Types of Software

Last updated May 26, 2023 Edit

• Compsci

• A real-time operating system is an operating system designed to perform functions in real-time, such as a missile.
• Advantages of a virtual machine include it being able to isolate the guest operating system from the host, meaning that software running on the guest can be properly contained.
• Multi-user, multi-tasking operating systems are designed to accommodate multiple connected users performing different operations simultaneously.

Responsible for running hardware, providing vital infrastructure to the computer system. Examples include OS, drivers, utilities and protocols.

Non-vital software that the user is choosing to run, such as browsers or games.

Applications installed alongside the operating system that enable specific tasks to be performed easily to improve the operation of your system. Split into maintenance and security options.

Examples:

• User accounts
• Disk defragmentation
• Backups

Full backup: All system data is copied to an external backup system. It will take a relatively long time to create and restore, and will require a large amount of storage.

Incremental backup: A full backup is taken once. And then only backing up changed data. It will take a relatively short amount of time to create and restore, and won’t require much storage.

Differential backup: Contains all the changed data since the last full backup. Takes a relatively short amount of time to create and restore and won’t require much storage.

Theory