
language) into machine language. work for users.
Compiler reads whole source code at a There are two types of application
time and trap the errors and inform to software
programmer. For each high level 1. General Purpose Software
language, the machine requires a General purpose softwares are
separate compiler. designed to perform general tasks.
(iii) Interpreter This language
processor converts a high level i. Word Processing Software
language program into machine A word processor is a software program
language by converting it line-by-line. capable of creating, storing and printing
If there is any error in any line during of documents. Word processors have
execution, it will report it at the same the ability to create a document and
time and cannot resume until the error make changes anywhere in the
is rectified. document. This document can also be
Linker saved for modification later on or be
A linker is a system program that links opened on any other computer using the
together several object modules and same word processor.
libraries to form a single and coherent Today, the word processor is one of the
program (executable). The main most frequently used programs or
purpose of linker is to resolve online services used on a computer
references among files. Linker is used system. e.g., Microsoft Word.
to determine the memory locations that Wordperfect (Windows only), Apple
code from each module will occupy and Works (Mac only), OpenOffice.org etc.
relates its instruction by adjusting ii. Presentation Software
absolute references. Presentation is the practice of showing
Loader and explaining the contents of a topic to
Loader is a kind of system software, an audience or learner visually. People,
which is responsible for loading and in a variety of settings and situations,
relocation of the executable program in use presentation software to make their
the main memory. It is a part of presentations more interesting and
operating system that brings executable professional. e.g. marketing managers
file residing on disk into memory and use presentation graphics to present
starts its execution process. new marketing strategies to their
superiors. Sales people use this
Application Software software to demonstrate products and
Application software is a computer encourage customers to make
software designed to help the user to purchases. Students use it to create high
perform singular or multiple tasks. It is
quality class presentations. e.g,
a set of instructions or program Microsoft PowerPoint, Corel
designed for specific uses or Presentations, Lotus Freelance
applications, that enable the user to Graphics etc.
interact with a computer. Application
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE
iii. Electronic Spreadsheets Complete Desktop Publishing (DTP)
Spreadsheet applications (sometimes involves the combination of type setting
referred to simply as spreadsheets) are (choosing fonts and the text layout),
the computer programs that accepts graphic design, page layout (how it all
data in a tabular form and allow you to fits on the page) and printing the
create and manipulate spreadsheets document. e.g, Quark Express, Adobe
electronically. Page Maker, 3B2, Corel Draw, Corel
In Spreadsheet Applications, each value Venture Illustrator etc.
exists in a cell. You can define what vi. Graphics Software
type of data is in each cell and how Graphics software or image editing
different cells depend on one another. software is an application program or
The relationships between cells are collection of programs that enables a
called Formulas and the names of the person to manipulate visual images on
cells are called Labels. e.g., Microsoft a computer system. Most graphics
Excel, Corel Quattro Pro, Lotus 1-2-3 software have the ability to import and
etc. export one or more graphics file
iv. Database Management System formats. Typical graphics software
(DBMS) enables data to be plotted as line chart,
A DBMS (Database Management bar chart and pie chart. e.g. Adobe
System) refers to the software that is Photoshop, Pizap, Microsoft Publishes
responsible for sorting, maintaining and etc.
utilizing a database. It enables a user to vii. Multimedia Software
define, create and maintain the database Multimedia includes a combination of
and provide controlled access on it. A text, audio, still images, animation,
database is a collection of integrated video or interactivity content forms.
data stored together to serve multiple The term is used in contrast to media
applications. which uses only rudimentary computer
Database management system provide display such as text only or traditional
several additional features as, forms of printed or hand produced
(a) Remove data redundancy material.
(b) Elimination of data inconsistency 2. Specific Purpose Software
(c) Data sharing Specific purpose software are designed
(d) Data integration to perform specific tasks. This type of
(e) Data security application software generally has one
e.g., Microsoft Access, Corel Paradox, purpose to execute.
Lotus Approach etc. Some of the specific purpose
v. Desktop Publishing Software application softwares are described
Desktop publishing software is a tool below
for graphic designers and non-designers i. Inventory Management System
to create visual communications for and Purchasing System
professional desktop printing as well as It is an attempt to balance inventory
for online or on screen electronic needs and requirement to minimize
publishing. total cost, resulting from obtaining and
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE
holding an inventory. Inventory is a list v. Report Card Generator
of goods and materials available in a It is an application software which is
stock. Inventory management system is commonly used in schools by the
generally used in departmental stores or examination department to prepare and
in an organisation to keep the records of generate the report cards of the
the stock of all the physical resources. students. It performs all possible
Modern inventory management mathematical calculations and checks
systems must have the ability to track whether a student can be promoted to
sales and available inventory, the next class or not. It can also be used
communicate with suppliers in near to calculate the classwise ranking of a
real-time, receive and incorporate other student.
data, such as sessional demand. vi. Accounting Software
ii. Payroll Management System Accounting software is an application
Payroll management system is used by software that records and processes
all modern organisations to encompass accounting transactions within
every employee of the organisation who functional modules such as accounts
receives a regular wage or other payable, accounts receivable, payroll
compensation. All different payment and trial balance. It works as an
methods are calculated by the payroll accounting information system.
software and the appropriate paychecks There are several types of accounting
are issued. softwares as follows
iii. Hotel Management System (a) Accounts Payable Software
Hotel management system refers to the (b) Bank Reconciliation Software
management techniques used in the (c) Budget Management Software, etc.
hotel Sector. These can include hotel vii. HR Management System
administration, accounts, billing, It refers to the systems and processes at
marketing, housekeeping, front office the intersection between human
or front desk. resource management (HRM) and
iv. Reservation System information technology. The function
A reservation system or central of HR department is generally
reservation system (CRS) is a administrative and common to all
computerized System used to store and organisations. e.g., Effective Staff,
retrieve information and conduct Cezanne HR etc.
transactions related to air travel, hotels, viii. Attendance System
car rental, or other activities. It is an Attendance system is an application
application software which is software designed to track and optimize
commonly seen at railway reservation the presence of a person/student in an
offices, this software helps the organisation or school. Now-a-days,
concerned department to automatically attendance system can be integrated
check the availability of the seats or with customer's existing
berths of any train and any particular time/attendance recording devices like
date with incomparable speed. Biometrics/ Access cards. Attendance
management can be done in two ways
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE
(a) Biometric Integration the tracking of labelled products and
(b) Manually Attendance Integration services delivered to a customer or set
ix. Billing System of customers. e.g., Billing Manager,
It refers to the software that is used to Billing Tracker, Kbilling etc.
perform the billing process. It handles

