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System software
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<h2 id="operating-systems-or-system-control-program">Operating systems or system control program</h2> <p>The <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> (prominent examples being <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a>, <a href="/facts/MacOS/Y93vVpTm">macOS</a>, <a href="/facts/Linux/9FvCKSTq">Linux</a>, and <a href="/facts/Z%2fOS/amLCAlgV">z/OS</a>), allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring <a href="/facts/Data_(computing)/cPjfFHph">data</a> between <a href="/facts/Random_access_memory/DuD4bxh6">memory</a> and <a href="/facts/Disk_storage/hnsXRb5X">disks</a> or rendering output onto a <a href="/facts/Display_device/yX1Mypk0">display device</a>. It provides a platform (<a href="/facts/Hardware_abstraction/9duTocz5">hardware abstraction layer</a>) to run high-level system software and <a href="/facts/Application_software/YQuj7Kog">application software</a>. </p><p>A <a href="/facts/Kernel_(operating_system)/uEj4U3Rz">kernel</a> is the core part of the operating system that defines an <a href="/facts/API/GMlN4vUr">application programming interface</a> for applications programs (including some system software) and an interface to device drivers. </p><p><a href="/facts/Device_driver/rDYnHU1G">Device drivers</a> and <a href="/facts/Firmware/62UVKIUK">firmware</a>, including computer <a href="/facts/BIOS/2RY3dzQe">BIOS</a> or <a href="/facts/UEFI/w86VGmy2">UEFI</a>, provide basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer. </p><p>A user interface interacts with a computer.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> It can either be a <a href="/facts/Command-line_interface/R9JpGmXQ">command-line interface</a> (CLI) or, since the 1980s, a <a href="/facts/Graphical_user_interface/wBlQFWDP">graphical user interface</a> (GUI). This is the part of the operating system the user directly interacts with; it is considered an application and not system software. </p> <h2 id="utility-software-or-system-support-programs">Utility software or system support programs</h2> <p>Some organizations use the term systems programmer to describe a job function that is more accurately termed <a href="/facts/Systems_administrator/zNhThrh9">systems administrator</a>. Software tools these employees use are then called system software. This <a href="/facts/Utility_software/Hn3XtISQ">utility software</a> helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer, such as virus protection. The term system software can also include software development tools (like a <a href="/facts/Compiler/WNfCDFJe">compiler</a>, <a href="/facts/Linker_(computing)/pn1hztYe">linker</a>, or <a href="/facts/Debugger/mCe6UsWj">debugger</a>).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/System_programming/urTteIsW">System programming</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/System_programming_language/KogoSQVR">System programming language</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/IBM_mainframe_utility_programs/d0kWFFAf">IBM mainframe utility programs</a></li></ul> <p>System software of <a href="/facts/Video_game_console/K72D1NSS">video game consoles</a> </p> <ul><li>From Microsoft:</li></ul> <a href="/facts/Xbox_360_system_software/A5jyrWMB">Xbox 360 system software</a> <a href="/facts/Xbox_One_system_software/A5jyrWMB">Xbox One system software</a> <ul><li>From Nintendo:</li></ul> <a href="/facts/Wii_system_software/FcWB3Wax">Wii system software</a> <a href="/facts/Wii_U_system_software/KMDHSXIC">Wii U system software</a> <a href="/facts/Nintendo_DSi_system_software/4BRT7HB6">Nintendo DSi system software</a> <a href="/facts/Nintendo_3DS_system_software/2johM4KY">Nintendo 3DS system software</a> <a href="/facts/Nintendo_Switch_system_software/9YDwUhfd">Nintendo Switch system software</a> <ul><li>From Sony:</li></ul> <a href="/facts/PlayStation_3_system_software/KbbEPdXh">PlayStation 3 system software</a> <a href="/facts/PlayStation_4_system_software/mM1I2pI9">PlayStation 4 system software</a> <a href="/facts/PlayStation_Portable_system_software/8VFNFxNv">PlayStation Portable system software</a> <a href="/facts/PlayStation_Vita_system_software/ER3zg0Fj">PlayStation Vita system software</a> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikiversity has learning resources about <i>Introduction to Computers/System software</i> <ul><li>Sammet, Jean (October 1971). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145%2F942596.807055">"Brief Survey of Languages Used for Systems Implementation"</a>. <i>ACM SIGPLAN Notices</i>. 6 (9): 1–19. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1145%2F942596.807055">10.1145/942596.807055</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Panel: Systems Programming in 2014 and Beyond". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-06-07. Retrieved 4 December 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140607224814/https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Lang-NEXT/Lang-NEXT-2014/Panel-Systems-Programming-Languages-in-2014-and-Beyond" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20140607224814/https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Lang-NEXT/Lang-NEXT-2014/Panel-Systems-Programming-Languages-in-2014-and-Beyond</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Millner, W. W.; Montgomery-Smith, Ann (2022). Information and Communication Technology for Intermediate GNVQ. p. 126. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Microcomputer Information Technology". Retrieved 2013-09-22. <a href="http://home.olemiss.edu/~misbook/sfsysfm.htm" target="_blank">http://home.olemiss.edu/~misbook/sfsysfm.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"What is systems software?". Webopedia.com. May 24, 2021 [September 1, 1996]. Retrieved 2022-06-24. <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/systems_software.html" target="_blank">http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/systems_software.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>