COIT11221 Software Fundamentals

The objective of the course is to provide students with a broad understanding of computer software: the differences between application software and system software; how system software controls the computer hardware; how system software simplifies use of the computer hardware for application programmers; how system software controls use of the computer hardware by multiple applications; how systems software prevents one application from interfering with another application; how data is stored and managed in a computer; and much more. This course will help students to develop an understanding of the relevance of skills like programming in the IT discipline. Specifically, it will provide an understanding of the software environment that hosts the programs that students will develop in first year programming courses, and the applications and systems that students will study in other first year IT courses.