Software: Concepts

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

 Classes of Software

Systems software
 Set of programs that coordinates activities and
functions of the hardware and various other
programs

Application software
 Programs that help users solve particular
computing problems

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 Spheres of Influence

Personal
 Information systems that serve the needs of an
individual user

Workgroup
 Two or more people who work together to achieve a
common goal

Enterprise
 Information systems that support the firm in its
interaction with its environment.

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

 Issues and Trends

Software licensing
 Protection by software vendors to prevent
unauthorized use

Software upgrades
 A revised version of software that usually includes
fixes of known problems, plus enhancements to
existing capabilities

Global software support
 Software that is distributed around the globe may
require unique support mechanisms due to local
political and economic conditions
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 Ownership

Freeware

Shareware

Public-domain software

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 Freeware
Copyrighted software given away for free by the author. Although it
is available for free, the author retains the copyright, which means
that you cannot do anything with it that is not expressly allowed by
the author. Usually, the author allows people to use the software,
but not sell it.

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 Ownership

Freeware

Shareware

Public-domain software

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 Shareware (1)
Software distributed on the basis of an honor system. Most
shareware is delivered free of charge, but the author usually
requests that you pay a small fee if you like the program and use it
regularly. By sending the small fee, you become registered with the
producer so that you can receive service assistance and updates.
You can copy shareware and pass it along to friends and colleagues,
but they too are expected to pay a fee if they use the product.

Shareware is inexpensive because it is usually produced by a single

programmer and is offered directly to customers. Thus, there are
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 Shareware (2)
practically no packaging or advertising expenses.

Note that shareware differs from public-domain software in that

shareware is copyrighted. This means that you cannot sell a
shareware product as your own.

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 Ownership

Freeware

Shareware

Public-domain software

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 Public-domain Software
Refers to any program that is not copyrighted. Public-domain
software is free and can be used without restrictions. The term
public-domain software is often used incorrectly to include
freeware, free software that is nevertheless copyrighted.

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

 Role of Systems Software

System software…
 Is an interface or buffer between application
software and hardware
 Controls the computer hardware and acts as an
interface with applications programs

Schematic

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 Operating
Application and
software systems
software
Users
Hardware

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 Operating System Functions
 Perform common computer hardware functions
 Provide a user interface
 Provide a degree of hardware independence
 Manage system memory
 Manage processing tasks
 Provide networking capability
 Control access to system resources
 Manage files

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 User Interface

User interface
• A function of the operating system that allows individuals to
access and command the computer

Command-based user interface
• A particular user interface that requires text commands be
given to the computer to perform basic activities
• E.g., unix, DOS

Graphical user interface (GUI)
• A user interface that uses pictures (icons) and menus displayed
on the screen to send commands to the computer system
• E.g. Windows, MAC OS

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 Systems Software Concepts

Hardware independence
 Operating system (OS) provides hardware
independence for application software
 Application software interfaces with the
operating system which interfaces with the
hardware
 When the hardware is changed, the operating
system is changed so that the application
software is not required to be changed

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 Software Concepts

Memory management

Virtual memory & paging

Multitasking

Multithreading

Timesharing

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 Memory Management

Memory management…
 Controls how memory is accessed and
maximizes available memory and storage

Schematic

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 Application Software OS

Fetch
What is the
TIBA35$
price of
from hard
TIBA35
disk, track 1,
(TIBA35$)
sector 7

TIBA35$

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 Software Concepts

Memory management

Virtual memory & paging

Multitasking

Multithreading

Timesharing

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 Virtual Memory & Paging

Virtual memory
 Memory that allocates space in secondary
storage to supplement the immediate,
functional memory capacity of RAM
 Paging
• A function of virtual memory allowing the
computer to store currently needed pages in RAM
while the rest of the pages wait in secondary storage
Schematic
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 Memory Disk

Program 1 (a few pages)

Program 2 (a few pages)

Program 3 (a few pages)

Operating
system and Programs
Program 4 (a few pages)
system and other
software software
Program 5 (a few pages)

Program 6 (a few pages)

Other memory requirements

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 Virtual Memory ‘Discussion’ (1)
An imaginary memory area supported by some operating systems
(for example, Windows but not DOS) in conjunction with the
hardware. You can think of virtual memory as an alternate set of
memory addresses. Programs use these virtual addresses rather
than real addresses to store instructions and data. When the
program is actually executed, the virtual addresses are converted
into real memory addresses.

