Software

Software Layers
 A hierarchy determine how software interface
so that high-level software can depend on low-
level software to manage the HW for it.
 Application software depends on the OS to
interface with HW;
◦ Instructs HW directly.
◦ Uses BIOS to provide the instructions.
◦ Uses device drivers.
Three Types of Software
• Controls computer’s input/output functions
Firmware • Provide basic instruction to HW.
• Often serves as the interface between high-
(BIOS) level software & HW.

• Provide instructions to HW to perform

Operating tasks.

System
• Designed to work on top of a particular OS
Application
Software
Operating System (OS)
 Collection of system programs that together
control the operation of a computer system.
 Runs on a specific HW platform.
 Different OS are written to support different
types of HW systems & user needs.
◦ Examples: Windows 98 only runs on computer
systems based on Intel Pentium processors. A
processor is a device in a computer system that
executes instruction/program.
 Managing
BIOS

Performing
Managing files
housekeeping
on 2nd
procedures
storage
requested by
devices
users.

OS
functions
Managing
Interfacing
primary
between HW
memory
& SW.
(RAM)

Diagnosing
problems
with SW &
HW
 OS: Some Common Terms
Multitasking:

• the ability of a CPU to do more than one task at a time. Only new
Pentium CPUs can do this while older processor (386/486) can only
perform one task at a time

Cooperative Multitasking (Task Switching)

• Not true multitasking because CPU is only doing thing at a time. The
CPU is switching back & forth between applications so that more
than applications can be loaded at the same time

Preemptive Multitasking (Pseudo-multitasking)

• In preemptive multitasking the OS allots CPU time to an application

for a specified period, & the preempts the processor to allow the
CPU to another application.
OPERATING SYSTEM
 Popular operating systems are
i. Windows
ii. Mac OS
iii. Unix
iv. DOS
OS: Disk Operating System (DOS)
 The first OS used by IBM microcomputers.
 Advantages:
◦ DOS run on small, inexpensive microcomputers with a minimum
amount of memory & hard disk.
◦ Still used today because some older application need DOS to
operate.
 Disadvantages:
◦ Memory management is awkward & sometimes slow.
◦ Has no icon-drive interface.
◦ Does only one single-tasking.
◦ Not designed for use on networks.
◦ Does not optimize many of the new features in today’s CPU.
◦ Very difficult to find a software written for DOS.
WINDOWS
▪ The names windows comes from the rectangular
boxes (window) used to display information and run
application.
▪ Multiple windows can be open to multitask, or work
with different programs simultaneously.
▪ The desktop is the user interface provided by
windows. Icons are often used to interact with the
Windows operating system. Another common way
is to use the Start Menu.
OS: Windows 3.1
 First OS have an icon-driven interface.
 Not a true, independent multi-tasking OS.
 It run on top of DOS & for the most part, uses
DOS facilities & routines for disk access.
 Windows 3.11 (Workgroups) was the first
Windows environment that designed to
interface with a network.
OS: Windows 9X
 Two versions: Windows 95 & Windows 98.
 Windows 95/98 is the great “compromise” OS.
 In some respects, It has its own way of handling access to
the hard disk, but in other ways it resembles, & even uses,
standard DOS.This is how W95 strives for performance
while retaining compatibility with older software.
 W95 is fact includes a version of DOS, DOS 7.0, & W98
DOS 7.1 that is designed to work with it & its file
structures.
 W95/98 provide an automated method of installing new
HW devices, called Plug and Play.
 W98 support larger hard disk & includes more SW
utilities, & faster than W95.
 W98 is the last OS that sit on DOS.
OS: Windows NT
 A new implementation of Windows that was
designed from the ground up.
 Windows NT is NOT based on DOS.
 Supports preemptive multitasking & also
supports a system that contains two or more
CPU called multiprocessing.
 Multiprocessing provides true multitasking
because the OS can manage two or more
processes occurring at the same time, each
using separate CPU.
OS: UNIX
 Originally written for mainframe computers in
the early 70s.
 Today it has become popular not only used by
PC but also for networking.
 The most popular UNIX variant for PCs is
LINUX. It is the only OS not from Microsoft
that is gaining significant market share.
 Created by Linus Torvalds & developed
collaboratively over the internet. LINUX is the
great success of Open Source Software
development.
UNIX
▪ The Unix operating system was originally
designed to run on minicomputers in
network environment.

▪ Linux is one version of Unix that is

receiving a great deal of attention.
MAC OS
▪ The Mac Os run on Macintosh computers.
Although not as widely used as Windows, it is
very powerful and easy to use.
▪ Mac Os 8.5 includes Sherlock, an innovative
search feature for locating information on the
Web or on your hard drive.
How an Operating System Manages
an Application
 DOS naming conventions
◦ Filename (up to 8 characters)
◦ File extension (3 characters)
 Memory addressing under DOS
Applications Software
 Eight categories: word processing, spreadsheet,
database management, graphics,
communications, games, mathematical modeling,
and software development tools
 Designed to work on top of a particular OS
 Comes written on floppy disks or CD-ROMs;
usually must be installed on a hard drive in
order to run
How Applications Software is
Loaded and Initialized
OS receives command to execute application

OS locates program file for the application

OS loads program file into memory

OS gives control to the program

Program requests memory addresses from OS for its data

Program initializes itself; may request that data from

secondary storage be loaded into memory

Program turns to user for its first instruction