DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SYSTEMS PROGRAMS AND APPLICATION PROGRAMS

Application Programs
Application programs are groups of programs that help the computer to carry out a specific task, such as creating a brochure.

To make most output devices run we need to use the correct type of software. Application
software is software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Here is an example to help differentiate between application software and system software:

Computer Games are for entertainment for the user, so it is categorized as application software Virus scanning program scans to prevent damage to programs and help the computer to run better, therefore it is system software

Application software is designed for users to perform tasks and create documents using different applications. These tasks can include creating a word document, playing a computer game, analyze data using a spreadsheet, database. There are several categories of application software such as:

General purpose application software. Special purpose application software. Custom written application software

General purpose application software

General purpose application software can be used for a variety of tasks. These types of software are not usually limited to one particular function. For example a word processor could be classed as general purpose software as it would allow a user to write a report, perform mail merge, create a brochure or an exam paper. Examples of General Purpose application software include generic Word processors, Spreadsheet, Database and Presentation software.

Examples:

Word processing - for writing letters, reports and other documents. Examples: Microsoft Word, Word Perfect. Facilities include: editing of text, font & size changing, find & replace, spell checker, word count, mail merging (combining data from a database with text in a standard letter to produce customised letters).

Desk-top Publishing (DTP) - for producing posters, leaflets and newspapers. Examples: Microsoft Publisher, Adobe PageMaker. Facilities include: ability to import text and images from other programs or from disk plus ability to position them individually on the page. Usually have some text editing tools included.

Data handling - for creating databases. Examples: Microsoft Access. Facilities include: creation & editing of fields, sorting and searching records and displaying data in graphical or chart form.

Spreadsheet modeling - for producing invoices and cost plans. Can be used to create models, simulations or expert systems for others to use. Examples: Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3. Facilities include: entry of formulas to perform calculations, also ability to display data in graphical and chart form. Acts rather like a multifunction pocket calculator, but once set up for a particular purpose there is no need to remember all the formula and functions each time you use it.

Graphics package - for drawing and painting. Examples: Photoshop. Facilities include: cropping, resizing, various digital filters, drawing, painting and editing tools.

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) - for floor layouts and product design. Examples: 2D Design, AutoCAD. Facilities include: various drawing and editing tools and ability to scale accurately, sometimes in three dimensions and with ability to rotate in any direction.

Presentation software - for demonstrations and lectures to live audiences. Examples: Microsoft PowerPoint, Prezi. Facilities provided to produce and edit on screen multimedia presentations involving text, images, video and sound.

Music software - for composing a musical performance. Example: Sibelius. Facilities provided to create, edit, store, print and play scripts; to record, process and replay a variety of sounds via input from a music keyboard and other "midi" instruments.
Special purpose application software

Special purpose application software created for one specific task. For example a camera application on your mobile phone deals specifically with taking and sharing photos. Other examples would be a Solitaire game (it would only allow you to play solitaire), calculators, media
players, and calendar programs since they perform SPECIFIC tasks.

Custom written application software Custom written application software, also called 'Bespoke application software' is software that is made for a specific user and purpose, so this type of software is not widespread. For example a factory may require software to program a robot to lift huge crates of eggs, so the software required would have to be specially built for the task since not many businesses will lift huge crates of eggs. Other examples might include software for the military, the space shuttle program, software for 3-D scans in hospitals and other medical equipment, software being written for specific tasks in financial institutions.

Application Programs

Application programs are groups of programs that help the computer to carry out a specific task, such as creating a brochure.

To make most output devices run we need to use the correct type of software. Application
software is software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Here is an example to help differentiate between application software and system software:

Computer Games are for entertainment for the user, so it is categorized as application software Virus scanning program scans to prevent damage to programs and help the computer to run better, therefore it is system software

Application software is designed for users to perform tasks and create documents using different applications. These tasks can include creating a word document, playing a computer game, analyze data using a spreadsheet, database. There are several categories of application software such as:

General purpose application software. Special purpose application software. Custom written application software

General purpose application software

General purpose application software can be used for a variety of tasks. These types of software are not usually limited to one particular function. For example a word processor could be classed as general purpose software as it would allow a user to write a report, perform mail merge, create a brochure or an exam paper. Examples of General Purpose application software include generic Word processors, Spreadsheet, Database and Presentation software.
Examples:

Word processing - for writing letters, reports and other documents. Examples: Microsoft Word, Word Perfect. Facilities include: editing of text, font & size changing, find & replace, spell checker, word count, mail merging (combining data from a database with text in a standard letter to produce customised letters).

