COMPUTER SYSTEM SOFT WARE

COMPUTER SYSTEM SOFTWARE
Computer software or simply software is a program that enables a computer to perform a specific task as oppose to the physical components of the system (i.e. hardware).
TYPES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE
It can be classified majorly into three: system software, programming, and application software.
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
System software helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It enables other software to run properly by interfacing with hardware and with other software. It includes operating systems, device drivers, diagnostic tools, server, windows utilities etc.
PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE
Programming software usually provide tools to assist a programmer in writing computer programs and software using different programming languages in a more convenient way. The tools include text editors, compilers, interpreters, linkers, debuggers and so on.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application software enables the computer users to perform a task. It allows human to accomplish one or more specific (non – computer related) tasks. Typically application software includes industrial automation, business software, educational software, medical software, databases and computer games. Businesses are probably the biggest users of application software, but almost every field of human activity now uses some form of application software.
OPERATION OF SOFTWARE
Computer software has to be loaded into the computer’s storage (also known as memory and RAM) once software loaded; computer is able to execute the software. Computers operate by executing the computer programs.
This involves passing instructions from the application software through the system software to the hardware which ultimately receives the instruction as machine code. Each instruction causes the computer to carry out an operation moving data, carrying out a computation or altering the control flow of instruction.
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
This is a collection of programs designed to operate, control and extend processing capabilities of computers.
CLASSES OF SYSTEM SOFTWARE
1. OPERATING SYSTEM
An operating system (OS) is a software program that manages the hardware and software resource of a computer. A key component of system software, the OS performs basic tasks, such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking and managing files. Without operating system the computer hardware would be useless.
Some of the major facilities provided by a modern operating system are;
(1) Easy interaction between humans and computers.
(2) Starting computer automatically when power is turned on.
(3) Loading and scheduling user’s programs along with necessary compliers.
(4) Controlling input and output.
(5) Controlling program execution.
(6) Scheduling processes.
(7) Managing and use of main memory.
(8) Managing and manipulating (e.g. editing) files.
(9) Providing security of user’s jobs and files.
(10) Accounting resources usage.
2. TRANSLATORS
Language translator program are programs for converting programs in other language into machine language instructions so that the computer can execute them.
3. ASSEMBLER
An assembler is a computer program for translating assembly language especially, a mnemonic representation of machine language into object code. The computational step where an assembler is run is known as ASSEMBLY TUNE.
Assemblers are far simpler to write than complier for high – level languages, and have available since the 1950s.
4. COMPILER
A complier is a computer program (or set of programs) that translates text written in a computer language into another computer language. The original sequence is usually called the SOURCE CODE and the output called OBJECT CODE.
5. INTERPRETER
An interpreter is a computer program that executes other programs. This is in contrast to a complier which does not execute its input program (the source code) but translates it into another language usually executable machine code (also called object code) which is output to a file for later execution.
6. LINKER
In computer science, a linker or link editor is a program that takes one or more objects generated by compliers and assembles them into a single executable program.
7. DEBUGGER
A debugger is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COMPUTING DEVICE (PRE – COMPUTER AGE TO 19TH CENTURY)

Image
(i)                   ABACUS: This is the first calculating device invented by Chinese. It is made up of a frame divided into two parts by a horizontal bar an vertical threads. It is also known Soroban in Japan and Suan Pan in China. It is used for adding and subtracting numbers. (ii)                 JOHN NAPIER BONE: In 1917, Scotsman named John Napier invented logarithm which are a technology that allows multiplication. It consists of a set of eleven rods, with four sides each used as a multiplication tool. These rods were made with bones. (iii)               SLIDE RULE: Napier’s invention led directly to slide rule. It was first built in England in 1632. It uses two logarithm scales to allow rapid multiplication and    division of numbers. (iv)               PASCAL’S CALCULATOR: In 1642, Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and scientist at age 19 invented the PASCALINE which is the first mechanical calculating machine. It is used for addition and subt
Read more

COMPUTING DEVICE (20TH CENTURY TO COMPUTER AGE)

Image
HARVARD MARK I In 1937, Howard A. Aiken of Harvard University, using the techniques already developed for punched card machinery, began work on the design of a fully automatic machine in collaboration with International Business Machines Corporation. His aim was to develop a machine that could help him in the solution of difficult differential equations, the large calculation of which would have been unreal manually. COMPONENTS The Mark I was originally controlled from pre – punched paper tape without provision for reversal, so that automatic transfer of control instructions could not be programmed. Output was by card punch and electric typewriter. USES Harvard Mark I, handled 23 – decimal – place numbers (words) and could perform all four arithmetic operations; moreover, it had special built – in programs or sub routine to handle logarithms and trigonometric functions. ENIAC ENIAC used a word of 10 decimal digits instead of binary ones like previous automated calcula
Read more

INFORMATION AND DATA

DATA AND INFORMATION Data is derived from the Latin word called DATUM which means “fact that is yet to be manipulated to produce result. Therefore, data is a raw fact, event, transaction or activities that have not been processed. Examples are 1, k4, Olu etc. TYPES OF DATA (i)                  ALPHABETIC DATA: This is a data that have relationship with alphabets A – Z. Examples are sex, name, State of origin etc. (ii)                NUMERIC DATA: These are data that made up of numbers or digits value only. Examples are number of students in a class, number of children in a family, age etc. (iii)              SYMBLOIC DATA: These are data that represents symbolic values. Examples are - , +, x ,/, % etc. (iv)              ALPHANUMERIC DATA: These are data that combines alphabetic and numeric data. Examples are date of birth, address, Peugot 407, Ak 47, SS1 etc. SOURCES OF DATA (i)                  Library. (ii)                Past records. (iii)              Inte
Read more