Software: System software and mode of operations.

The hardware as we know, represent the physical touchable parts of the computer system that can be seen, this is analogous to the physical structure of human being, without the software, the hardware is virtually useless, just as without blood flowing through a man, the person is as good as dead, in this article I will be considering the other part of the computer system called the software, before I continue I will always want you to know that Hardware + Software + Human being = Computer System. Having knowing that you should also know that, Software is the term used to describe programs, instructions, manuals, associated documentation and even program that make the computer perform its various tasks. It is the blood that flows through the computer system, compared with the hardware, the software used on a given computer is relatively easy to change and it is the attribute, which gives computer their flexibility, just as there as two type of blood cells in the human blood, in which they perform different functions, so also we have two types of software performing different functions in the computer system, they are called The System software and the application software, all other forms of software are arranged under this two broad division. This article is mainly on system software other will be linked to it as they are published

SYSTEM SOFTWARE: This are the type of software that comes with the computer to assist in the use of the hardware, we say they make the computer operational, this are non hardware aids namely computer programs and routines that facilitates the operation of the computer, below I shall be writing about the modes of the operation of the system software.

1. BATCH PROCESSING: The jobs (program + data) are entered and stored on a disk in a batch queue and then run once at a time under the control of the operating system, a job may wait in a batch queue for minutes or hours depending on the work load, no amendment are possible during processing, a term associated with this method is called Remote Job entry, this refers to batch processing where jobs are entered at a terminal remote from the computer, and it is transmitted into the computer.
2. MULTI PROCESSING: This is the name for the situation, which occurs if two or more processors are present in a computer system and share some or all of the same memory, in this case two programs may be processed at the same instant.
3. MULTI PROGRAMMING: This occurs when more than one program in main memory is being processed apparently at the same time. This is achieved by the programs taking turns at short bursts of processing time i.e. while a program is being saved, the other may be executing some logical commands, all these appear as if they are taking place concurrently because the Operating System (OS) shields the user from the intricate details of what goes on inside the computer example of this is called the Interactive Computing, this occurs if the computer and terminal user may communicate with each other i.e. Using user friendly software, this is a very common form of computer usage in our time, related to this is the Conversational mode; this is an interactive computer operation where the response to the user’s message is immediate.
4. MULTI-ACCESS: This occurs if the computer allows interactive facilities to more than one user at a time i.e. if a number of devices are capable of communicating with a CPU. A multiplexer is used to enable the CPU (central processing unit) to communicate with many devices, TIME SHARING: In this case, the processor time is divided into small units called Time slice and shared in turn between users to provide multi-access. Each of the devices in the multi access system is serviced in such a manner that the impression is given that the CPU is servicing a particular device only. This impression can be achieved using time divisions or frequency divisions. Time sharing belongs to the online processing mode.
5. ONLINE SYSTEMS: These are interactive in nature, in particular s system is said to be online if a device external to the computer, possibly but not necessarily operated by a man can communicate directly with the CPU and the computer itself alternate actions such that the external device affects the data processing operation within the computer. Actuators and interrupts are involved, an interrupt is a signal either from an external device requesting the CPU for an action or it could be internal to the CPU itself. When an interrupt is internal to the CPU, it is called TRAP, Real time system: If the exchange of information between the external device and the computer is sufficiently rapid so that the computation of results can have immediate and desired effects on the computer of which the device is a part, then such an online system is said to be real-time system. On the other hand, a real time system can be defined as a computer system which is capable of processing data so quickly that the results are available to influence activity currently taking place. There is often a need for multiprocessing and a front-end processor in these systems. Response time is of critical importance in determining whether a system is real time or online, for some applications, as an airline reservation system, response time is of utmost importance so as to avoid overbooking of seats, hence such a system must be real time.
6. Networks: This is a more advanced form of computer usage in which computer systems and other device are connected physically or remotely, all working together, accessing a common pool of data via communication (telephone) lines. A network makes it possible for computers to exchange, share, preserve and protect information; it equally makes it easier to share expensive hardware and software. Network could be local area network (LAN) or Wide area Network (WAN).

The various types of system software are:

(a). The operating system

(b). Translators

(c). Utility Programs

(d). Database Management System (DBMS)

 Read detailed article on the types on system software.