what is software
Software of a computer system is intangible rather than physical. It is the term used for any type of program. Software consists of statements, which instruct a computer to perform the required task. Without software a computer is simply a mass of electronic components. For a computer to input, store, make decisions, arithmetically manipulate and output data in the correct sequence it must have access to appropriate programs. Thus, the software includes all the activities associated with the successful development and operation of the computing system other than the hardware pieces. Hardware does the actual computing, and the software drives the computer. Fig. 6.1 shows the communication between users and hardware. Software plays the role to connect the users and the hardware. The application software convey the user intention to system software and the system software transfers and translates the intention for the hardware.
Software activities cover three major areas : application programs, systems programs, and documentation. Application programs perform a specific, well-defined task for a particular application.
Systems programs consist of programs associated with a computing system other than application programs. Systems programs are usually available from the computer manufacturer as a part of the overall system. They aid in the creation of application programs.
Documentation includes everything put down on paper, such as a statement of the problems, flowcharting and coding, instruction sets, procedures, and the like. It plays an important role in software development.
Classification of Software
Software is generally classified as:
(i) System software
(ii) Application software
System software consists of programs which facilitate the use of the computer by the users. These programs, perform such standard tasks as organizing and maintaining data files, translating programs written in various languages to a form acceptable to the hardware, scheduling jobs as well as aiding in other areas of computer operations. On the other hand, application software includes programs designed to perform specific user applications.
Application programs can be developed by the users themselves using suitable programming languages. There are many programming languages which allow us to write computer instructions in a text form. BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, PASCAL, C, C++, Matlab Java are some well known programming languages. However, writing application programs using such languages requires expertise and experience in programming and only experienced programs can write good quality application programs.
Many application programs are now available commercially. Such programs, developed by experienced programmers can be readily employed for user applications. These programs are popularly known as application packages or simply packages. MS Word, WordPerfect, LA Tex and WordStar for word-processing, Lotus 1-2-3, and Excel for spreadsheet analysis and dBASE, FOXPRO, MS Access and ORACLE for database management are some popular application packages.
Systems Software
Systems software refers to programs that assist the users to generate, debug, test, modify application programs, and then to execute them. These programs are generally written by computer manufacturers or software developers. The system programs can be used by different users and different application programs.
The most important component of system program is the operating system. It is a collection of program modules. Collectively they manage all the hardware, provides user-interface and some other user facilities. Other system programs include language translators (i.e. assembler, compiler, interpreter), text editors and some utility programs.
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