system software
Software used to control the computer and develop and run applications. It includes programs such as operating systems, database managers, compilers, Web servers, router operating systems and control programs for other network devices. Contrast with application program.
The following diagram shows the flow between system software and application software residing in memory in a multiuser computer. The operating system (OS), TP monitor, database manager and interpreter are considered system software. The applications and interactive DBMS query and edit would be considered application software.
 |
| System Software and Application Interaction |
|---|
| This diagram shows the interaction between the system software and application software running in memory. |
system software [
′sis·təm ′sȯft‚wer]
(computer science)
Computer software involved with data and program management, including operating systems, control programs, and database management systems.
| (operating system) | system software - Any software required to support the
production or execution of application programs but which is
not specific to any particular application.
System software typically includes an operating system to
control the execution of other programs; user environment
software such as a command-line interpreter, window system, desktop; development tools for building other
programs such as assemblers, compilers, linkers,
libraries, interpreters, cross-reference generators,
version control, make; debugging, profiling and
monitoring tools; utility programs, e.g. for sorting,
printing, and editting.
Different people would classify some or all of the above as
part of the operating system while others might say the
operating system was just the kernel. Some might say system
software includes utility programs like sort. | |
