Computer Program

An Algorithm is a step- by- step set of instructions designed to

perform a particular function. Its basically a procedure to get a required result.

Computer Program is a sequence of coded instructions written to

perform a particular task or function. It’s basically like having a recipe which tells you what to do and how

to do it. It contains a list of ingredients- (variables) and tells the

computer what operations to do with it in order to get the right output. The programs are built-in or entered by the user and stored in the

sytem memory along with the operands- data. So, when the computer

executes a program, it already has the instructions as well as the data that it needs and works one instruction at a time.

Programming Language It is a formal constructed language in which the program is written by

the user for the computer to understand.

It basically works on two parts: Syntax- (form & grammar of the language)

Semantics- (meaning of the statement or keyword)

Low- level Languages

There are many types of programming languages: low level, high level, 4GL, Scripting language, etc.

A Low- level Programming Language is one that provides little or no

abstraction or separation of ideas from the system’s instruction set. To the computer, low-level languages are the least complex and are

the closest to the hardware.

Machine level language

It is composed in the binary code- 0s & 1s. This is what the computer

understands best, all it’s signals are sent and received in 0s & 1s. 0s mean on and 1s mean off- where a signal is given electronically or

not, or whether a statement is true or false. It forms a pattern which

the computer system can understand and communicate and goes one bit at a time.

This is the only language that the system understands, all other

languages are translated to this.

Assembly level language

It is a low- level language which has a very strong correspondence

between the language itself and the instruction set of the system. Each assembly language is specific to the architecture and code of the

respective system.

This language has a direct connection with the instruction set of the computer but requires a specific software called the assembler to

translate it into the machine code.

High- Level Languages

A high- level language is one that allows the programmer to write

programs that are relatively independent of the instruction set or architecture of the system.

It uses the natural elements of human language making it easier to

understand and write the program. This kind of abstraction makes it simple for the user to define the function set.

Eg: C, C++, Cobol, Fortan, Java, Pyton, etc.

Software

A Software is a set of Program Instructions. It refers to the programs and other operands used by the system to perform a given task.

They are of two types:

System Software Application Software

System Software System Software Comprises the Programs which are directly linked

with the Hardware and Perform Tasks within Controlling and

Utilizing it. It is the link between the User and the Computer Hardware.

It comprises the Operating System and Utility Programs that enable

the operating System to Work.

Utility Programs

The Utility Program is a system software one that is designed to help

analyse, configure, optimize or maintain the hardware of the system. It focuses on the use of the computer infrastructure or hardware.

Eg: System monitors, Backup Softwares, Disk cleaners, Anti- viruses,

etc.

Operating System

An Operating System is a System Software That Manages the Computer Hardware and Software Resources and Provides A

Common Portal for other Computer Programs and Application

Softwares for the User to Access. Eg: Windows, Linux, Unix, etc

Functions of OS

Booting The Computer

Manages The Peripheral and I/O Devices Manages the System Resources

Manages the Memory and Saves Data in Allot Sends & Receives Data and Manipulates Data according to the User’s

Requirements

Real- time OS

It is one which is able to receive & process data and return results

quick enough to be useful at that very moment. A real time OS is a multitasking operating system that aims at

executing real-time applications. They often use specialized

scheduling algorithms so that they can achieve a deterministic nature of behavior. The main objective of real-time operating systems is their

quick and predictable response to events.

They have a time- sharing design between tasks for the Processor to be used to an optimum extent by shifting tasks within the system

clock based on the priorities.

It is used in the armies, certain high tech industries, space stations, etc. It is also used in home systems Video games like Atari,

Macintosh, etc. Programs like Java Real Time.

Multi- user OS

A Multi- User Operating System is one that allows the Admission of Multiple users through Different Input- Output Nodes to Access the

Processor through Time- Sharing or Batch Processing.

Eg: Windows NT, Unix, etc. It is any operating System that works on a network.

Multi- tasking OS A Multi- Taking OS is one that allows the More than one Program to

Operate and Process Data at a time rather than one after the other.

Here many processes are executed concurrently. Here, either the Control Unit allots time for each program or the

Processes themselves fit together by overlapping in the processor.

Application Programs

The Operating System is the background of the application software.

Application Softwares are those designed for the end user- It is what he actually interacts with.

It is a set of programs for the end user to carry out his specific tasks and satisfy the need of the particular environment.

Examples:

Web browsers MS Office- (Word Processing, Spread sheets, etc)

Entertainment

Graphics Database Mgmt- MySQL

Documentation