chapter 3

4Chapter 3: Computer Software

• Software consists of computer programs and data files that work together to provide a computer with the instructions and data necessary for carrying out a specific type of task

What is software?


• Software includes– A computer program is a set of detailed,

instructions that tells a computer how to solve a problem or carry out a task

– Executable files– Support modules– Data files

What kinds of files are included in a typical software product?


• Computer programmers write the instructions for the computer programs

• Software publishers distribute the software, they specialize in packaging, marketing, and selling commercial software

Programmers and Programming Languages: Who creates computer software?


• Most software is designed to provide a task-related environment

• Programmer defines the properties for each element in the environment– Its height– Its label– What happens when you click it

• A computer language provides the tools that a programmer uses to create software– Source code– High-level languages

How does a programmer “write” software?


How does a programmer “write” software?


• A compiler translates all of the instructions in a program as a single batch

• The resulting machine language instructions are called the object code

How are instructions converted to machine language?


• Software is categorized as either application software or system software– Application software is designed to be

used for a purpose such as drawing designs, creating documents, etc

– System software is designed to help the computer carry out the basic operating functions

• Operating systems, utilities, and drivers

Application Software and System Software: How is software categorized?


• An operating system (OS) is the master controller for all of the activities that take place within a computer.– Microsoft Windows XP, Mac OS, Linux,

UNIX

• The operating system also interacts with the application software.

Operating System Overview: What does an operating system do?


What does an operating system do?


Why does an operating system need to manage memory?• The OS must ensure

that instructions and data from one area of memory don’t “leak” into an area allocated to another program

• If it fails, data can get corrupted, programs can “crash” and your computer will display error messages


• The OS acts as a filing clerk

• It remembers the names and locations of all your files and keeps track of empty spaces where new files can be stored

How does the OS keep track of storage resources?


• To ensure that they function correctly

• OS controls peripherals to ensure input and output proceeds in an orderly fashion

Why does the operating system get involved with peripheral devices?


• A user interface can be defined as the combination of hardware and software that helps people and computers communicate with each other– Graphical user interface (GUI)– Command-line user interface

How does the operating system affect the user interface?


• The OS’s small bootstrap program resides in ROM and provides the instructions to load the core parts into memory when system boots

• This component is called the kernel

Where is the operating system?


• Yes, typically through helpful tools called utilities– Launch programs– Manage files– Get help– Customize the user interface– Configures equipment

Do I ever interact directly with the OS?


• Developed several years before windows, it still has a GUI interface

• Both have windows, icons, menus and pointers

Is Mac OS similar to windows?


Is Mac OS similar to windows?


• UNIX was developed in 1969 at AT&T’s Bell Labs

• Linux was developed in 1991– Is distributed under the terms of a General

Public License (GPL)• Red Hat Linux, Caldera OpenLinux, and

Debian GNU/Linux

Are Unix and Linux the same?


Are Unix and Linux the same?


What are the options for PDA operating systems?

• Palm OS

• Windows Mobile OS


• Word processing software, such as Microsoft Word, is used for producing reports, letters, papers, and manuscripts

• Desktop publishing software helps you use graphic design techniques to enhance the format and appearance of a document

• Web authoring software helps you design and develop customized Web pages

Document Production Software: How can my computer help me with my writing?


How does document production software help me turn my ideas into sentences and paragraphs?


• The format for a document refers to the way that all the elements of a document are arranged on the page– Font– Point size– Paragraph style– Paragraph alignment– Line spacing (leading)– Style

How do I get my documents to look good?


• Spreadsheet - numerical model or representation of a real situation– Checkbook

• To use spreadsheet software, you:– Enter numbers– Indicate how the computer should manipulate

those numbers

• Spreadsheet software is particularly useful for what-if analysis

Spreadsheet Software: What is a spreadsheet?


What does a computerized spreadsheet look like?


What happens when I modify a worksheet?


• Statistical software

• Mathematical modeling software

• Money management software– Personal finance software

• Tax preparation software

Aside from spreadsheets, what other “number crunching” software is available?


• Database software helps you to enter, find, organize, update and report information stored in a database

Database Software: What is database software?


What is database software?


How do I locate specific data?