Language Year Developer Application Nature

John G. Kemeny and
BASIC Programming for
Thomas E. Kurtz at
(Beginner's All purpose 1964 educational purpose Interpreted
Dartmouth college in
Symbolic Instruction Code)
New Hampshire
Dennis Ritchie at
C 1972 System programming Compiled
Bell Telephone labs
Bjarne Stroustrup at System object
C++ 1983 Compiled
Bell Labs programming
COBOL (Common Business Business management,
1959 Grace Hopper Compiled
Oriented language) string oriented
FORTRAN (formula A team of
1957 calculation Compiled
Translation) programmers at IBM
Compiled
James Gosling at Sun Internet oriented
Java 1995 and
Microsystems programming
Interpreted
John McCarthy at the
Compiled
Massachusetts
LISP (List Processing) 1958 Artificial Intelligence and
Institute of
Interpreted
Technology (MIT)
Pascal 1970 Niklaus Wirth Education Compiled
A Committee of
ALGOL (Algorithmic European and
1958 Scientific purpose Compiled
Language) American computer
scientists jointly
Internet oriented Compiled
Python 1991 Guido van Rossum programming and and
Artificial Intelligence Interpreted

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 COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Points to ponder
 Visual Basic is an interpreted language.
 Firmware It is a combination of software and hardware. e.g. ROMs, PROMS and
EPROMs.
 Freeware It is commonly used for copyrighted software that is given away for free
by its owner.
 Pseudocode It is not a programming language, but simply an informal way of
describing a program. It does not follow any syntax strictly. In other words, we can
say that pseudocode is an outline of a program, written in a form that can easily be
converted into real programming statements.
 Control Structures It is a statement or block of statements in a programming
language that determines the control flow or sequence of execution of other
instructions or statements.
 Looping Looping is a control structure which is used in a program to execute a
particular set of statements repeatedly.