Define application software. How system software interacts with application software?

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Application software is a program or group of programs designed for end users. These programs are divided into two classes: system software and application software. While system software consists of low-level programs that interact with computers at a basic level, application software resides above system software and includes applications such as database programs, word processors and spreadsheets. Application software may be bundled with system software or published alone. Application software may simply be referred to as an application.

Different types of application software include:
• Application Suite: Has multiple applications bundled together. Related functions, features and user interfaces interact with each other.
• Enterprise Software: Addresses an organization’s needs and data flow in a huge distributed environment
• Enterprise Infrastructure Software: Provides capabilities required to support enterprise software systems
• Information Worker Software: Addresses individual needs required to manage and create information for individual projects within departments
• Content Access Software: Used to access content and addresses a desire for published digital content and entertainment
• Educational Software: Provides content intended for use by students
• Media Development Software: Addresses individual needs to generate and print electronic media for others to consume

How system software interacts with application software:
Computer software can be divided into two main categories: application software and system software. According to Brookshear [1997], “application software consists of the programs for performing tasks particular to the machine’s utilization. Examples of application software include spreadsheets, database systems, desktop publishing systems, program development software, and games.” Application software is generally what we think of when someone speaks of computer programs. This software is designed to solve a particular problem for users.

On the other hand, system software is more transparent and less noticed by the typical computer user. This software “provides a general programming environment in which programmers can create specific applications to suit their needs. This environment provides new functions that are not available at the hardware level and performs tasks related to executing the application program”

On the other hand, system software is more transparent and less noticed by the typical computer user. This software “provides a general programming environment in which programmers can create specific applications to suit their needs. This environment provides new functions that are not available at the hardware level and performs tasks related to executing the application program” [Nutt 1997]. System software acts as an interface between the hardware of the computer and the application software that users need to run on the computer. The diagram below illustrates the relationship between application
software and system software.

The most important type of system software is the operating system. According to Webopedia, an operating system has three main responsibilities:

Perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. Ensure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. Provide a software platform on top of which other programs (i.e., application software) can run.

The first two responsibilities address the need for managing the computer hardware and the application programs that use the hardware. The third responsibility focuses on providing an interface between application software and hardware so that application software can be efficiently developed. Since the operating system is already responsible for managing the hardware, it should provide a programming interface for application developers.

Perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. Ensure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. Provide a software platform on top of which other programs (i.e., application software) can run.

The first two responsibilities address the need for managing the computer hardware and the application programs that use the hardware. The third responsibility focuses on providing an interface between application software and hardware so that application software can be efficiently developed. Since the operating system is already responsible for managing the hardware, it should provide a programming interface for application developers.

Nutt [1997] identifies four common types of operating system strategies on which modern operating systems are built: batch, timesharing, personal computing, and dedicated. According to Nutt, “the favored strategy for any given computer depends on how the computer is to be used, the cost-effectiveness of the strategy implementation in the application environment, and the general state of the technology at the time the operating system is developed.” The table below summarizes the characteristics of each operating system strategy as described by Nutt [1997].