2. Computer software, is any set of machine- readable instructions
that directs a computer's processor to perform specific
operations. Software is a general term. It can refer to all computer
instructions in general, or to any specific set of computer
instructions. It is inclusive of both machine instructions and source
code
World of
Software
Working of
Software
and
Hardware
3. Computer needs the software to work.Softwares include
operating sysytem , sysem software and application software.
Without OS we cannot operate the computer. So we need
softwares to run the computer.
Various kinds of
Softwares
4. Software are divided into two types
depending upon their functions and utiity.
They are :
1. System Software
2. Application Software
5. System software is computer software designed to operate
the computer hardware, to provide basic functionality, and to
provide a platform for running application software. System
software includes device drivers, operating systems, utility
software, language processor etc. The different functions of
system software are :
1. Reading data and recieving information.
2. Translating data and instructons .
3. Controlling all the peripheral devices.
4. Processing and generating output.
6. The different types of system softwares are
:
1. BIOS
2. Operating System
3. Device Drivers
4. Language Processors
5. Utility software
7. Bios: The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), also known as System
BIOS, ROM BIOS or PC BIOS . The fundamental purposes of the BIOS are to
initialize and test the system hardware components, and to load a boot
loader or an operating system from a mass memory device.
BIOS chip
BIOS boot
Screen
Operating Sytem: An operating system (OS) is a collection of
software that manages computer hardware resources and provides
common services for computer programs. The operating system is an
essential component of the system software in a computer system.
Application programs usually require an operating system to function.
Different Kinds of
Operating System
8. Utility Software: Utility software designed
to help analyze, configure, optimize or
maintain a computer. Utility software
usually focuses on how the computer
infrastructure (including the computer
hardware, operating system, application
software and data storage) operates.
Utility
Softwares
9. Device Drivers : In computing, a device driver is a computer
program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is
attached to a computer. A driver typically communicates with
the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem
to which the hardware connects.
Language Processor
Flow chart
Device Driver
Wizard
Language processor : A program that processes
programs written in a programming language is called language
processor. Part of a language processor is a language translator,
which translates the program from the source language into
machine code, assembly language, or some other language. The
machine code can be for an actual computer or for a virtual
computer.
10. Application software (an application) is a set of one or
more programs designed to permit the user to perform a
group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities.
Application software cannot run on itself but is dependent
on system software to execute. Examples of an application
include a word processor, a spreadsheet design and
management system, an aeronautical flight simulator, a
console game, a drawing, painting, and illustrating
system, or a library management system.
11. The application softwares can be divided into
different categories depending upon their uses ,
they are :
1. General purpose application software
2. Specific Purpose Application software
3. Developer Tools
12. General Purpose (AS): General purpose application
software refers to software that can perform many
different related tasks. Word processors, spreadsheets
and databases are all examples of application software.
Others include graphics and presentation software
13. Specific Purpose :Specific Purpose application
software is very specific in its use. Engineering programs
often fall under this category - there is a program that
does slope stability analysis and nothing else, for
instance. Specific purpose software may also be created in
house and tailored to the specific needs of the company.
Developer Tool : A programming tool or software
development tool is a program or application that software
developers use to create, debug, maintain, or otherwise support
other programs and applications. The term usually refers to
relatively simple programs, that can be combined together to
accomplish a task, much as one might use multiple
hand tools to fix a physical object.
14. Utility software is system software designed to help analyze,
configure, optimize or maintain a computer. Utility software
usually focuses on how the computer infrastructure operates.
Due to this focus, utilities are often rather technical and
targeted at people with an advanced level of computer
knowledge - in contrast to application software, which allows
users to do things like creating text documents, playing video
games, listening to music or viewing websites.
15. The different types of utility software are :
1. Back up utility software: Backup software are
computer programs used to perform backup; they create
supplementary exact copies of files, databases or entire
computers. These programs may later use the
supplementary copies to restore the original contents in the
event of data loss.
2. Compression software: A disk compression software
utility increases the amount of information that can be
stored on a hard disk drive of given size. Unlike a file
compression utility which compresses only specified files -
and which requires the user designate the files to be
compressed - a disk compression utility works automatically
and the user doesn't need to be aware of its existence.
16. 3. Antivirus Program : Antivirus or anti-virus
software is software used to prevent, detect and remove malware ,such as
computerviruses,trojan
horses, worms,malicious LSPs, dialers, fraudtools, adware and spyware. C
omputer security, including protection from social
engineering techniques, is commonly offered in products and services of
antivirus software companies.
4. Disk Cleaner : Disk cleaners are computer programs that
find and delete potentially unnecessary or potentially unwanted
files from a computer. The purpose of such deletion may be to free
up disk space, to eliminate clutter or to protect privacy.
17. Proprietary software, non-free
software or closed-source software is computer
software licensed under exclusive legal right of
the copyright holder with the intent that
the licensee is given the right to use the software
only under certain conditions, and restricted
from other uses, such as modification, sharing,
studying, redistribution. Usually the source code
of proprietary software is not made available.
Examples of proprietary software
include Microsoft Windows, Adobe Flash
Player, Adobe Photoshop, Google Earth, Mac OS
X, Skype, WinRAR, Java and some versions
of Unix etc.
18. Shareware (also termed trialware or demoware) is a type
of proprietary software which is provided to users for a certain
limited trial basis and pursuant to a license which restricts any
commercial benefit, use or exploitation of the software. While
there may not be an initial up-front payment, it is often limited
by any combination of functionality, availability (it may be
functional for a limited time period only), or convenience (the
software may present a dialog at startup or during usage,
reminding the user to purchase it). Shareware is often offered as
a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc
included with a magazine. The word Shareware is combination of
share and software. The idea behind shareware is to give
potential users the opportunity to try out the program on a
limited basis for a limited time and judge its usefulness before
purchasing a license for the full version of the software.
Shareware is usually offered either with
certain features only available after the license is purchased, or as
a full version but for a limited trial period of time. In this context,
there is no difference between 'shareware' and a 'Free Trial' version
of normal commercial software. Once the trial period has passed,
the program may stop running until a license is purchased.
19. Open-source software (OSS) is computer
software with its source code made available with
a license in which the copyright holder provides
the rights to study, change and distribute the
software to anyone and for any purpose. Open-
source software is developed in
a collaborative public manner. Open-source
software is the most prominent example
of open-source development and often
compared to (technically defined) user-generated
content or (legally defined) open-
content movements.
E.g Linux OS, Android, Mozila Firefox, Some
version of Unix, Open Office