Computer • Chapter 06

Software

सॉफ्टवेयर
Application • System • Utility • OS Families • OS Types • Licensing
Source Note
The PDF index identifies Chapter 6 as Software. The first source page itself carries the heading “Windows”, although its content begins with software definition and classification; this mind map follows the chapter index/content rather than silently treating that heading as the chapter name.
What is Software?
  • Software is the intangible / non-physical part of a computer.
  • It is a set of programs that performs related tasks.
  • सॉफ्टवेयर कंप्यूटर का अमूर्त भाग है तथा संबंधित कार्य करने वाले प्रोग्रामों का समूह है।
Application software, System software and Hardware relationship
PDF visual — Application software, System software and Hardware relationship
Application Software — for users
  • User-oriented software used to perform real work/tasks.
  • Horizontal software: widely used from individuals to large organizations.
  • Examples in PDF: MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, Tally.
  • Vertical software: developed for a particular organization.
  • Examples in PDF: Finacle, MIBS.
System Software — for system
  • Supports execution and development of other programs.
  • Presented as compulsory software without which the computer system cannot work.
  • Examples: Operating System, Compiler, Interpreter.
Finacle example shown under vertical software
PDF visual — Finacle example shown under vertical software
Application Suite

A collection of personal-productivity software such as a word processor, spreadsheet and database. Example: MS Office.

MS Office application suite
PDF visual — MS Office application suite

Word Processing

MS Word — assistance in formulating, formatting and printing documents such as letters, memos and papers.

Spreadsheet

MS Excel — built-in functions for statistical, financial, logical, database, graphics, data and time calculations.

Graphics

Used to represent things more easily through visualization. PDF example: Adobe Photoshop.

Word processing example
PDF visual — Word processing example
Spreadsheet / MS Excel example
PDF visual — Spreadsheet / MS Excel example
Graphics / Adobe Photoshop example
PDF visual — Graphics / Adobe Photoshop example
Application Software — User Tasks
  • Software used to do users’ tasks is called application software.
  • It includes programs that do real work for the user.
  • Examples in source: Adobe Photoshop, Media Player, Web Browser, Adobe Reader.
Application software examples
PDF visual — Application software examples

Open-source Software

Freely available in a form that can be easily modified.

Examples: Linux, Android

Freeware

Free to use; unlike commercial software it does not require payment or a licensing fee.

Example in PDF: Web browser

Shareware

Software that can be used on a trial basis before paying.

Example in PDF: Antivirus

Web-browser example under freeware
PDF visual — Web-browser example under freeware
Antivirus example under shareware
PDF visual — Antivirus example under shareware
EULA — End User Licence Agreement

An End User Licence Agreement (EULA) is described as a legal contract between a software application author/publisher and the user of that application.

EULA / licence agreement example
PDF visual — EULA / licence agreement example
System Software
  • Supports execution and development of other programs.
  • Examples: Operating System, Compiler, Interpreter.
Utility Software
  • Small useful programs that support devices/system maintenance.
  • Source examples: Device Driver, Disk Defragmentation, Compression Software, Anti-Virus.
Operating System

An operating system is software that acts as an interface between user and computer hardware.

User → Application → Operating System → Hardware relationship
PDF visual — User → Application → Operating System → Hardware relationship
Userउपयोगकर्ता
Applicationएप्लिकेशन
Operating Systemइंटरफेस
Hardwareहार्डवेयर
Version note
“Latest version” statements below are reproduced from the PDF’s own framing and can become dated; no outside update has been substituted.
Windows
  • Widely used OS associated with Microsoft Corporation; source mentions 1975 — Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
  • Inbuilt browser stated: Internet Explorer.
  • First version stated: Windows 1.0 (1985).
  • “Latest version” stated in PDF: Windows 11 — 5 Oct 2021.
  • Microsoft Edge stated as used in Windows 10 in 2015.
Microsoft visual used in the PDF
PDF visual — Microsoft visual used in the PDF
Macintosh / Mac OS
  • Associated with Apple Corporation; source mentions 1976 by Steve Jobs.
  • First version stated: 1.0 in 1989.
  • “Latest”: Sonoma Mac 14.
  • Inbuilt browser: Safari.
  • Version names listed: Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks.
Linux
  • PDF states Linux OS was developed in 1991 and is a clone of Unix.
  • Multiuser & multitasking.
  • Open-source and free of cost.
  • Examples listed: Red Hat, Fedora, Ubuntu, Linux Mint.
Linux visual
PDF visual — Linux visual
Unix
  • UNICS expanded in source as Uniplexed Information and Computing System.
  • Written in C programming language.
  • Multi-user OS; source text says it contains “cell programming”.
Unix visual
PDF visual — Unix visual
Android
  • Associated with Google Corporation.
  • Smartphone-based OS.
  • First version stated: Alpha 1.0.
  • “Latest” stated: Android 14.0.
  • PDF lists names including Alpha 1.0, Cupcake, Doughnut and Marshmallow 6.0; some names in the source are visibly garbled, so they are not silently normalized here.
Android visual
PDF visual — Android visual
Operating System Types
  • Single-user OS: deals with the request of one person using the computer at that time.
  • Examples: MS-DOS, Windows, Android.
  • Multi-user OS: allows many people to access mainframe resources; divides resources among users.
  • Examples: Unix, Linux.
  • Single-tasking OS: supports one task at a time; task execution is sequential.
  • Example: MS-DOS.
  • Multitasking OS: manages more than one program at once.
  • Examples: Windows XP, Windows Vista.
MS-DOS single-user / single-tasking example
PDF visual — MS-DOS single-user / single-tasking example
Multi-user resource sharing example
PDF visual — Multi-user resource sharing example
Network Operating System

Described as a type of multi-user operating system designed for a server.

Examples in source: Windows NT, Windows Server, Windows Server 2003.

Windows Server example
PDF visual — Windows Server example
⚡ Quick Recall
Software = intangibleApplication = user tasksSystem = system supportUtility = maintenance/supportOS = user ↔ hardware interfaceOpen-source = modifiableFreeware = free useShareware = trial before paymentEULA = legal licence contractSingle tasking = one taskMultitasking = multiple programsNetwork OS = server-oriented
⚠ Exam Traps from the source