The purpose of virtual memory is to enlarge the address space, the

set of addresses a program can utilize. For example, virtual memory
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
 Virtual Memory ‘Discussion’ (2)
might contain twice as many addresses as main memory. A program
using all of virtual memory, therefore, would not be able to fit in
main memory all at once. Nevertheless, the computer could execute
such a program by copying into main memory those portions of the
program needed at any given point during execution.

To facilitate copying virtual memory into real memory, the operating

system divides virtual memory into pages, each of which contains a
fixed number of addresses. Each page is stored on a disk until it is
needed. When the page is needed, the operating system copies it
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 Virtual Memory ‘Discussion’ (3)
from disk to main memory, translating the virtual addresses into real
addresses.

The process of translating virtual addresses into real addresses is

called mapping. The copying of virtual pages from disk to main
memory is known as paging or swapping.

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 Software Concepts

Memory management

Virtual memory & paging

Multitasking

Multithreading

Time-sharing

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 Multitasking, Multithreading,
Time-sharing

Multitasking
 A processing activity that allows a user to run more
than one application at the same time

Multithreading
 A processing activity that is basically multitasking
within a single application

Time-sharing
 A processing activity that allows more than one person
to use a computer system at the same time

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 Software Concepts

Network capability
 Aids in connecting the computer to a network

Access to system resources
 Provides security for unauthorized access

File management
 Ensures that files in secondary storage are
available when needed, and they are protected
against unauthorized usage

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 Utility Programs

Utility programs…
 Programs used to merge and sort sets of data,
keep track of computer jobs being run,
compress files of data before they are stored or
transmitted over a network, and perform other
important tasks

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 Types of Application Software

Proprietary
 Designed to solve a unique and specific problem

In-house
 Development of application software using the
company’s resources

Contract
 Developed for a particular company

Off-the-shelf
 An existing software program that can be used without
considerable changes expected
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 Sources of Software

Customized package
 Blend of external and internal software
development
• In-house customized
• Contract customization

Schematic

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 Application
software

Proprietary Off-the-shelf
software software

In-house Customized Standard

Contract
developed package package

In-house Contract
customized customization

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 Examples

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 Turbo Tax

Turbo Tax
Provides automated
assistance for tax
preparation and
submission.

(Figure 4.6)

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

24
 Quicken

Quicken
An off-the-shelf
software package that
provides assistance for
standard check writing
and personal
accounting. (Figure 4.7)

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25
 Word Processing

Word Processing
Provides
assistance in
formulating,
formatting, and
printing
documents such as
letters, memos, (Figure 4.8)
and papers.

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26
 Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet
Provides a wide
range of built-in
functions for
statistical, financial,
logical, database,
graphics, and data
and time
calculations.
(Figure 4.9)

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27
 Database

Database
Stores, manipulates,
and retrieves data.

(Figure 4.10)

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

28
 Graphics

Graphics Program
Helps make a
presentation;
develops brochures,
illustrations, etc.

Usually called
Presentation
Graphics
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 On-Line Services (Figure 4.12)

On-Line Services
Provide access to
various information
resources.

(Figure 4.12)

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30
 Software Suite

Software Suite
Collection of personal
productivity software
such as word processor,
spreadsheet, and
database.

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31
 Software Concepts - OLE

OLE = Object Linking and Embedding
 A software feature that allows you to copy text from
one document to another or embed graphics from one
program into another program or document
 Server Application
 The application that supplies objects you place into
other applications

Client application
 The application that accepts objects from other
applications

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

 OLE Concepts

Copy
 Copy data from one application and place it in another

Link
 Changes made to the server object to automatically
appear in all linked client objects

Embed
 An object to become part of the client document
Schematic

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

 Graphics Program
Client Application
Server Application
Word Processing Program Spreadsheet Program
Server Application
Team photo
Actual vs. Budget
-------------
-------------
--------------
Copy
Team photo

Actual vs. budget Link

--- --- --- --- -
--- --- --- -- --
-- - - - --- --- -
--- --- --- --- --

Project Management Program

Chart Server Application
Chart
==== == ==
== == == = --- -------
------- ---
=== == == --- --------
==== ==== =
Embed
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
 OLE ‘Discussion’
Abbreviation for Object Linking and Embedding, pronounced as
separate letters or as oh-leh. OLE is a compound document
standard developed by Microsoft Corporation. It enables you to
create objects with one application and then link or embed them in a
second application. Embedded objects retain their original format
and links to the application that created them.

