| Aspect | System Software | Application Software |
|---|
| Definition | Software that manages and controls computer hardware. | Software that helps users perform specific tasks or applications. |
| Purpose | Supports the operation of the computer. | Solves user-specific problems or performs desired tasks. |
| Focus | Efficiency and resource management of the system. | Functionality for end-users. |
| Examples | Operating systems, Compilers, Interpreters, Loaders, Device Drivers | MS Word, Photoshop, Excel, Tally, Web browsers |
| User Interaction | Works mostly in the background; minimal direct interaction. | User-centric; interacts directly with the user. |
| Machine Dependency | Machine-dependent. | Generally machine-independent. |
| Portability | Portable through bootstrapping. | Portable through cross-compilers. |
| Developer Skill Needed | Requires low-level programming knowledge (e.g., system architecture). | Requires knowledge of high-level programming languages. |