2. P102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Software / Slide 2
Hardware
Four components of a computer system:
CPU - central processing unit
– Makes decisions, performs computations, and
delegates input/output requests
Memory: Disk Drives, CD drives, Tape drives, USB
flash drives.
– Stores information
Input devices: Keyboard, Mouse,
– Gets information from the user to the computer
Output devices: monitor
– Sends information from computer to the user
4. P102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Software / Slide 4
S o ftw a re
S y s te m
S o ftw a re
A p p lic a tio n
S o ftw a re
5. P102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Software / Slide 5
Software
Application software
Easy-to-use programs designed to perform
specific tasks
System software
Programs that support the execution and
development of other programs
Two major types
– Operating systems
– Translation systems (compilers & linkers)
7. P102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Software / Slide 7
Computer Software Relationships
User Interface Application Programs
User Interface
Operating System
User Basic Input and Output Services (BIOS)
• needed for a computer to boot up
Interface
Computer Hardware
8. P102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Software / Slide 8
Application Software
Application software makes computer popular and
easy to use
Common application software:
Microsoft Word, WordPerfect
PowerPoint
Netscape, Internet Explorer
PhotoShop, Photo-Paint
Quick Time
Dreamweaver
9. P102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Software / Slide 9
Operating System
Controls and manages the computing resources
Examples
Windows, Unix, MSDOS,
Important services that an operating system
provides:
Security: prevent unauthorized users from accessing
the system
Commands to manipulate the file system
Input and output on a variety of devices
Window management
10. 102 Prog. Fundamentals I: Software / Slide 10
What is a (programming) language?
A sequence of instructions
An algorthm
(in human language)
A program
(in computer language)
A program needs to be written in a language
There are many programming languages
Low-level, understandable by a computer
High-level, needs a translator!
C++ is a high level programming language