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Six Myths about Managing Software Development in the New Millennium

Buffer Overruns

Format String Problems

SQL Injection

Command Injection

Impediments to Worm Spread

Integrity Verification when defending against viruses

Getting Systems Development Right

ESRB Game Ratings

A Brief History of Worms

Worm Defenses

Infecting Boot Sectors

Virus Propagation Mechanisms

Malware Self Preservation Techniques

An overview on Software Components of a PC

Backup Types

Software tools you should have when repairing or upgrading computers

Even when you're working toward a specific goal, you often have to make some side trips. Although they seem unrelated to where you're going, they are as much a necessary part of the journey as any other. You may run a billion-dollar pickle packing empire from your office, but you might never get your business negotiations done were it not for the regular housekeeping that keeps the place clean enough for visiting dignitaries to sit down.

The situation is the same with software. Although you need applications to get your work done, you need to take care of basic housekeeping functions to keep your system running in top condition and working most efficiently. The programs that handle these auxiliary functions are called utility software.

From the name alone you know that utilities do something useful, which in itself sets them apart from much of the software on today's market. Of course, the usefulness of any tool depends on the job you have to do-a pastry chef has little need for the hammer that so well serves the carpenter or PC technician-and most utilities are crafted for some similar, specific need. You might want a better desktop than Microsoft chooses to give you, an expedient way of dispensing with software you no longer want, a means of converting data files from one format to another, backup and anti-virus protection for your files, improved memory handling (and more free bytes), or diagnostics for finding system problems. Each of these needs has spawned its own category of specialized utilities.

Some utilities, however, are useful to nearly everyone and every PC. No matter what kind of PC you have or what you do with it, you want to keep your disk organized and running at top speed, to prevent disasters by detecting disk problems and viruses, and to save your sanity should you accidentally erase a file. The most important of these functions are included with today's PC operating systems, either integrated into the operating system itself or as individual programs that are part of the operating system package.

DOS Utilities

DOS utilities are those that you run from the DOS command prompt. Because they are not burdened with mating with the elaborate interfaces of more advanced operating systems, DOS utilities tend to be lean and mean, a few kilobytes of code to carry out complex functions. Although they are often not much to look at, they are powerful and can take direct hardware control of your PC.

Many DOS utilities give you only command-line control. You type in the program name followed by one or more filenames and options (sometimes called "switches"), typically a slash or hyphen followed by a more or less mnemonic letter identifying the option. Some DOS utilities run as true applications with colorful screens and elaborate menus for control.

The minimal set of DOS utilities are those that come with the operating system. These are divided into two types, internal and external.

Internal utilities are part of the DOS command interpreter, the small program that put the C> command prompt on your screen. Whenever the prompt appears on the screen, you can run the internal utilities by typing the appropriate command name. Internal commands include the most basic functions of your PC: copying files (COPY), displaying the contents of files (TYPE), erasing files (DEL), setting a path (PATH), and changing the prompt itself (PROMPT).

External utilities are separate programs, essentially applications in miniature. Some are entire suites of programs that aspire to be full-fledged applications and are distinguished only by what they do. Being external from the operating system kernel, most external utilities load every time you use them, and your system must be able to find the appropriate file to make the external utility work. In other words, they must be in the directory you're currently logged into or in your current search path. Because they are essentially standalone programs, you can erase or overwrite them whenever you want, for example to install a new or improved version.

Windows Utilities

Under advanced operating systems like Windows or OS/2, you have no need to distinguish internal and external utilities. The operating systems are so complex that all utilities are essentially external. They are separate programs that load when you call upon them. Although some functions are integrated into the standard command shell of these operating systems so running them is merely a matter of making a menu choice, they are nevertheless maintained as separate entities on disk. Others have the feel of classic external utilities and must be started like ordinary applications, for example by clicking on the appropriate icon or using the Run option. No matter how they are structured or how you run them, however, utilities retain the same function: maintaining your PC.