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Computer Software

Management Information Systems

Prakash Bikram Khatri

Computer Software

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Software
Various programs used to operate and manipulate computers
and their peripheral devices.

Types of Software:
1. Application Software
2. System Software

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Application Software

General Purpose Application Program

Perform common information processing jobs. E.g. word processing,
spreadsheet, database management, graphics programs etc.

Also known as productivity packages.

Help support communications and collaboration among workgroups. E.g. web
browsers, email and groupware.

Function Specific

Available to support specific application of end users in business and other
fields. For e.g. business application software supports the reengineering and
automation of business process and strategic e business applications.

CRM, enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, HR
management, accounting and finance, data mining, knowledge management
systems.

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Computer Software (based on development)

Custom Software

Applications that were developed within an organization for use
by the organization.

The organization that writes the code uses the application as well.

Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS)

Developed with an intention of selling

The organization that writes it is not the user

Open Source Software

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Software Suites and Integrated Packages

Productivity packages come in bundles.

Costs lesser

Same Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Compatible with each other

Some features are never used

Takes up more disk space

Programs Microsoft Office

Word Processor MS Word
Spreadsheet MS Excel
Presentation MS Power Point
Database Manager MS Access
Personal Information Manager Outlook

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Web Browser

Internet Explorer, Mozilla etc. designed to support navigation
through point and click hyperlinked resources.

Used in the internet and intranets.

Universal software platform to launch information searches,

email, multimedia file transfers etc.

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Other Personal Applications

Electronic Spreadsheets

Presentation Graphics

Personal Information Managers

Groupware

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Application Service Provider (ASP)

Companies own, operate and maintain application software
and the computer system resources

Offer the use of the application software for a fee as a service

over the internet.

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Software Licensing

All softwares must be licensed for use.

Intellectual property rights, copyright, trade mark, trade
secrets, traditional contract law.

Software purchase is not purchased rights of ownership.

Usage of software under the terms of the software licensing
agreement.

Easy licensing but combat software piracy.

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Operating Systems

An integrated system of programs that manages the
operations of the CPU, controls the input/output, and
storage resources and activities of the computer system and
provides various support services.

Maximize productivity of computer system.

All systems before can be used need to have Operating
System installed.

It helps computers perform all tasks such as networking, data
entry, saving and retrieving files, printing or displaying
output.

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Operating System Functions

User Interface

Resource Management

File Management

Task Management

Multitasking (pre-emptive and cooperative)

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Open Source Software

Programmers can read, redistribute, and modify the source

code

It therefore evolves

Rapid evolutionary model is better than traditional closed
model

Shareware is free for use but no access to the underlying source
code.

OSS has a license with license terms that the source code will
always be available.

In 1998, Open Source Software was formalized.
www.opensource.org and began the definition of OSS.
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Characteristics of OSS

License shall not restrict any party from selling or giving away the
software as a component of an aggregate software

Distribution of source code in compiled form.

Must allow modifications and allow distribution under the same terms as
original software.

License may restrict source code from being distributed in modified
form only if the license allows the distribution of patch files with the
source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time.

No discrimination against individual or groups.

Separate licenses not required for different parties in the distribution
chain.

License cannot be specific to a product.

Must not contaminate other software by placing restrictions on any
software distributed along with the licensed software.
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System Management Programs

Network Management

Application Server

Database Manager

Collaboration Tools

Development Tools

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Generations of Programming Languages

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Programming Languages
Allows a programmer to develop the sets of instruction that
constitute a computer program.

Machine Language (first generation)

Most basic level of programming languages.

Binary codes instructions were used unique to each computer

Long series of detailed instructions to accomplish a simple task

Instructions for every switch and indicator

Difficult and error prone

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Assembler Languages (second generation

languages)

Developed to reduce the difficulties in writing machine
language programs

Requires language translator programs called assemblers that
convert instruction of such language into machine instructions

Symbolic languages; symbols are used to represent operation
codes and storage locations.

Convenient alphabetic abbreviations called mnemonics and
other symbols represent operation codes, storage locations and
data elements.

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High Level Languages (Third Generation Languages)

Use instructions that are called statements that include brief statements or arithmetic expressions.

Individual high level language statements are called macroinstructions. Each individual statement
generates several machine instructions by high level language translator program called compilers
and interpreters.

Resemble mathematical expression or phrase used to express the problem or procedure being
programmed.

The syntax and semantics of such statements do not reflect the internal code of any particular
computer.

E.g BASIC, COBOL, and FORTRAN.

High Level Languages require greater computer time for translation into machine instructions.

Machine independent
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Fourth Generation Languages

More non procedural and conversational that prior languages.

Encourage users and programmers to specify the results they

want while the computer determines the sequence of
instructions that will accomplish those results.

Natural Languages, the new language. Close to normal

conversation. E.g. INTELLECT

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Examples of Languages

Machine Languages
0110 11001
1011 10001

Assembly Languages
LOD Y
ADD Z
STR X

High Level Languages

BASIC: X=Y+Z
COBOL: COMPUTE X = Y + Z

Fourth Generation Languages

SUM THE FOLLOWING
NUMBERS
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Object Oriented

E.g. Visual Basic, C++, Java

Fifth Generation Languages

Object consists of data and the actions that can be performed
on the data.

E.g. bank’s customer account attributes.

Easier to user and efficient programming for graphics
oriented user interfaces.

Reusable: Object created can be reused.

Visual Programming: Allows programmer to construct a
user interface for a new program by assembling standard
objects such as windows, bars, boxes, buttons and icons.

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HTML

Hyper Text Mark Up Language

Page description language that creates hypertext or
hypermedia documents.

Short cut to other parts of the document or to other
documents anywhere on the World Wide Web.

Programs in the top software suites automatically convert
documents into HTML formats.

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End of Chapter 2

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