Understand the Difference between System Software and Application Software and various type of it

Categories of Software

Software can be categorized as system software and application software.System software is a generic term for referring to any computer program whose purpose is to help the user to run the computer system, whereas application software employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform. As an analogy, we can equate an electric bulb to an application and the electric power generation plant with system. The power plant merely generates electricity. It is not really of any use until harnessed to an application like the electric bulb, which performs a service that the user desires.

• System software consists of several programs, which are directly responsible for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual hardware components of a computer system. You must have noticed that a new computer system is always accompanied by some software, either stored in a floppy or CD, which is supplied by the manufacturer. This software manages and supports the computer system and its information processing activities.
• System software is more transparent and less noticed by the users, they usually interact with the hardware or the applications. This software provides a programming environment in which programmers can create applications to accommodate their needs. This environment provides functions that are not available at the hardware level and performs the tasks related to the execution of an application program. Hence, system software acts as an interface between the hardware of the computer and the software applications.
• In simple terms, system software makes the computer functional. They provide basic functionality like file management, visual display, and keyboard input, and are used by application software to accomplish these functions. Some examples of system software are operating systems,device drivers, language translators, and system utilities.

1.Operating System

• Operating system is the first layer of software loaded into computer memory when it starts up.As the first software layer, all other software that gets loaded after it depends on it for various common core services.
• These common core services include disk access, memory management, task scheduling, and user interfacing. In addition, the operating system ensures that different programs executing at the same time do not interfere with each other.
• It provides a software platform on top of which other programs can run. In simple words, the operating system organizes and controls the hardware.Examples of operating systems are Windows XP, UNIX, and Linux. The basic functions of an operating system are:

1. Process Management: It handles the creation, deletion, suspension, resumption, and synchronization of processes.
2. Memory Management: It handles allocation and de-allocation of memory space as required by various programs.
3. File Management: It is responsible for creation and deletion of files and directories. It also organizes, stores, retrieves, names, and protects all the files.
4. Device Management: It manages all the devices of the computer system such as printers and modems. If any device fails, it detects the device failure and notifies the same to the user.
5. Security Management: It protects system resources and information against destruction and unauthorized use.
6. User Interface:It provides the interface between the user and the hardware.

2.Device Drivers

• Device drivers are system programs, which are responsible for proper functioning of devices. Every device, whether it is a printer, monitor, mouse or keyboard, has a driver program associated with it for its proper functioning. Whenever a new device is added to the computer system,a new device driver must be installed before the device is used. In modern operating systems, most hardware drivers such as the keyboard driver, come with the operating system.
• A device driver acts like a translator between the device and program (typically, an operating system) that uses the device. For example, when a user prints a document, the processor issues a set of generic commands to the printer driver, and the driver translates those commands into the specialized instructions that the printer understands. Note that each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver understands. A device driver is not an independent program; it assists and is assisted by the operating system for the proper functioning of the device.

3.Language Translators

• Computers only understand a language consisting of 0s and 1s called machine language. To ease the burden of programming entirely in 0s and 1s,special programming languages called high-level programming languages were developed that resemble natural languages like English. Therefore, a tool was required which could translate a program written in a programming language to machine language.
• Along with every programming language developed, a language translator was also developed, which accepts the programs written in a programming language and executes them by transforming them into a form suitable for execution. To be precise, they convert programming statements into the 0s and 1s that the computer is able to process.

Depending on the programming language used, language translators are divided into three major categories: compiler, interpreter, and assembler. All these are listed in the below Table.

System utility programs perform day-to-day tasks related to the maintenance of the computer system. They are used to support, enhance, and secure existing programs and data in the computer system.They are generally small programs, having specific tasks to perform. Some utility programs are usually provided along with the operating system, some are free while some need to be purchased from the third-party commercial vendors. Most common functions of system utilities include:

