Softwere : Systm and Applecation S/W

 system software and application software:

"Software is a set of instructions, programs which enable the computer to perform specified task. In other words, software is nothing but binary code instructions which control the hardware".

In most of the organizations the computer is a valuable resource. Among the resources that a computer has are processing time, storage space, printers, terminals and information. The management of these resources is performed largely by a type of system software called an operating system. When users interact with the computer the interaction is with system software.

There are two broad categories of software, system software and application software.

System software is a set of programs that manage the resources of a computer system, so that they are used in an optimal fashion, provide routine services such as copying data from one file to another and assist in the development of applications programs.

System software consists of programs that assist the computer in the efficient control, support, development and execution of application programs. Application software on the other hand, performs specific tasks for the computer user.

System software:

They can be broadly classified in to three types.

1. System control programs control the execution of programs, manage the storage and processing resources of the computer and perform other management and monitoring functions. Other examples are DBMS and communication monitors.
2. System support programs provide routine service functions to the other computer programs and computer users. Ex. Libraries, utilities, job accounting etc.
3. System development programs assist in the creation of application programs.
   System programs are developed and sold by both computer companies and specialized software firms.

Application Software:

It is a program written for, or by, a user to perform a specific job. General purpose application software such as electronic spreadsheet has a wide application. Specific purpose application software, such as payroll and sales analysis is used only for the application for which it is designed.
The system software controls the execution of the application software and provides other support functions such as data storage.

Typical examples of software applications are word processors, spreadsheets, and media players.

Multiple applications bundled together as a package are sometimes referred to as an application suite. Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org, which bundle together a word processor, a spreadsheet, and several other discrete applications, are typical examples. The separate applications in a suite usually have a user interface that has some commonality making it easier for the user to learn and use each application. And often they may have some capability to interact with each other in ways beneficial to the user. For example, a spreadsheet might be able to be embedded in a word processor document even though it had been created in the separate spreadsheet application.

User-written software tailors systems to meet the user's specific needs. User-written software include spreadsheet templates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, graphics and animation scripts. Even email filters are a kind of user software. Users create this software themselves and often overlook how important it is.

In some types of embedded systems, the application software and the operating system software may be indistinguishable to the user, as in the case of software used to control a VCR, DVD player or Microwave Oven.