When it comes to software, most people think about application software such as Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and Google Chrome. However, there are other types of software that play just as important a role in our daily lives, including system software.
System Software
System software is the type of software that manages computer resources and provides common services for computer programs to run. Examples of system software include operating systems (such as Windows, macOS, and Linux), device drivers, firmware, and utility programs.
Operating Systems (OS)
The operating system (OS) is the most well-known type of system software. It manages computer resources such as memory, storage, and input/output devices, and provides a platform for running applications. Examples of modern operating systems include Windows 10, macOS Catalina, and Linux Ubuntu.
Operating systems can be classified into two types: monolithic and microkernel. Monolithic operating systems have all the necessary components integrated into the kernel, while microkernel operating systems have only the essential components in the kernel, with the remaining components running as separate processes.
Device Drivers
Device drivers are another type of system software that is often overlooked. They are responsible for translating the general input/output (I/O) instructions provided by an application into specific instructions that can be understood and executed by the hardware devices. For example, when you click on a button in your web browser, the device driver interprets the instruction and sends it to the mouse driver, which then sends the message to the mouse hardware.
Device drivers are written for each type of hardware device, such as printers, scanners, cameras, and network cards. They provide a layer of abstraction between the application and the hardware, making it easier for developers to write programs that can run on different types of devices without having to understand the underlying hardware.
Firmware
Note: Firmware is a set of instructions that is stored in the hardware itself, and it is responsible for controlling the behavior of the hardware. Firmware can be classified into two types: read-only memory (ROM) and programmable read-write memory (PRAM).
Read-Only Memory (ROM) Firmware
ROM firmware is pre-installed in the hardware and cannot be changed once it has been written. It provides the basic instructions that are needed to boot up the computer and perform other low-level tasks, such as managing the BIOS settings.
Programmable Read-Write Memory (PRAM) Firmware
PRAM firmware, on the other hand, can be modified after it has been installed. It is used for storing configuration data and other information that is needed by the operating system and applications. Examples of PRAM firmware include the video card driver and the network card driver.
Utility Programs
Utility programs are a type of system software that provides general-purpose functionality to the user. They can be used for a variety of tasks, such as cleaning up files, managing the registry, and troubleshooting problems. Examples of utility programs include Disk Cleanup (for Windows), CCleaner (for macOS and Windows), and System Preferences (for macOS).
Utility programs are often overlooked because they do not provide specific functionality for a particular application or hardware device. However, they can be very useful in helping users to manage their computers more effectively.
Case Study: Microsoft Office
To illustrate the importance of system software, let’s take a look at Microsoft Office, one of the most popular productivity suites in use today. Microsoft Office includes a variety of applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. These applications rely on the operating system and other types of system software to function properly.
For example, when you open a document in Word, the application communicates with the operating system’s file management system to read the contents of the file.