5th.

Lectures in TLE7-Computer
TOPIC: Software, System Software, Operating Systems & Application Software
What is a Software?
Software is a collection of programs and data that tell a computer how to perform specific tasks. Software often
includes associated software documentation.[1] This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and
which actually performs the work.

At the lowest programming level, executable code consists of machine language instructions supported by an individual
processor—typically a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU). Machine language consists of
groups of binary values signifying processor instructions that change the state of the computer from its preceding
state. For example, an instruction may change the value stored in a particular storage location in the computer—an
effect that is not directly observable to the user. An instruction may also invoke one of many input or output
operations, for example, displaying some text on a computer screen, causing state changes that should be visible to the
user. The processor executes the instructions in the order they are provided, unless it is instructed to "jump" to a
different instruction or is interrupted by the operating system. As of 2024, most personal computers, smartphone
devices, and servers have processors with multiple execution units, or multiple processors performing computation
together, so computing has become a much more concurrent activity than in the past.

The majority of software is written in high-level programming languages. They are easier and more efficient for
programmers because they are closer to natural languages than machine languages.[2] High-level languages are
translated into machine language using a compiler, an interpreter, or a combination of the two. Software may also be
written in a low-level assembly language that has a strong correspondence to the computer's machine language
instructions and is translated into machine language using an assembler.

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What is a System Software?
System software is software designed to provide a platform for other software. Examples of system software include
operating systems (OS) (like macOS, Linux, Android, and Microsoft Windows).

Application software is software that allows users to do user-oriented tasks such as create text documents, play or
develop games, create presentations, listen to music, draw pictures, or browse the web. Examples are: computational
science software, game engines, search engines, industrial automation, and software as a service applications.

In the late 1940s, application software was custom-written by computer users to fit their specific hardware and
requirements. System software was usually supplied by the manufacturer of the computer hardware and was intended
to be used by most or all users of that system.

Many operating systems come pre-packaged with basic application software. Such software is not considered system
software when it can be uninstalled without affecting the functioning of other software. Examples of such software are
games and simple editing tools supplied with Microsoft Windows, or software development toolchains supplied with
many Linux distributions.

Some of the grayer areas between system and application software are web browsers integrated deeply into the
operating system such as Internet Explorer in some versions of Microsoft Windows, or ChromeOS where the browser
functions as the only user interface and the only way to run programs (and other web browser their place).

Cloud-based software is another example of systems software, providing services to a software client (usually a web
browser or a JavaScript application running in the web browser), not to the user directly. It is developed using system
programming methodologies and systems programming languages.

What is an Operating System?

An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides
common services for computer programs.

Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software
for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, peripherals, and other resources.

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For hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation, the operating system acts as an intermediary
between programs and the computer hardware,[1][2] although the application code is usually executed directly by the
hardware and frequently makes system calls to an OS function or is interrupted by it. Operating systems are found on
many devices that contain a computer – from cellular phones and video game consoles to web servers and
supercomputers.

In the personal computer market, as of September 2023, Microsoft Windows holds a dominant market share of around
68%. macOS by Apple Inc. is in second place (20%), and the varieties of Linux, including ChromeOS, are collectively in
third place (7%).[3] In the mobile sector (including smartphones and tablets), as of September 2023, Android's share is
68.92%, followed by Apple's iOS and iPadOS with 30.42%, and other operating systems with .66%.[4] Linux distributions
are dominant in the server and supercomputing sectors. Other specialized classes of operating systems (special-
purpose operating systems),[5][6] such as embedded and real-time systems, exist for many applications. Security-
focused operating systems also exist. Some operating systems have low system requirements (e.g. light-weight Linux
distribution). Others may have higher system requirements.

Some operating systems require installation or may come pre-installed with purchased computers (OEM-installation),
whereas others may run directly from media (i.e. live CD) or flash memory (i.e. USB stick).

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What is an Application Software?
An application program (software application, or application, or app for short) is a computer program designed to carry
out a specific task other than one relating to the operation of the computer itself,[1] typically to be used by end-
users.[2] Word processors, media players, and accounting software are examples. The collective noun "application
software" refers to all applications collectively.[3] The other principal classifications of software are system software,
relating to the operation of the computer, and utility software ("utilities").

Applications may be bundled with the computer and its system software or published separately and may be coded as
proprietary, open-source, or projects.[4] The term "app" usually refers to applications for mobile devices such as
phones.