Lecture 7 Introduction to Computer Science I ZU-019

Lecture 7
Computer Software
Computer software, or simply software, is a collection of data or computer
instructions that tells the computer how to work. In computer science and software
engineering, computer software is all information processed by computer systems and
programs. Computer software includes computer programs, libraries and related non-
executable data, such as online documentation or digital media. Computer software has to
be "loaded" into the computer's storage (such as a hard disk or RAM). Once the software
is loaded, then the computer is able to execute the software. Computers operate by
executing the computer program. This involves passing instructions from the application
software, through the system software, to the hardware which receives the instruction as
machine code. Each instruction causes the computer to carry out an operation - moving
data, carrying out a computation, or altering the control flow of instructions.
Based on the goal, computer software can be divided into two parts.

 Application software
 System Software

Application software
Application software is software that uses the computer system to perform special
functions or provide entertainment functions. There are many different types of
application software, because the range of tasks that can be performed with a modern
computer is so large.
Lecture 7 Introduction to Computer Science I ZU-019

System software
System software is software that directly operates the computer hardware, to provide
basic functionality needed by users. System software is the first layer of software to be
loaded into memory every time a computer is powered up. They also enable functional
interaction between hardware, software and the user. System software includes:
- Operating systems;
- Device drivers;
- Utilities;
- Language translators

Operating systems
Operating systems are essential collections of software that manage resources and
provides common services for other software. Programs, boot loaders, shells and window
systems are core parts of operating systems. Operating systems allow to provide the
communication between hardware, system programs and other applications. An operating
system (OS) is the software that controls a computer's hardware and peripheral
devices and allows other programs to function.
A user wants to write and print a report to an attached printer. A word processing
application is required to accomplish this task. Data input is done using a keyboard or
other input devices and then displayed on the monitor. The prepared data is then sent to
the printer. In order to the word processor, keyboard, and printer to accomplish this task,
they must work with the OS, which controls input and output functions, memory
management, and printer spooling. Today, the user interacts with the operating system
through the graphical user interface (GUI) on a monitor or touchscreen interface. The
desktop in modern OSs is a graphical workspace, which contains menus, icons, and apps.
The disk operating system (DOS) was a popular interface used in the 1980s.
Lecture 7 Introduction to Computer Science I ZU-019

DOS (Disk Operating System) is an operating system that runs from a hard disk
drive. It is considered the earliest version of OS and commonly named MS-DOS
(Microsoft Disk Operating System). Disk operating system is also used to describe
several very similar command line disk operating systems.  These early operating
systems did not multitask, as they were only able to run one program at a time.
The command line interface, in which a user has to type in commands, required the user
to remember commands to run programs or do other operating system tasks, making it
difficult for novices to use.
In reality, the earliest computers didn’t have OS. Because they were huge machine
and tasked with one program at the time. For that reason they didn’t really need operating
systems.

Types of Operating Systems

Operating systems are characterized in different ways.
For their tasking method OS can be divided into 2 parts: Single-tasking and Multi-
tasking OS.
Lecture 7 Introduction to Computer Science I ZU-019

Single- and multi-tasking OS

A single-tasking system can only run one program at a time. A multi-tasking operating
system allows more than one program to be running in concurrency. This is achieved
by time-sharing.
For user’s count OS can be divided into 2 parts: Single-user and Multi-user OS.

Single- and multi-user OS

Single-user operating systems have no facilities to distinguish users. A multi-

user operating system extends the basic concept of multi-tasking with facilities that
identify processes and resources, such as disk space, belonging to multiple users, and the
system permits multiple users to interact with the system at the same time.

For using from resources OS is classified as Local OS (or simply OS) and Network OS
(NOS).

Local and Network OS

Local OS allows personal computer to access files, print to a local printer, use 1 or ore
disk on the computer. For example: MS-DOS, Unix, Macintosh, OS/2, Linux, most
versions of Windows. NOS allows the computer to communicate over a network. It uses
from computers and server. NOS is a computer OS that supports workstation, personal
computer and terminal. NOS provides printer sharing, common file systems, database
sharing application etc. NOS is considered distributed operating system. For example:
Windows NT Server, Apple Share, Novell Netware.
For level of processor OS can be like that:
- 8 bits OS;
- 16 bits OS;
- 32 bits OS;
- 64 bits OS.
Lecture 7 Introduction to Computer Science I ZU-019

8 and 16 bits OS are older versions of OS. Today we mostly use from 32 and 64 bits OS.
Selection of this level depends on the capacity of RAM. If the capacity of RAM is less
than 4 GB, 32 bits OS is suitable for the computer. But if the capacity of RAM is 4 and
more than 4 GB, then you can select 64 bits OS.