Introduction To System Software

Introduction to
System Software
Chapter 1
1
OVERVIEW
• A computer processes digital data.

• A user solves a problem by writing and/or running
a program written in a high-level programming
language like C.
• Inside computer, system programs called compiler
and assembler break the user program down into
assembly code (instruction set) and then into
binary machine code.
• The machine code is processed.
2
1.1 What is System Software?
• System software consists of the program

that control or maintain the operations of
the computer and its devices.
• System software serves as the interface
between the user, the application software
and the computer hardware.
3
extra..
• System software:
– Consist of a variety of programs that support the
operation of a computer.
– Makes it possible for the user to focus on an application
or other problem to be solved, without needing to know
the details of how the machine works internally.
• That is, systems software functions as a bridge
between computer system hardware and the
application software.
• System software coordinates the various parts of
the computer system and mediates between
application software and computer hardware
4
Relationship between user, application
system, operating system and
hardware.
Hardware
Processing Product
System Service Answer

Software
Hardware
Instruction
Application
Service Request Software Program Output
User Input
User
5
Application Program User
User
Linker Macro-
Processor
Loader
Hardware
Compiler
Operating Firmware
System
File Assembler
Manager
User User
Relationship between Hardware, System

Software, Application Software and Users 6
extra.. Relationship
• types of software are interrelated and can be

thought of as a set of nested boxes,
• each of which must interact closely with the other
boxes surrounding it.
• System software—consisting of operating
systems, language translators, and utility
programs—controls access to the hardware.
• Application software such as……must work
through the system software to operate.
• The user interacts primarily with the application
software.
7
• Firmware
– is a combination of software and hardware. ROMs, PROMs and
EPROMs that have data or programs recorded on them are
firmware
• Assembler
– is program that change the source program in assembly
language to object program in machine language.
• Loader
– is a system software that process instruction in the object file &
place the object file in a suitable location in the physical
memory
• Linker
– to perform the linking operations
• OS
– The system software that manages and controls the computer's
activities.
• Compiler
– Program that read program (source code) written in a language
(source language), & later interpret into other programming
language (target language)
8
1.2 System Software & Application
Software
Application Software System Software
• Emphasized on solving problem • Support to users and
and use computer as tools. computer operation.
• Manage application data such • Manage machine resources.
as insert, delete, update, • Provide service to application
sorting. software and programmer.
• Provide service to end user. • Normally written in assembly
• Normally written in high level language but now also written
language such as C, C++. in C
• Used only when the application • Used when the computer is
is needed. turn on.
• Only perform single task. • Can perform more than one
• The program normally work task or multitasking.
one process at one time and • Normally control many
step by step. processes at the same time.
9
Differences between system software& application software
• There are two major types of software: system

software and application software. Each kind
performs a different function.
• System software
– is a set of generalized programs that manage the
computer's resources, such as the central processor,
communications links, and peripheral devices.
– Programmers who write system software are called
system programmers.
• Application software
– describes the programs that are written for or by users
to apply the computer to a specific task.
– Programmers who write application software are called
application programmers
10
Function Of System Software
• Control system
• Manage machine resources
• Provides services to programmer or to application
software
• Often written in assembler
• May run at all times computer is on
• Almost always a package- one off development of
system software would be prohibitive
• Common handles several processes at once
11
Function Of Application Software
• Carries out application

• Manage application data
• Provides services to end user
• Usually written in a high level language
• Only runs for duration of a given application
• May be a software package or a bespoke (one-
off) development
• Program is usually just a single step-by-step
process.
12
1.3 Category of System Software
• Two types of system software are

– Operating system
– Utility programs
• Several types of utility programs are

provided with an operating system.
• Other utility programs are available as

programs separate from the operating
system.
13
Function of Operating System
• Starting a computer.
• As a user interface.
• Offering the application program.
• Function of operating system will be

discuss in detail in chapter 2.
14
Function of Utility Programs
1. File Manager
2. Image Viewer
3. Uninstaller
4. Disk Scanner
5. Disk Defragmenter
6. Diagnostic Utility
7. Backup Utility
8. Screen Saver
9. Antivirus Program
15
1.4 Category of Application
Software
• Productivity – Ms Office
• Education - Encyclopedia
• Entertainment - Games
• Business – Accounting and Inventory
16
1.5 Why using System Software
• To avoid write program in machine

language.
• Get program into memory.
• For embedded system.
• Programmers productivity.
• Control of peripherals.
17
Reference
• Hyung LEE-KWANG , Introduction to

System Programming, Prentice Hall.
• Shelly Cashman Vermaat, Discovering
Computers, Thomson Course Technology.
• Frank Maddix and Gareth Morgan, System
software an introduction to language
processors and operating system
18

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Introduction to

• A computer processes digital data.

• System software consists of the program

System Service Answer

Relationship between Hardware, System

• types of software are interrelated and can be

• There are two major types of software: system

• Carries out application

• Two types of system software are

• Several types of utility programs are

• Other utility programs are available as

• Function of operating system will be

• To avoid write program in machine

• Hyung LEE-KWANG , Introduction to

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