Support for OLE is built into the Windows and Macintosh operating
systems. A competing compound document standard developed
jointly by IBM, Apple Computer, and other computer firms is called
OpenDoc.
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 Workgroup Application Software

Groupware
 Software that helps groups of people work
together more efficiently and effectively

Collaborative computing software
 Software that helps teams of people work
together toward a common goal

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

 Enterprise Application Software

Enterprise application software…
 Software that benefits the entire organization
 Examples
Accounts receivable Sales ordering
Accounts payable Order entry
Cash-flow analysis Check processing
Manufacturing control Receiving
General Ledger Retail Operations

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 Example

Integrated
Supply Chain
Management
Software

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 Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)…
 A set of integrated programs that manage a company’s
vital business operations for an entire multi-site, global
organization
 Vendor examples
SAP Baan
Oracle SSA
PeopleSoft Marcam
Dun & Bradstreet QAD
JD Edwards Ross Systems

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

 ERP ‘Discussion’
Short for enterprise resource planning, a business management
system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning,
manufacturing, sales, and marketing. As the ERP methodology has
become more popular, software applications have emerged to help
business managers implement ERP.

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 Programming Languages

Programming languages…
 Coding schemes used to write both systems
and application software

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 Categories of Programming
Languages (1)

Machine Language
 1st generation programming language
 Considered a low-level language because it involves
basic coding using the binary symbols 1 and 0

Assembly Language
 2nd generation language
 Replaced binary digits with mnemonics (e.g., “ADD”)
programmers could more easily understand

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 Categories of Programming
Languages (2)

Third Generation Languages
 Continued trend to more symbolic code (e.g.
COBOL)

Fourth Generation Languages (4GLs)
 Languages that are less procedural and even
more English-like than third-generation
languages (e.g. FOCUS)

ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations

 Categories of Programming
Languages (3)

Query languages
 Used to ask the computer questions in English-
like sentences
 Also known as database languages

Structured query language (SQL)
 A standardized language often used to perform
database queries and manipulations

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 Object Oriented Languages (1)

Object-oriented languages (OOL)
• Languages that allow interaction of programming objects,
including data elements and the actions that will be performed
on them
• Note: OOP = object-oriented programming

Encapsulation
• The process of grouping items into an object

Polymorphism
• A process allowing the programmer to develop one routine or
set of activities that will operate on multiple objects

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 Object Oriented Languages (2)

Inheritance
• Property used to describe objects in a group of objects taking
on characteristics of other objects in the same group or class of
objects

Reusable code
• The instruction code within an object that can be reused in
different programs for a variety of applications

Examples
• Smalltalk, C++, Java

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 Visual Programming Languages

Visual programming languages…
 Languages that use a mouse, icons, or symbols
on the screen and pull-down menus to develop
programs
 Examples
• Visual Basic
• Visual C++
• PC COBOL

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 Fifth-Generation Languages

5th generation languages…
 Combines rule-based code generation,
component management, visual programming
techniques, and reuse management
 Knowledge-based management
• An approach to the development of computer
programs in which you do not tell a computer how
to do a job, but what you want it to do

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 Programming Languages:
Terminology (1)

Language translator
 Systems software that converts a programmer’s source
code into its equivalent in machine language

Source code
 High-level program code written by the programmer

Object code
 Another name for machine language code

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 Programming Languages:
Terminology (2)

Interpreter
 A language translator that translates one
program statement at a time into machine code

Machine
Program
Interpreter language
statement
statement

Statement
execution

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 Programming Languages:
Terminology (3)

Compiler
 A language translator that converts a complete
program into machine language to produce a program
that the computer can process in its entirety

Schematic

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 Step 1: Translate program

Machine
Computer
Compiler language
program
program

Step 2: Execute program

Machine
language
program

Program
execution

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 THANK YOU

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