1. Chapter 3
Software Interfaces

2. USER INTERFACES
The combination of menu options, icons, and commands you use when working with a computer program is called the user interface.

3. COMMON USER INTERFACES
Command-driven Interfaces
Shell Interfaces
Graphical Interfaces
Natural Languages Interfaces

4. COMMAND DRIVEN INTERFACES
A screen prompt is used by most command-driven interfaces to indicate when the system is ready to accept a new command
A blinking curser highlights where the computer is going to display what the user is typing. Specific key combinations entered through the keyboard allow the user to control the cursor location on-screen.

5. SHELLS
A software shell helps avoid memorizing different command syntaxes.
A shell interfaces application programs with DOS.
Menus are often used in application software as well.
Examples: Haunted House , Linux, Unix

6. GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES
A mouse is used to control the location of a screen pointer within a (GUI)
User execute or launch programs by double clicking on the associated icon.
Using system software with (GUI) also involves dragging & dropping icons into new screen locations.

7. NATURAL LANGUAGE INTERFACES
These interfaces recognize the syntax of a language such as English for increased user-friendliness.

8. EVALUATING SOFTWARE FEATURES
When evaluating different application packages, you should ask yourself these questions.
Are the program & associated procedures easy to use
On which computers does the software work
Does the software come with help features, manuals, & other easy to use docs
Is there a helpline No.
Can this software access data stored by other programs & vice versa
How flexible is the program & can it be used for more than one application
Does the software require special input or output hardware
How much memory does the program require
How much disk storage space is required to save it

9. SYSTEM SOFTWARE Operating Systems Utilities Language Translators
Three types of system software can be identified
Operating Systems
Utilities
Language Translators

10. OPERATING SYSTEMS
OS is collection of programs that oversees all computer operations
Once the supervisor program is loaded into memory. It activates
other programs from the OS to oversee Resources Management, File Management & Task Management.
Windows (XP, Vista, 7 )
Linux (Redhat, 7, 8,9,10)
Unix
Sun Solaris
Free BSD
Macintosh

11. UTILITIES
Utility software performs jobs the OS does not automatically handle.
Backup & Restore
Data communication within a network
Data compression/decompression
Disk Optimization
Emulation of other equipment
File Conversions
Screen Savers
Software Guides
Spool data b/w computer & peripherals
Text Editors
Miscellaneous (mergers, sorts, searches)

12. LANGUAGE TRANSLATROS
A computer program indicates which switches inside the computer are on & off, which circuits flow with electricity, & which do not. Popular high-level languages are BASIC, COBOL, C++, and Visual BAISC

13. Exercise
How do you display the root directory of the floppy disk in drive A?
How do you make a file folder called projects on the default disk’s root directory?
How do you copy the document file named homework from the default disk to the projects subdirectory (folder) on disk A?
How do you change the homework filename in Projects to old work?
How do you delete the file old work from disk?