CSC 101- Introduction to Computer Science - Spring 2023

Lecture 3
System Software

American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB)

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Introduction of System Software:
▪ System software (systems software) is computer software designed to
operate and control the computer hardware and to provide a platform
for running application software.

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Introduction of System Software:
▪ System software can be separated into two different categories,
operating systems and utility software.

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Introduction of System Software:
▪ The operating system (prominent examples being z/OS, Microsoft
Windows, Mac OS X and Linux), allows the parts of a computer to work
together by performing tasks like transferring data between memory and
disks or rendering output onto a display device.

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System Software Types:
▪ The five types of systems software are all designed to control and
coordinate the procedures and functions of computer hardware.
▪ Systems software can be categorized under the following:
▪ Operating System:
▪ The operating system is a type of system software that sits between
computer hardware and the end user.
▪ It is installed first on a computer to allow devices and applications to be
identified and therefore functional.
▪ Device Driver:
▪ Driver software is a type of system software which brings computer
devices and peripherals to life.
▪ Drivers make it possible for all connected components and external add-
ons to perform their intended tasks and as directed by the OS.

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System Software Types:
▪ Systems software can be categorized under the following:
▪ Firmware:
▪ Firmware is the operational software embedded within a flash, ROM
memory chip for the OS to identify it.
▪ It directly manages and controls all activities of any single hardware.
▪ Translator:
▪ These are intermediate programs relied on by software programmers to
translate high-level language source code to machine language code.
▪ The former is a collection of programming languages that are easy for
humans to comprehend and code (i.e., Java, C++, Python, PHP, BASIC).
▪ Utility:
▪ Utilities are types of system software which sits between system and
application software.
▪ These are programs intended for diagnostic and maintenance tasks for
the computer.
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Introduction of System Software:
▪ It also provides a platform to run high-level system software and
application software.
▪ A kernel is the core part of the operating system that defines an API for
applications programs (including some system software) and an interface to
device drivers.

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Introduction of System Software:
▪ BIOS:
▪ The BIOS (Basic Input System) is start up system program that gets activated
every time the system is powered on.
▪ It is the BIOS that performs initial hardware check on some key components
such as power supply unit, memory RAM, processor, display monitor and
keyboard.

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Introduction of System Software:
▪ BIOS:
▪ The BIOS (Basic Input System) is start up system program that gets activated
every time the system is powered on.
▪ It is the BIOS that performs initial hardware check on some key components
such as power supply unit, memory RAM, processor, display monitor and
keyboard.
▪ The BIOS initiates the system booting process by starting a self diagnostic
test called POST.
▪ The POST stands for power on self test.
▪ If the POST test is completed successfully, then the BIOS will process
future and search for the capable operating system.
▪ The BIOS loads the operating system into the main memory (RAM) and
handover the control to the OS.
▪ The User can operate the system when the OS is fully operational.

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Introduction of System Software:
▪ Device drivers such as computer BIOS and device firmware provide
basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected
to or built into the computer.
▪ A user interface “allows users to interact with a computer.”

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Introduction of System Software:
▪ System software can be separated into two different categories,
operating systems and utility software.
▪ It also provides a platform to run high-level system software and application
software.
▪ Utility software helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the
computer, such as virus protection.
▪ In some publications, the term system software also includes software
development tools (like a compiler, linker or debugger).
▪ In contrast to system software, software that allows users to do things
like create text documents, play games, listen to music, or web
browsers to surf the web are called application software.
▪ The line where the distinction should be drawn isn’t always clear. Most
operating systems bundle such software.

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Introduction of System Software:
▪ The line where the distinction should be drawn isn’t always clear.
▪ Most operating systems bundle such software.
▪ Such software is not considered system software when it can be
uninstalled without affecting the functioning of other software.
▪ Exceptions could be e.g., web browsers such as Internet Explorer where
Microsoft argued in court that it was system software that could not be
uninstalled.
▪ Later examples are Chrome OS and Firefox OS where the browser
functions as the only user interface and the only way to run programs
(and other web browser can not be installed in their place), then they
can well be argued to be (part of) the operating system and then system
software.

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