Page 34 - Viva ICSE Computer Studies 5 : E-book

Differences between System Software and Application Software

Let’s quickly revise the diff erences between system software and application software.

System Software Application Software
System software are used to operate Application software are used to perform
computer hardware. specifi c tasks by the user.

These software are installed on the computer These software are installed as per the user’s
at the time of the installation of the operating requirements.
system.

There is no interaction of the user with The user interacts with the application
the system software as it operates in the software.
background.

These software run independently and These software cannot run independently
provide a platform for running application without a system software.
software.

Compilers, assemblers and drivers are some Word processor, spreadsheet package and
examples of system software. presentation software are some examples of
application software.

Operational Support Systems (OSS)

An operational support system (OSS) is a set of computer programs used by

communication service providers to monitor, control, analyse and manage a computer
or telephone network system. It mainly involves operations like supporting network
processes to maintain network inventory, confi guring network components and

provision services, and managing faults.

Defragmentation

Sometimes, an operating system may break a fi le into pieces due to shortage of space in
the storage device where the fi le was originally saved. This process is called fragmentation.

This occurs when the user opens, modifi es and saves the old fi les. For example, when
the user opens a Word document and adds some details to it, the fi le takes more space
as compared to the time when it was fi rst saved. At this time, the operating system
breaks the fi le into two or more pieces and stores them in various parts of the storage

area. The fi le system such as File Allocation Table (FAT) keeps a record of the locations
where diff erent fragments of a fi le are stored. When this fi le is required by the user again,

the FAT fi nds out where the fragments are located on the drive.

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