1. File Management: These utilities make it easier to manage data files. Many programs are written to help users to find the files, create and organize directories, copy, move, and remove files.For example, the Windows Explorer in Microsoft Windows operating system does all the said activities in user-friendly interface.
2. Backup: It may happen that sometime data files are corrupted, or accidentally deleted. In such a case, data backups become very useful. A backup system utility is essential for those organization, which want to keep their data intact.
3. Data Recovery: It is the process of retrieving deleted or inaccessible data from failed electronic storage media such as computer hard disk drives, removable media, optical devices, and tape cartridges. The data might become inaccessible due to a software problem, computer virus, mechanical or electrical malfunction or a deliberate human act. Using these tools, experienced technicians can successfully recover 80 to even 100 percent of lost data.
4. Virus Protection: Anti-virus programs are essential system utilities for a computer system functioning in a network.They provide the security to the system from viruses that can damage the computer system. Viruses are small programs written with malicious intent, which copy themselves to the hard disk from Internet or other infected systems. Viruses keep on spreading to other computers through the network or exchange of infected storage devices such as floppies and CDs. Once installed on the system, anti-virus software scans the hard disk for any kind of virus and, if found, remove them. In addition, they monitor the clean (virus free) computer for any activity of viruses. Examples of some of the anti-virus programs are Norton anti-virus and McAfee anti-virus that protect the system from viruses.
5. Disk Management: Disk management programs include various system software like disk defragmenter, data compressor, and disk formatting tools. De-fragmentation implies putting fragments of files in a sequential order onto the disk which reduces the time to access the file.It recognizes the data stored on the disk so that it can be arranged more effectively.Data compression programs squeeze out the slack space generated by the formatting schemes.Formatting tools format the hard drive-in tracks and sectors for orderly storing of data in the drive.
6. Firewall: Firewall forms a barrier between networked computers within an organization and those outside the organization. It is commonly used to protect information such as e-mail and data files within a physical building or organization.Essentially a firewall is designed to protect a computer from unauthorized access, especially via network.
7. Disk Cleanup: To keep a computer running smoothly,regular maintenance is vital.Therefore,one should use the disk cleanup utility,which easily determines which files on hard drive are no longer needed and delete those files.In addition to freeing up potentially significant hard disk space; using disk cleanup on a regular basis can significantly improve system performance.

2.Application Software

• The most often seen software by a user is the application software.It is used to accomplish specific tasks rather than just managing a computer system.For a user,the computer system has no specific use without application software.Application software may consist of a single program,such as Microsoft’s Notepad (for writing and editing simple text).
• It may also consist of a collection of programs, often called a software package, which work together to accomplish a task, such as database management software. Application software may also include a larger collection of related but independent programs and packages (a software suite), which have a common user interface or shared data format, such as Microsoft Office suite.
• Application software is dependent on system software. A system software (like operating system) acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware, while application software performs specific tasks. Applications are software that perform tasks for the user besides helping the computer operate, which is the task of system software.Application software are controlled by system software,which manages hardware devices and performs background tasks for them.The distinction between the two is important.
• Without system software, the computer will not run, and without application software,the computer, no matter how powerful, will not be helpful in meeting user requirements. Think of it this way applications apply the computer’s thinking power to business tasks such as tracking the general ledger or billing your customers. Figure 1 illustrates that application layer executes on the system software layer, which lies on the hardware layer.

• Application software ranges from games, calculators, and word processors (document creating programs), to programs that “paint” images on screen (image editors). Applications represent real world tasks. They can be easily divided by looking at exactly what function they serve. Some of the most commonly used application software are discussed below.

1.Word Processors

• A word processor is software used to compose, format, edit, and print electronic documents. Word processing is one of the earliest applications for office productivity and the personal computer. It involves not only typing, but also checking the spelling and grammar of the text and arranging it correctly on a page.
• A variety of different typefaces is available for a variety of effects. It is possible to include pictures, graphs,charts, and many other things within the text of the document. It also allows for changes in margins, fonts, and colors. Nowadays, virtually all personal computers are equipped with a word processing program, which has the same function as a typewriter for writing letters, reports or other documents, and printing. Examples of some well-known word processors are Microsoft Word and WordPerfect.

2.Spreadsheets

• One of the first commercial uses of computers was in processing payroll and other financial records. So the programs were designed to generate reports in the standard “spreadsheet”
  format used by bookkeepers and accountants. A spreadsheet application is a rectangular grid, which allows text, numbers, and complex functions to be entered into a matrix of thousands of individual cells.
• The spreadsheet provides sheets containing cells each of which may contain text and/or numbers. Cells may also contain equations that calculate results from data placed in other cells or series of cells. A simple example might be a column of numbers totalled in a single cell containing an equation relating to that column. Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3 are examples of spreadsheet
  applications.

3.Image Editors

• Image editor programs are designed specifically for capturing, creating, editing and manipulating images. These graphics programs provide a variety of special features for creating and altering images. In addition to offering a host of filters and image transformation algorithms,some image editors also enable the user to create and superimpose layers. Most graphic programs have the ability to import and export one or more graphic file formats.
• These computer programs enable the user to adjust an image to improve its appearance. With image editing software, one can darken or lighten an image, rotate it, adjust its contrast, crop out extraneous detail, and much more.Examples of these programs are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and CorelDRAW.

4.Database Management Systems