Software

System software:
● Set of programs to control and manage the operation of hardware
● Required to allow hardware and
● Provides human interface
Application software;
● Performs various applications
● Allows you to perform tasks based on computers resources
● Single program or suite of programs
● Executes software only when required

Utilities:
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. Hard disk formatted
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○ Organised to space by assigning a data blocks- partitions
○ Partitions are formatted to hold data e.g NTFS. Files containing indexes and
directory data are are beginning of each partition
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. Virus checkers
○ Check for malware in the background
○ They check software before it’s downloaded compared to list of possible viruses
○ Heuristic checking
○ Virus programs are put into quarantine which allows files to be deleted, allows user
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to make decision
○ Needs to be kept up to date
○ System checks needs to carried out once a week
. Defragmentation
○ Blocks become scattered all over the disk surface
○ Defragmentation software makes file stored in contiguous manner reducing HDD
head movements
○ Rearranges blocks of data to store files in continuous disk defragmenter
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. Disk content analysis
○ Check disk drives for empty space and review the files and folders
○ Lead to optimal use of disk space by removing unwanted files and downloads
. File compression
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○ File compression chapter 1
. Backup software
○ Allows schedule for backing up files
○ Only carries out back up when changes have been made
○ Current version to be stored
○ Locally backed up version (portable ssd)
○ Remote back up version (cloud storage)
○ File history- vast library of past versions of files, user can pick
○ Time Machine- restore point which erases content of selected drive and replaces it
with contents of backup
○ Option of where to save
 ○ Restore data
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○ Once HDD or SSD is almost full- oldest backups are deleted
. Security
○ Manages access to accounts
○ Links to other utility software such as virus checker
○ Protects network interface
○ Uses encryption and decryption
○ Updates
. Screensavers
○ Supply moving or still images in the monitor after a period of inactivity
○ Security reasons
○ Trigger background process
. Device driver
○ Communicates with the OS and translate data into a computer format understood by
hardware
○ Descriptor- collection of information about devices
○ Vendor ID, product id, serial number
○ Serial number must be unique

Operating system:
software that provides an environment in which application can run and also provide an interface
Functions
– HCI
○ GUI and CLI
○ windows icons menu and pointing = wimp
○ Post wimp = fingers are in contact and allows pinching/rotating
CLI

Advantages Disadvantages
User is in direct communication User needs to learn a number of
commands
Not restricted All commands have to typed - time
inefficient
Possible to alter computer Correct format- tedious
small memory
Programmer / analyst uses it for communication or development needs

GUI

Advantages Disadvantages
The user doesn’t have to learn More memory
commands
More user friendly Limited to icons on screen
Simpler to use Needs an OS to operate
End user who doesn’t have or need knowledge or computer

– Security
○ Updates
○ Communicates to firewall
○ Prevents users to enter private areas (certain people have access to certain
features)
○ Maintains access to users
○ Offering data recovery
○ Prevents illegal intrusion
– Multitasking
○ Resources allocated to a process for a specific time
○ Process can be interrupted
○ Process is priority
– Memory management
○ Memory optimisation
◆ Determines how a memory in a computer is allocated and where applications
are stored in memory. It keeps track of all allocated memory and free memory
available. It can swap data between the HDD or SSD.
○ Memory organisation
◆ Determines how much memory is allocated to an application such as
contiguous allocation, partition allocation, paged memory (partitioned but of
fixed size), or segmented memory(paged but not contiguous)
○ Memory protection
◆ Ensures that two competing applications cannot use the same memory
locations at the same time
– Platform for running application
○ Booting up, when computer is starting up some OS has to be loaded onto RAM
○ Firmware: program that gives low level control
○ EEPROM: flash memory that contents remain even when it’s powered down
– Managing files
○ File naming convention
○ Performing file tasks (open close delete etc)
○ Making directory structures
○ Access control mechanisms (editor commenter etc)
○ Logical file format
○ Ensuring memory for the file by reading it from hdd/ssd
– Hardware peripheral management
○ Communicates using device drivers
○ Ensures priority
○ Ensures each hardware resource has a priority
– User accounts
○ Customise user screen layout
 ○ Use separate folders and files
– Interrupts
○ Signal send from device to microprocessor to stop the process
◆ Timing signal
◆ Hardware fault
◆ User interaction
◆ Software error
○ Buffer: temporary memory area storage to complete a function
Program libraries
Advantages
● Remove the need to rewrite routines saving time and cost
● Modular programming many programmers can work in the same thing
● Allowed for continuity in a wide range
● Maintainence of corporate image
● Saves dev time

Translation
. Assemblers
. Compilers
. Interpreters
IDE
● Source code editor
● Compiler or interpreter
● RTE w debugger
● Auto documenter
● Prettyprinting