EVOLUTION OF

SYSTEM SOFTWARE
SYSTEM SOFTWARE (2)
Agenda
 System Software
 Evolution of System Software
 Laws of Software Evolution
System Software
System software is a software that provides platform to other
Software.
Some examples can be operating systems, antivirus
software, disk formatting software, Computer language
translators etc.
These software consists of programs written in low-level
languages, used to interact with the hardware at a very
basic level.
System software serves as the interface between the
hardware and the end users.
Evolution
The system software began to be used extensively with the second
generation computers in the early 1960's.
Before that, the operation of a computer was controlled primarily
by
human operators.
These operators monitored the processing of each job.
Typically, when a job ended, a bell rang or light flashed to indicate
that another job should be input to computer and started by the
operator. In addition, the operator had to activate each
peripheral device when that device was needed by the
computer.
This type of things wasted large amount of computer
time and human resources.
But with the development of system softwares or
operating systems, a queue of jobs that are a waited
can be read onto a disk.
The operating system will start each job when system
resources are available for its execution.
Since due to introduction of system softwares, human
intervention is eliminated, so computers idle time is
reduced.
Laws of Software Evolution

Lehman has given laws for software evolution. He

divided the software into three different categories:
i. Static-type (S-type)
ii. Practical-type (P-type)
iii. Embedded-type (E-type)
Static-type (S-type)
This is a software, which works strictly according to
defined specifications and solutions.
The solution and the method to achieve it, both are
immediately understood before coding.
The s-type software is least subjected to changes
hence this is the simplest of all.
For example, calculator program for mathematical
computation.
Practical-type (P-type)

This is a software with a collection of procedures.

This is defined by exactly what procedures can do.
In this software, the specifications can be described
but the solution is not obviously instant.
For example, gaming software.
Embedded-type (E-type)
this software works closely as the requirement of
real-world environment.
This software has a high degree of evolution as there
are various changes in laws, taxes etc. in the real
world situations.
For example, Online trading software.
Eight laws for E-Type software evolution:

i. Continuing change - An E-type software system must continue to adapt

to the real world changes, else it becomes progressively less useful.
ii. Increasing complexity - As an E-type software system evolves, its
complexity tends to increase unless work is done to maintain or
reduce
iii. Conservation of familiarity - This law states that during the active
lifetime of the program, changes made in the successive release are
almost constant.
iv. Continuing growth- In order for an E-type system intended to resolve
some business problem, its size of implementing the changes grows
according to the lifestyle changes of the business.
v. Reducing quality - An E-type software system declines in quality
unless rigorously maintained and adapted to a changing operational
vi. Feedback systems- The E-type software systems
constitute multiloop, multi-level feedback systems
and must be treated as such to be successfully
modified or improved.
vii. Self-regulation - E-type system evolution processes
are self- regulating with the distribution of product.
viii. Organizational stability - Over the lifetime of a
program, the rate of development of that program is
approximately constant and independent of the
resource devoted to system development.
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