Desk-top Publishing (DTP) - for producing posters, leaflets and newspapers. Examples: Microsoft Publisher, Adobe PageMaker. Facilities include: ability to import text and images from other programs or from disk plus ability to position them individually on the page. Usually have some text editing tools included.

Data handling - for creating databases. Examples: Microsoft Access. Facilities include: creation & editing of fields, sorting and searching records and displaying data in graphical or chart form.

Spreadsheet modeling - for producing invoices and cost plans. Can be used to create models, simulations or expert systems for others to use. Examples: Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3. Facilities include: entry of formulas to perform calculations, also ability to display data in graphical and chart form. Acts rather like a multifunction pocket calculator, but once set up for a particular purpose there is no need to remember all the formula and functions each time you use it.

Graphics package - for drawing and painting. Examples: Photoshop. Facilities include: cropping, resizing, various digital filters, drawing, painting and editing tools.

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) - for floor layouts and product design. Examples: 2D Design, AutoCAD. Facilities include: various drawing and editing tools and ability to scale accurately, sometimes in three dimensions and with ability to rotate in any direction.

Presentation software - for demonstrations and lectures to live audiences. Examples: Microsoft PowerPoint, Prezi. Facilities provided to produce and edit on screen multimedia presentations involving text, images, video and sound.

Music software - for composing a musical performance. Example: Sibelius. Facilities provided to create, edit, store, print and play scripts; to record, process and replay a variety of sounds via input from a music keyboard and other "midi" instruments.

Special purpose application software

Special purpose application software created for one specific task. For example a camera application on your mobile phone deals specifically with taking and sharing photos. Other examples would be a Solitaire game (it would only allow you to play solitaire), calculators, media
players, and calendar programs since they perform SPECIFIC tasks.

Custom written application software

Custom written application software, also called 'Bespoke application software' is software that is made for a specific user and purpose, so this type of software is not widespread. For example a factory may require software to program a robot to lift huge crates of eggs, so the software required would have to be specially built for the task since not many businesses will lift huge crates of eggs. Other examples might include software for the military, the space shuttle program, software for 3-D scans in hospitals and other medical equipment, software being written for specific tasks in financial institutions.

System Programs / Systems Software System programs are software that manages a computer peripheral devices. The term Systems Software is used for the programs that handle the running of your computer's hardware. Modern computers are complex instruments involving many different parts. System software is necessary to control and manage the running of various computer components along with ensuring that the computer performs at its best. The three main categories of system software are:

Operating Systems Translators Utilities

Operating Systems An operating system is systems software, consisting of programs and data that manage computer hardware resources (like printers, monitors etc), and provides services to keep the applications running or performing as they should.

An operating system therefore acts as an intermediary or a 'go between' between a user of a computer and the computer software and hardware. These are a collection of programs that manage most of the work in helping you get your tasks completed. Examples of Operating Systems include Windows XP, Widows 8 or Linux). These are the programs that interpret commands issued by application software (such as your word processor or spreadsheet). Operating systems can be found on almost any device that contains a computer, from mobile phones and video game consoles to supercomputers and web servers.

The Operating System is also acts as an interface between the application software and the computer meaning that without the operating system, the application programs would be unable to communicate with the computer.

Utility programs These are small, powerful programs that the user accesses to maintain a smooth running of the computer Examples of Utility programs include file management (copy, paste, delete, file searching), disk defragmenter, disk cleanup. Many other utility programs can also be installed and used for various purposes Examples of utility software include:

Virus scanner: protects your system from viruses Disk defragmenter: speeds up your hard disk System monitor: looks at your current system resources File managers: adds, deletes, renames and moves files and folders

Translator software (Compiler, Assembler, Interpreter) Translator software allows new programs to be written and run on computers, by converting source code into machine code. Three types are:

Interpreter - converts third generation languages (such as JavaScript) into machine code one line at a time

Compiler - converts 3rd generation languages (such as Pascal, C++) into machine code all at once

Assembler - converts assembly code into machine code Software can be described as computer programs that provide instructions for telling computer hardware how to process data and interact with devices.

Hardware and Software need to work well together since hardware has limited performance without software and software would not be able to run at all without the support of hardware.