Systems Software and Applications Packages

3.1.1 c

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this lesson all of you will– Be able to describe the different roles and

functions of systems software and applications packages.

Systems Software

• The set of programs needed to control and monitor the operation of the hardware (and applications software) of a computer.

• Systems software consists of the following:– Operating System software– Utility programs– Programming tools– Library programs

Operating System Software

• The Operating System is the software that controls the operation of the hardware and hides its complexities from the user.

Utility Programs

• Utility programs are non-essentials small programs that perform common tasks that thousands of computer users benefit from at one time or another.

• Utility programs include:– file backup;– file compression;– disk formatters;– disk defragmentation;– file recovery;– virus detection and cleaning etc..

Programming Tools

• Programming tools include language translators such as compilers and assemblers that are necessary to ‘build’ programs. They also include interpreters which are necessary to run programs written in languages such as Java.

Library Programs

• Library programs are files that contain program code, which is available to all applications to share.

Applications Packages

• Application packages (software) are the programs that are consciously used by the user to solve problems or perform work related tasks – writing a letter, keeping accounts, printing invoices, etc.

General Purpose Application Software

• word processing;• spreadsheets;• desktop publishing (DTP);• presentation software;• drawing packages.

Specialist Application Software

• stock control;• payroll;• order processing and tracking;• utility billing.

Bespoke Software

• Although most organisations use general purpose software, some organisations will find that it just doesn’t do exactly what they want or it doesn’t work with their current systems.

• In this case, they might decide to have the software system they need designed and developed specifically for them. This is called ‘tailor-made’ or ‘bespoke’ software.

Your Task

• As a class you will be designing a set of playing cards.

• Each card should have the normal layout in the corner, but instead of the image in the centre, you will have some information about the components of a computer system.

Your Task

• You will work in groups to create a suit of cards and you must ensure;– Each group member does at least 1 definition– Each card has perfect SPAG– Each card must be 200x300 pixels and must

be smaller than 100kb– Each card must have a white background