Unit 3.
Software
• Software is a collection of instructions that
performs task and enable the user to interact with
the computer hardware.
• It is a set of instructions that tell the computer
hardware how to perform a task.
• For example camera app software will instruct
hardware to zoom, take pictures, record videos,
play sound and store it in storage.
Types of Software
There are three main categories of software:
• System software
• Application software
• Utility software
A. System software
it is designed to run between the computer’s
hardware and application program and utility
programs.
System Software is a set of master programs that
keep the computer system working.
System software runs in the background maintaining
the computer’s basic functions to provide a platform
for application software to run as expected.
Where is OS?
System software…cont’d
The most common example of system software is an operating system
(OS), which manages all the programs on a computer.
The basic functions of OS includes:
Processor and Memory management
Handling file operations
Controlling network connectivity
Managing users on a systems
Storage
Security
Drivers
Providing a visible user interface and etc.
System software…cont’d
• An Examples of OS:
Microsoft Window OS
Android OS runs on android devices
iOS runs on iPhones
Mac OS on apples computers
Linux OS
Unix OS
Ubuntu OS and etc.
System software…cont’d
• Operating systems have both graphic user interface (GUI) and
command line interface (CLI).
• GUI: allows users to interact through graphical icons and
textual representation.
• CLI: receives commands from user in the form of lines of text
• System software also includes Basic Input –Output System
(BIOS).
• BIOS used to provide runtime services for Operating systems
and programs.
System software…cont’d
• The BIOS in modern PCs initializes and tests the system hardware
components (POST-power on self test). Then starts the OS.
• POST is performed immediately after the computer is powered
on, it checks if the required system hardware is in place and
working properly.
32-Bit and 64-Bit Operating
System
B. Application software
• Application software is a computer program that performs a specific
tasks and activities .
• It is designed to assist end-users in accomplishing a variety of tasks,
which may be related to productivity, creation, or communication.
• Examples
• Web browsers like Google chrome, Firefox, opera and etc.
• Music and video players
• Communication tools like Meta, Telegram, and etc.
• Microsoft Offices like Microsoft word, Microsoft excel,
Microsoft power point and etc.
C. Utility Software
• Utility software used to support the operating system
and application software
• For examples
Virus detection
Installation and Uninstallation
Data backup
Deletion of unwanted files
Compression of data
Defragmentation of data, and etc.
User Management in Windows
• User accounts allow users to access the system with their
credentials with out affecting other computer users.
• By default, windows have one Administrator user, which will be set
up on the windows installation process.
• There are three user groups in windows.
Administrator: has full control of the windows computer and
everything on it including create other user accounts.
Guests: has temporary profiles set when they log on, which are
automatically deleted when they log out
Standard user: it can do limited activities like accessing
installed apps.
File Operations
• Folder
• File
• File type
• Document
• Microsoft word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Image
• Video
• Audio
• File extension
