© paradigm publishing, inc. 4-1 chapter 4 system software chapter 4 system software

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc. 4-1

Chapter 4 System Software

Chapter 4System Software


Presentation Overview

• The Function of System Software• The Function of the Operating System• Software User Interfaces• Personal Computer Operating Systems• Server Operating Systems• Operating Systems for Handheld Devices• Utility Programs and Translators


The Function of System Software

What is the function of system software?

– To tell the computer what to do and how to do it

– To issue instructions to perform actions in a certain order, allowing hardware to process data into information


The Function of System Software

There are two main categories of system software.

– Application software includes programs that perform a single task.

– System software controls the operations of a computer system.


The Function of the Operating System

What is the function of the operating system?– To manage main memory, or RAM– To configure and control peripheral devices– To manage essential file operations– To monitor system performance– To provide a user interface



Commonly Used Operating Systems for Personal Computers



Booting a computer involves a series of steps that culminates with the display of the OS desktop on the screen.



Managing Memory– Throughput is a measure of the computer’s

overall performance.– Buffers hold information and data waiting to be

transferred to or from an input or output device.– Print spooling holds a document in a buffer

until the printer is ready.– Multitasking allows an individual user to work

on two or more applications at the same time.



• Configuring and Controlling Devices– A driver enables the operating system to

communicate with peripheral devices.• Managing Essential File Operations

– A file manager is a program that maintains a record of all stored files and their locations.

• Monitoring System Performance– A performance monitor checks the

computer’s speed, efficiency, and performance.


Software User Interfaces

Command line interfaces require users to type a line of code at a prompt telling the computer what to do.



Graphical user interfaces use pictures or text symbols (icons) to stand for complex commands.



Features of Graphical User Interfaces– Desktop – the screen on which graphical

elements are displayed– Display window – an area of the screen used to

display a program or data– Menu – set of options that can be activated

with the click of a mouse– Command icons – represent common actions

such as opening, saving, and printing files


Personal Computer Operating Systems

Windows Operating System– Windows 2000 – used for business and

network computers– Windows XP – designed for fast, powerful

computers with much memory and hard disk space

– Windows 7 – released in late 2009; requires powerful hardware to run; features faster boot and shut down times



Macintosh Operating System– Mac OS – first commercial GUI; has

impressive graphics and ease of use– Mac OS 9 – offers better speech recognition

than OS; supports files up to 2 terabytes; provides for multiple users

– Mac OS X – introduced an interface called Aqua; uses UNIX operating system foundation



• IBM OS/2– runs programs written for DOS and Windows

systems– used mainly for business applications

• Linux– an open-source software program

(programming code is free to the public)– praised for stability, flexibility, security, and

low cost


Server Operating Systems

Novell Netware and Open Enterprise Server– Netware was widely used for local area

networks; it was replaced by OES in 2005.– Both operating systems

• Allow retrieval or saving of files from server’s shared hard disk

• Allow printing using a shared printer• Offer the option of working with or without network

resources



Windows– Windows 2000 Server – provided for Internet

access and the development of Web pages– Windows Server 2003 – offered in four

editions to support different sizes of businesses– Windows Server –has Windows Vista benefits

and offers server-specific tools, protocols, and utilities for network management



UNIX and Linux– UNIX – a cross-platform system that runs any

type of computer from PC to supercomputer– Linux – an open-source software program

designed for use with servers and large computer systems, including midrange servers and mainframes


Operating Systems for Handheld Devices

• Palm OS– provides a graphical user interface used in

various versions of Palm PDAs, Sony PDAs, and smartphones

• Windows Mobile– used in wireless devices and other systems with

embedded processors, such as smartphones and PocketPC PDAs


Utility Programs and Translators

Utility Programs and Their Functions



Utility Programs and Their Functions (continued)



Firewalls prevent unauthorized users from accessing a personal computer or network connected to the Internet.



• Shown is a simple payroll program written in DOS BASIC, a high-level language.

• High-level languages must be translated into machine-language format before the CPU can execute them.


On the Horizon

Based on the information in this chapter and your own personal experience, what do you think is on the horizon?

© paradigm publishing, inc. 4-1 chapter 4 system software chapter 4 system software

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