Traditionally, all software is divided into two classes:

1) system software (SW) and

2) application (user) software (OSS)

Let us distinguish another class (rather a group) of programs – special software for information and control systems.

Application software is designed to solve functional tasks, they perform the processing of information of various subject fields.

This is the most numerous class of software products.

To the special software of information and control systems belong

• Programs (systems) of database management;
• programs for controlling the interface language of information systems;
• information collection and preprocessing programs (in information and measuring systems, for example, on-board systems).

Software of this class is often hidden in equipment drivers or supplied as libraries for functional extension of programming languages.

Therefore, such software is often referred to as system software.

System Software – a set of programs and software complexes to ensure the computer and computer networks.

LSS manages the computer system resources and allows users to program in more expressive languages than the machine language of the computer. The composition of LSS depends little on the nature of the tasks the user solves.

System software is designed to:

• creating an operating environment for the operation of other programs (in other words, for organizing the execution of programs);
• automation of the development (creation) of new programs;
• Providing reliable and efficient operation of the computer itself and the computer network;
• performing diagnostics and preventive maintenance of computer hardware and computer networks;
• Carrying out auxiliary technological processes (copying, archiving, program and database file recovery and etc.).

This class of software products is closely related to the type of computer and is an integral part of it.

Software products of this class are mainly focused on qualified users – professionals in the computer field: system programmer, network administrator, application programmer, operator.

However, knowledge of the basic technology of working with this class of software products is required and the end users of a personal computer, which not only work with their programs, but also carry out service computer, programs and data.

Software products of this class are of a general nature of application, regardless of the specifics of the subject area.

System software products have high requirements for reliability and manufacturability of work, convenience and efficiency of use.

Traditionally, LSS include

• system controlling and
• System Management Programs and System Processing Programs.

Controlling system programs organize the correct functioning of all system devices.

The main system functions of controlling programs are

• managing computational processes and computational complexes and
• Operation with internal OS data.

As a rule, they are located in the main memory. These are resident programs that make up the core of the OS. Control programs that are loaded into memory immediately before execution are called transitive programs.

Nowadays, system control programs are provided by vendors and distributors as operating system installation packages and special device drivers.

The processing system programs are executed as special application tasks or applications.

These programs are often provided in the form of distribution packages that include software.

Note. In addition to the basic reconfigurable software the system software packages include special setup programs called installation programs.

Operating system – a set of software that provides control over the computer hardware and applications, as well as their interaction with each other and the user.