The Nature Of Applications Flashcards
What are the main categories of software?
Systems and applications software
What are sub-categories of software in systems software?
Operating systems, utility programs, library programs and translators
What are sub-categories of software in applications software?
Off-the-shelf, custom written, proprietary and open source
What is systems software?
The software needed to run the computer’s hardware and application programs
What is operating systems software and its functions?
Is a set of programs that lies between applications software and the computer hardware, its functions are resource management, managing all the computer hardware, and provision of a user interface, which enables users to perform tasks such as running application software, changing settings and downloading and installing new software
What is utility programs?
Is system software designed to optimise the performance of the computer or perform tasks such as backing up files or restoring corrupted files
What are some examples of utility programs?
Disk defragmentation, automatic backup, automatic updating, virus checking and compression software
What is applications software?
Applications software can be categorised as general-purpose, special-purpose or custom-written (bespoke) software
What is general-purpose software
Software that can be used for many different purpose such as word-processor, spreadsheet or graphics package
What is special-purpose software?
Performs a single specific task or set of task including payroll and accounts packages, hotel booking system, fingerprint scanning systems, software may be bought ‘off-the-shelf’, ready to use, or bespoke software where it was specifically written by a team of programmers for a particular organisation
What is the advantages of ‘off-the-shelf’ software compared to bespoke software?
Less expensive since the cost is shared among other buyers
is already ready, so can use instantly
Well documented, well-tested and error-free
What is the advantages of bespoke software compared to ‘off-the-shelf’ software?
Features customised to user requirements and other features can be added as needs arise
What is open source software, as governed by the Open Source initative?
Software is licensed for use but there is no charge for a licence, so anyone can use it
Open source software must be distributed with source code so anyone can modify it
Developers can sell the software they have created
any new software created from Open Source software must be ‘open’, meaning it must be distributed or sold in a form that other people can read and also edit
What is closed source or proprietary software?
Software that is sold in the form of a licence to use it with users not able to have accuse to the source code and will not be allowed to modify the package and sell it to other people as this would infringe copyright
