SOFTWARE 42

Software - is a program and other operating

information used by a computer.
SYSTEM SOFTWARES
Programs that are designed to maintain or
operate the computer system
Types of System software’s
a)Utility software’s
System software’s that carries out
configuration and maintenance tasks e.g.
i. Backup utilities –
Creates a copy of files and programs

Shadow maker software

ii. Defragmentation –
Fragmented (broken into pieces)
When data is spread across the disk
iii. Compression utilities –
Reduce the original size of a file or set of
files

iv. Formatting utilities –

Prepares a storage media to its first time
b) Operating systems
The operating system allows users to control
and manage the computer’s hardware:
Examples of Operating systems
Single user O.S –only allowed for
a general user and do not provide
the option to customise the User
Interface
Network O.S –
Some of the functions of a
Network O.S are:
a) Sending requests to a server
when user logs in
b) Separating user accounts
c) Providing access to network
storage and shared resources
e.g networked printers.
Main Functions of the Operating system
a)Memory management – The O.S allocates the
required amount of memory (RAM) to one or
more applications (creation of virtual
memory)
b) Resource management – The O.S ensures
that the system resource are made available to
applications when they are required (i.e.
processor, graphics card, printer)
c) Security – the O.S gives users secure access
through usernames and passwords
(authentication)
d) Printing spooling – the O.S keeps each
page in a queue ready for printing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V71pWR
KCp20
 APPLICATION SOFTWARES
Software’s that allow users to produce a
digital product, or carry out specific tasks.
Also known as Apps.
Types of Application Software’s
1. Office Productivity Software
An application that can carry out work
related tasks: e.g. Word processing,
desktop publishing (DTP), Spread sheet,
database


2. Web Authoring
An application that lets users create
web pages that include text and images
(e.g. dreamweaver)
3. Image editing
4. Sound editing
 5. Presentation software
Allows users to create engaging
multimedia content such as images,
text, animation and video.

6. Control applications
Used to make something happen in the
physical environment
Its used to automate the movement of
control devices such as motors
Used in engineering, vehicles, and
building control systems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f32SDx3C6s
A

7. Project management
Used to help plan and track the
individual tasks in a project.
 They can also be used to allocate tasks
to individual people or groups of
people
They can also provide tools for tracking
the costs and arranging for resources to
be delivered on time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsxi4qaEnOg

8. Communication software
Provides remote access to systems and
allows users to contact people using the
internet
Examples of communication s/w
 Web browsers
Allow users to view web pages and
websites created in web authoring
software and hosted on servers that
are connected to the internet
 Email
Emails can be sent and received by
software installed on a computer
(Examples: gmail, yahoo, hotmail,
outlook)
  Social Media
Can be accessed through a web
browser or by using locally installed
apps (Examples: facebook, instagram)
 SMS
 Short Messaging Service (SMS)
applications are found on mobile
phones
 They don’t require internet
connection

 MMS
Multimedia messaging service (MMS)
can include video, animations, images,
audio.
 Instant Messaging

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkQKTkw
6-Rw
 SOFTWARE LICENSING
A legal arrangement that gives a user the right
to install and use software
Types of Software Licenses
1. Free or Open source
a)Free software
Software that can be modified, copied
or distributed by a user
b) Open source software
Software for which the source code is
made available to users so that they
can modify how the software works
2. Proprietary
Software that is marketed and distributed
by its owner under a brand name.
Freeware – it’s a type of proprietary
software provided free of charge to users.

SOFTWARE UPDATES
Update - a change or addition to a computer file
so that it has the most recent information
Software updates is done because of the following
reasons:
a) Fixing security bags
b) Increasing compatibility with newer
operating systems
c) Improving performance and efficiency
d) Introducing new features
e)Improving usability