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Introduction to software

Concepts covered What is software Categories of software and the differences between each The relation between software and hardware. Introduction to software. What is software?. The instructions that tell the hardware what to do. Balance my check book. Do taxes Print out my resume : :.

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Introduction to software

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  1. Concepts covered • What is software • Categories of software and the differences between each • The relation between software and hardware Introduction to software

  2. What is software? • The instructions that tell the hardware what to do. Balance my check book. Do taxes Print out my resume : :

  3. Categories of software • Application programs (applications) • Operating systems • Compilers

  4. Common types application programs • Word processors • Spreadsheets • Databases • Presentation software • Web browsers

  5. 1) Word processors (e.g., MS-Word) • Lots of features (to be covered in lab) • For text editing • Images • Customizable • Built in Help • And much, much more!

  6. 2) Electronic spreadsheets (e.g., MS-Excel) • Deals with rows and columns of numeric data • Performs many calculations • Many predefined mathematical functions (e.g., sum, average, min, max etc) • Makes graphical representations of the data (e.g., graphs) • Allows you perform a “what if” analysis

  7. 3) Databases (e.g., MS-Access) • Allows data to be stored, organized, maintained and retrieved.

  8. 4) Presentation software1 (e.g., PowerPoint) • Often used in presentations • The computer equivalent of transparencies • Allow for dynamic presentations (pictures, animations, sound) – can be overdone 1 It is listed in Beekman under the name “Presentation graphics”

  9. 5) Web browsers Internet Explorer Netscape

  10. Operating systems: What do they do? • Act an an intermediary between the user and the hardware (mediator) • Manage the resources of the computer (parent) • Some may act to secure some parts of the computer (security)

  11. The operating system: The Intermediary between the user and the hardware (operating system)

  12. Intermediary between the user and the hardware (e.g., hard drive)

  13. Manage system resources (parent)

  14. A = B + C Manage system resources e.g., processor time (Multi-tasking operating system)

  15. A = B + C (Single tasking operating system)

  16. RAM A = B + C Manage system resources e.g., memory management

  17. A = B + C Hard drive Manage system resources (virtual memory) RAM

  18. 3) Securing information on the computer (security)

  19. A2 Single user computer: security not a big issue Mary

  20. A2 A2 A2 Multiple user system: there is a need to secure the information • Separates and protects the work of different people who are working on a computer. Bill Mary George Mary’s A2 Bill’s A2 George’s A2

  21. Securing the information on the computer • This is not always done! • Single user operating systems don’t do this. • MS-DOS, Windows 95, 98 • Multi user operating systems do. • Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Unix 203 lab computers

  22. User Interfaces • Acts as the intermediary between the user and the software User Interface Software (e.g., operating system)

  23. Types of user interfaces • GUI based • Command line based

  24. GUI (Graphical user interface) based operating systems • Examples • Windows (‘ 95, ’98, ME, NT, ‘2000, ‘XP) • Apple (OS10) • Characteristics • Many! • Graphical (e.g., uses icons that are selectable with a mouse)

  25. Command line based software • Example • Unix (Linux) • MS-DOS • Characteristics • Type in commands at a “command line”

  26. A WIMP(Window, Icon, Menu, Pointer)-based operating system: Windows

  27. An alternative to the desktop: Pad++ • Pad++: A Zoomable Graphical Sketchpad for Exploring Alternate Interface Physics Bederson et al • Journal of Visual Languages and Computing 7, 1996

  28. An alternative to WIMP: The task gallery

  29. 圣诞快乐和新年好! Compilers (translators) Real life translation Same to you buddy! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Huh?

  30. The compiler Compilers: translate between languages (high level view) 10001, 0001000, 100001… Do my taxes.

  31. 3) An executable program is created Anybody who has this executable on their computer can then run (use) it. 2) The compiler translates the program into a form that the computer can understand 1) A programmer writes a computer program Compilers: Actual view

  32. Relating software back to hardware: high level view of a computer (again)

  33. How does your computer look when it’s off?

  34. From To What happens when you turn on your computer (start-up): Step one execute instructions in BIOS.

  35. To From What happens when you turn on your computer (start-up): Step two load the operating system.

  36. At the desktop (OS running after start up)

  37. What happened? At the desktop (run an application with mouse): Step 1 Operating system interprets mouse information ??? ???

  38. From Application selected with mouse To At the desktop (run an application with mouse): Step 2 Operating system loads application

  39. Summary (important points) • What is software • What are different categories of software • What are example types of application programs • What do operating systems do • How do compilers work • The relationship between hardware and software

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