COMPUTER SOFTWARE

1. System software 2. Application software

1. System software: Responsible for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual hardware
components of a computer system.
Categories:
Operating system: Provides link between the computer hardware and the user.

Input keyboard ➞ output to display. Programs interface ⤫while running. Responsible for Security.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System): Controls various electronic components within the computer.
Initial Function of BIOS is Initialise system devices (RAM, Hard disk, CD/DVD etc)
Device Drivers: Makes a device (Printer, monitor, Mouse etc) functional when connected to
computer.
Language Translator: It helps in converting programming languages to machine language. Language
translator: Assembler, Compiler, and Interpreter.
Linker: Links together several object modules and libraries to form a single and coherent program
(executable). Resolves references among files.
Loader: Responsible for loading and relocation of the executable program in the main memory.
Application software/ End-user programs: Designed for specific uses or applications, that enable
the user to interact with a computer.
Types
General Purpose Software: Used to do simple computer tasks.
Examples of GPS
Word Processing Software: Capable of creating, storing, and printing of documents. E.g. MS Word,
word perfect, Apple Works Open Office.org
Electronic Spreadsheets: Accepts the data in a tabular form and allow to create and manipulate it.
e.g. MS Excel, Corel Quattro Pro, Lotus 1-2-3, Openoffice.org
Presentation Software: Showing and explaining the contents of a topic to an audience.
e.g. MS Power Point, Corel Presentations, Lotus Freelance Graphics, OpenOffice.org
Desktop Publishing (DTP) Software: It is a tool for graphic designers and non-designers to create
visual communications for professional or desktop printing as well as for online or on-screen
electronic publishing. e.g. Quark XPress, Adobe PageMaker, 3B2, CorelDraw, Corel Ventura, Illustrator,
etc.
Graphics Software (Image Editing) It is an application program or collection of programs that
enables a person to manipulate visual images on a computer system. e.g. DirectX, Adobe Photoshop,
piZap, Microsoft Publisher, Picasa, etc.
Multimedia Software Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video
or interactivity content forms. e.g. Macro-Media Flash, Xilisoft Video Converter, VLC Media Player,
Nimbuzz, etc.
Specific Purpose Software
Inventory Management System and Purchasing System: used in departmental stores or in an
organisation to keep the records of the stock of all the physical resources. e.g. Fishbowl, AdvancePro,
etc.
Payroll Management System It is used by all modern organisations to encompass every employee of
the organisation who receives a regular wages or other compensation. e.g. Namely, UltiPro, etc
Hotel Management System: It includes administration, accounts, billing, marketing, housekeeping,
front office or front desk. e.g. Djubo, Aatithya HMS, Hotelogix PMS, etc.
Reservation System: Used in air travel, hotels, car rental etc. e.g. makemytrip etc
Report Card Generator: used in Schools to generate the report cards.
Accounting Software: Records and processes accounting transactions. e.g. . Tally. ERP9, HDPOS,
MARG, Profit book etc.
Billing System: It handles tracking of ladled products and services. e.g. Billing Manager, Billing
Tracker, kBilling, etc.
System Utilities: Programs used for maintenance of computer system.
Functions:
Disk compression: It increases the amount of information that can be stored on a hard disk by
compressing all information stored on a hard disk. e.g. DiskDoubler, SuperStor Pro, DoubleDisk Gold ,
etc
Disk Fragmenter: It Detects broken files and move the fragments to one place to increase efficiency.
. e.g. MyDefrag, Diskeeper, Defraggler, etc
Backup Utilities It can make a copy of all information stored on a disk and restore either the entire
disk or selected files.
Disk Cleaners Finds files that have not been used for a long time. This utility also serves to increase
the speed of a slow computer. e.g. Bleach Bit cleaner, etc.
Anti-virus Scan computer for viruses and prevent the computer system files from being corrupt. e.g.
Kaspersky, AVG, McAfee, Avira, etc.
Text Editor: Creation and correction of text. etc. e.g. MS-Word, WordPad, Notepad etc
Adobe Page Maker is a typesetting tool used for desktop publishing.
■ Fully Backup contains a copy of every program, data and system file on a computer.
■ Firmware is a combination of software and hardware. e.g. ROMs, PROMs and EPROMs.
■ Freeware is commonly used for copyrighted software that is given away for free by its owner.
■ CAD (Computer Aided Design) Software is used by architects, engineers, drafters and other to
create precision drawings.