Prof. Anatoly Sachenko

Computer Software

I. LECTURE OVERVIEW

Foundation Concepts: Computer software,

reviews the basic features and trends in the major types of application software and system software used to support enterprise and end user computing.

Software –

Computer software consists of two major types of programs: (1) applications software that directs the performance of a particular use, or application, of computers to meet the information processing needs of users,and (2) system software that controls and supports the operations of a computer system as it performs variousinformation processing tasks. Refer to Figure 14.2 for an overview of the major types of software.

Application Software

– Application software includes a variety of programs that can be segregated into general- purpose and application-specific categories. General-purpose application programs perform common information processing jobs for end users. Examples are word processing, electronic spreadsheet, database management,telecommunications, and presentation graphics programs. Application-specific programs accomplish information processing tasks that support specific business functions or processes, scientific or engineering applications, andother computer applications in society.System Software – System software can be subdivided into system management programs and system development programs. System management programs manage the hardware, software, networks, and data resources of acomputer system during its execution of information processing jobs. Examples of system management programsare operating systems, network management programs, database management systems, system utilities, performance monitors, and security monitors. Network management programs support and managetelecommunications networks. Database management systems control the development, integration, andmaintenance of databases. Utilities are programs that perform routine computing functions, such as backing updata or copying files, as part of an operating system or as a separate package. System development programs helpIS specialists and end users develop computer programs and information system procedures. Major development programs are language translators, programming editors, and other programming tools.Operating Systems – An operating system is an integrated system of programs that supervises the operation of theCPU, controls the input/output storage functions of the computer system, and provides various support services.An operating system performs five basic functions: (1) a user interface for system and network communicationswith users, (2) resource management for managing the hardware resources of a computer system, (3) filemanagement for managing files of data and programs, (4) task management for managing the tasks a computer must accomplish, and (5) utilities and other functions that provide miscellaneous support services.Programming Languages – Programming languages are a major category of system software. They require the useof a variety of programming packages to help programmers develop computer programs, and language translator programs to convert programming language instructions into machine language instruction codes. The five major levels of programming languages are machine languages, assembler languages, high-level languages, fourth-generation languages, and object-oriented languages. Object-oriented languages like Java and special-purposelanguages like HTML and XML are being widely used for Web-based business applications.

II. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Learning Objective

•

Describe several important trends occurring in computer software.

•

Give examples of several major types of application and system software.

•

Explain the purpose of several popular microcomputer software packages for end user productivity andcollaborative computing.

•

Outline the functions of an operating system.

•

Describe the main uses software programming languages and tools.

Prof. Anatoly Sachenko

III: LECTURE NOTESSection I: Application Software - End User Applications

INTRODUCTION TO SOFTWARE

This chapter presents an overview of the major types of software you depend on as you work with computers andaccess computer networks. It discusses their characteristics and purposes and gives examples of their uses.

Analyzing Intuit Inc.

We can learn a lot about the development and markets for consumer and small business software from this case.Take a few minutes to read it, and we will discuss it. (See Intuit Inc. in Section IX).

Types of Software

[Figure 14.2]

This chapter presents an overview of the major types and functions of

application software

and

system software

that are available to computer users. Information systems depend on software resources to help end users usecomputer hardware to transform data resources into a variety of information products. Software is needed toaccomplish the input, processing, output, storage, and control activities of information systems.Computer software is typically classified into two major types of programs:

•

Application Software

- Programs that direct the performance of a particular use, or application, of computersto meet the information processing needs of end users.

•

System Software

- Programs that manage and support the resources and operations of a computer system as it performs various information processing tasks.Two major software trends are taking place:

[Figure 14.3]

Prof. Anatoly Sachenko

•

Trend away from :(1)Custom-designed programs developed by the professional programmers of an organization.(2)Technical, machine-specific programming languages using binary-based or symbolic codes(3)

Procedural languages

, which use brief statements and mathematical expressions to specify the sequenceof instructions a computer must perform.

•

Trend towards :(1)Use of off-the-shelf software packages acquired by end users from software vendors.(2)Use of a visual graphic-interface for object-oriented programming, or toward nonprocedural

natural languages

for programming that are closer to human conversation.Reasons for these trends are:

•

Development of relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use application software packages and multipurpose

software suites

for microcomputers.

•

Software packages are designed with web-enabled networking capabilities and collaboration features thatoptimize their usefulness for end users and workgroups on the Internet and corporate intranets and extranets.

•

Many software packages can now be downloaded, updated, managed, and rented or leased from softwarecompanies or

application service providers

(ASP’s) over the Internet and corporate intranets.

•

Creation of easy-to-use, nonprocedural

fourth-generation languages

(4GLs).

•

Developments in object technology, graphics, and artificial intelligence produce natural language andgraphical user interfaces (GUI) that make both programming tools and software packages easier to use.

•

Developments in a new generation of

expert-assisted

software packages that combine expert system modulesand artificial intelligence features (

wizards

and

intelligent

agents

)Results of these trends:

•

Current trends are converging to produce a fifth generation of powerful, multipurpose, expert-assisted andnetwork-enabled software packages with natural language and graphical interfaces to support the productivityand collaboration of both end users and IS professionals.

Application Software for End Users

[Figure 14.2]

Application software consists of a variety of programs that can be subdivided into

general-purpose

and

application-specific

categories. These programs are called application packages because they direct the processing required for a particular use, or application, that end users want accomplished. Examples include:

•

Business Applications - accounting, sales management, transaction processing, electronic commerce, etc.

•

Science and Engineering Applications – research and development

•

Personal Applications – finance and home management

•

Education and Entertainment Applications – schools, learning institutions, DVD movies

General-purpose

application programs are programs that perform common information processing jobs for endusers. Examples include:

•

Word processing programs