3.4.3 - System software, operating systems and utilities
Distinguish system software from applications, explain how an operating system manages resources, and identify the maintenance work performed by utilities.
System and application software
Software can be classified by whether it manages the computer system or performs a task for the end user.
System software manages system resources and provides a platform on which application software can run. An operating system such as Windows or Linux is system software. Device drivers and maintenance utilities also support the system's operation.
Application software performs end-user tasks. Examples include a word processor for writing a report, a spreadsheet for analysing results and a web browser for viewing websites. A program's popularity or price does not determine its classification; its purpose does.
A browser relies on the operating system to allocate memory, schedule processor work and communicate with devices. The browser decides what page content to show; the operating system supplies services for using the display and connection. Without this platform, each application would need to manage the hardware independently, making programs harder to develop and share safely.
Operating system resource management
The operating system coordinates competing demands so programs can use the computer's resources safely and effectively.
If music plays while a document is edited, both applications need processor time. Processor management schedules work and allocates time to processes; rapid switching can make multiple programs appear to run at once. On a system with several cores, work may also run concurrently.
Memory management allocates RAM to applications and releases it when no longer needed. It tracks which memory is in use and helps prevent one program interfering with another's memory. Having applications open does not mean each can overwrite any location it chooses.
Input/output management handles communication with devices, often through drivers. It deals with input events and manages output, such as queuing print jobs when several documents share a printer. Application management loads and starts programs, keeps track of running processes and handles their termination.
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