System software

System software makes the computer ready to interact with the user. Without system software a
computer cannot work.
All operating systems are called system software. System software is put in the computer by the
manufacturer.
An operation system is software that controls the operation of a computer. It directs the input and
output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. Its roles
include managing the functioning of the computer hardware, running the applications programs,
serving as an interface between the computer and the user, and allocating computer resources to
various functions. When several jobs reside in the computer simultaneously and share resources
(multitasking), the OS allocates fixed amounts of CPU time and memory in turn. Through a

process called time-sharing, a large computer can handle interaction with hundreds of users
simultaneously, giving each the perception of being the sole user. Modern computer operating
systems are becoming increasingly machine-independent, capable of running on any hardware
platform.
Thus the system software performs the following functions:
 It manages the processor, or central processing unit (CPU).
 The memory and storage.
 It also manages the computer hardware and peripheral devices
 It provides a consistent means for software applications to work with the CPU.
One of the most widely used operating system is developed by Microsoft. Most of today’s
personal computers run on Microsoft's Windows operating system, which grew out of and
eventually replaced MS-DOS.