• You can do the following– Print reports– Export data to other programs– Convert the data to other formats– Transmit data to other computers

How can I use search results?


• Graphics – refers to any picture, drawing, sketch, photograph, image or icon that appears on your computer screen

• Graphics Software– Paint software– Photo editing software– Drawing software– 3-D graphics software

Graphics Software: What kind of software do I need to work with drawings, photos, and other pictures?


– CAD software (computer-aided design software)

– Presentation software• Slides

What kind of software do I need to work with drawings, photos, and other pictures?


• Audio editing software – lets you make your own digital voice and music recording– MP3

• MP3 Player• CD ripper• MP3 encoding software

– Ear training software• Notation software• Computer-aided software• Midi sequencing software

Music Software: Why would I need music software?


Music Software: Why would I need music software?


• Video editing software provides a set of tools for transferring video footage, editing video, adding special effects, and adding a sound track

Video Editing Software: Is video editing software difficult to use?


Software Suites: What is a software suite?

• A collection of application software sold as a single package– Microsoft Office– Star Office– Open Office– WordPerfect Office


• Educational software – helps you to learn and practice new skills– MindTwister Math– 3-D Froggy Phonics– SAT– GMAT– LSAT

Educational and Reference Software: How can I use my computer to learn new things?


• Reference software – provides you with a collection of information and a way to access that information– Encyclopedias

• Microsoft Encarta• Grolier’s encyclopedia• Comptons encyclopedia• World Book • Britannica

– Dictionaries

What’s reference software?


• Over $6 billion of computer and video games are sold each year in the U.S. alone– 90% are people 18 and older– 13% are people over 50– About 43% are women

Entertainment Software: What’s the best-selling entertainment software?


• Computer games– Role-playing games– Action games– Adventure games– Puzzle games– Simulation games– Sports games– Strategy games

What’s the best-selling entertainment software?


• Vertical market software

• Horizontal market software– Payroll software– Accounting software– Project management software

• Groupware

Business Software: Do businesses use specialized software?


• The key ingredients necessary to install new software are the files that contain the programs, support modules, and data modules

• Usually supplied on distribution disks

Installation Basics: What’s included in a typical software package?


• System requirements specify the operating system and minimum hardware requirements necessary for a software product to work correctly

How do I know if a software program will work on my computer?


• When you install software, the new software files are placed in the appropriate folders on your computer’s hard disk– Copies files from distribution disk– Uncompresses files – Analyzes computer’s resources– Analyzes hardware components and peripheral

devices– Looks for any system files and players– Updates necessary system files

Why is it necessary to install most software?


• A setup program guides you through the installation process

• Following the program will make installation easy

Installing from a Distribution Disk or CD: How do I install software from distribution media?


• Sometimes files are zipped, so they must be unzipped

• Other types– Self-installing software– Self-executing zip file– Manual download and install

Installing Downloaded Software: Is the installation process different for downloaded software?


• Installing an upgrade is similar to installing a full version

• Update provides a setup file that checks to make sure that your computer contains a valid version of software to upgrade then it guides you through the rest of the upgrade process

Is installing a software upgrade different from installing a full version?


• Uninstall routine deletes the software’s files

Uninstalling Software: How do I get rid of software?


• A copyright is a form of legal protection

– Purchaser has right to copy software to a computer’s hard disk in order to install it

– Purchaser can make a backup copy

– Purchaser is allowed to copy and distribute sections of a software program for use in critical reviews and teaching

• Most software displays a copyright notice

Software Copyrights: Is it legal to copy software?


• A software license is a legal contract that defines the ways in which you may use a computer program

• A shrink-wrap license goes into effect as soon as you open the packaging

Software Licenses: What is a software license?


• An installation agreement is displayed on the screen when you first install the software

What is a software license?


• Commercial software – typically sold in computers or a Web site

• Shareware – copyrighted software that you “try before you buy”

• Freeware – copyrighted software available for free

• Open source software – makes the source code available to programmers

• Public domain software – not copyrighted, and in public domain

Are all software licenses similar?

chapter 3

Technology

computer software

computer programs software

drivers application

typical software product

computer programmerswrite

anoperating system os

kinds of files

new files