System software (User interfaces)

System software (User interfaces)

1. Graphical user interfaces (GUI) are visual and interactive. For example, a mouse and touch screen.

   • Advantages
     • Easier to use for beginners
     • Enable user to easily exchange information between software using cut and paste.
   • Disadvantages
     • Uses a lot of memory and processing power
     • Can be slower than command line interfaces if you are a expert user.
     • Can be irritating to experienced users when simple tasks require a number of operations.

2. Command line software (CLS) are text based and work by the user entering specific commands

   • Advantages
     • Experienced users will who know the commands can work very quickly without having to find their way around menus.
     • Do not need the memory and processing power of the latest computer and will run on lower spec machines.
     • Command driven programs do not need to run in windows.
     • Can run many programs. For example, batch file could launch half a dozen programs to do its tasks.
     • More flexible than GUI
   • Disadvantages
     • Command must be typed correctly and in the right order or the command will not work. This may be irritating.
     • An unexperienced user can find a command driven program difficult to use because of the number of commands that have to be learnt.