SOFTWARE:
• Computer software, or just software, is the collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions telling a computer what to do.
• In other words, software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer for some purposes.
• Software is also a collection of programs or pieces of program code put together is one set.
To operate a computer some programs are required which tells computer what to do & how to do. To perform a particular task a set of instructions written in sequence is called program. A person who writes these programs is called Programmer. These programs are written in computer languages. A set of programs is called software.
COMPUTER SOFTWARE INCLUDES:
• Middleware controls and co-ordinates distributed systems.
• Testware is software for testing hardware or a software package.
• Firmware is low-level software often stored on electrically program mable memory devices. Firmware is given its name because it is treated like hardware and run ("executed") by other software programs.
• Shrink ware is the older name given to consumer-bought software, because it was often sold in retail stores in a shrink-wrapped box.
• Device drivers control parts of computers such as disk drives, printers, CD drives, or computer monitors
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
System software provides the basic function for computer usage, which can be divided into operating system and support system
• Operating system is the most basic software.
• System software is responsible for managing variety of independent hardwares, so that they can work together harmoniously.
• It includes programs those are necessary to operate and control a computer system. E.g. Operating System, Boot Program and other computer maintenance software.
The purpose of systems software is to unburden the applications programmer from the often complex details of the particular computer being used, including such accessories as communications devices, printers, device readers, displays and keyboards, and also to partition the computer's resources such as memory and processor time in a safe and stable manner
Specific kinds of system software include:
ü Loaders
ü Linkers
ü Utility software
ü Graphical user interface(GUI)
ü Shells
ü Hypervisors
ü Boot loaders
• LOADERS: A loader is the part of an operating system that is responsible for loading programs. Once loading is complete, the operating system starts the program by passing control to the loaded program code.
• LINKERS: A linker or link editor is a program that takes one or more objects generated by a compiler and combines them into a single exe
• UTILITY SOFTWARE: Utility software is a kind of system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer. A single piece of utility software is usually called a utility or tool.
• GUI:A graphical user interface (GUI) is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with programs in more ways than typing such as computers; hand-held devices such as MP3 players, gaming devices,etc.
• SHELLS:A shell is a piece of software that provides an interface for users of an operating system which provides access to the services of a kernel.(Kernel – central component of operating system)
• HYPERVISORS: A hypervisor, also called virtual machine monitor (VMM), is one of many virtualization techniques which allow multiple operating systems, to run concurrently on a host computer. This feature is called as Hardware virtualization.
• BOOT LOADERS: Booting is a bootstrapping process that starts operating systems when the user turns on a computer system. A boot sequence is the initial set of operations that the computer performs when power is switched on.
PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE
v Programming software usually provides tools to assist a programmer in writing computer programs, and software using different programming languages in a more convenient way.
v The tools include:
Ø Compilers
Ø Debuggers
Ø Interpreters
Ø Linkers
Ø Text Editors
TOOLS: COMPILERS
A compiler is a computer program (or set of programs) that transforms source code written in a programming language into another computer language .
v The most common reason for wanting the compiler is to transform source code to create an executable program.
v A compiler is mainly used to translate source code from high level programming language to low level programming language.
The compiler can perform following operations
v Lexical Analysis
v Pre Processing
v Parsing
v Semantic Analysis and Code Generation &Code Optimization
TOOLS: DEBUGGERS
v A debugger or debugging tool is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs (the "target" program).
v The function of debugger is used to eliminate bugs/errors. Debugger offers sophisticated functions such as
Ø Running programs step by step and stopping (i.e.) pausing the program to examine the current state and tracking the values of some variables.
Ø E.g. Oliver and Simon are Mainframe Debuggers.
TOOLS: INTERPRETERS
An interpreter normally performs the instructions written in programming language
TOOLS: LINKERS AND TEXT EDITOR
LINKERS:
A linker or link editor is a program that takes one or more objects generated by a compiler and combines them into a single executable program.
TEXT EDITOR:
A text editor is a type of program used for editing plain texts. Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software allows end users to accomplish one or more specific (non-computer related) tasks.
The programs or Software that are used to perform specific tasks. Computer languages are used to make this types of software.
Applications provide:
· High level service that users access
· Means to perceive capabilities of underlying internet.
· Ex: send or receive e-mail, browse information archives.
Ø Applications determines:
• Format of information displayed
• Mechanisms to access information.
Ø An application must specify details such as
• Whether it is a client or a server
• The data to be sent
• Where in coming data should be sent
Ø Application Program Interface (API)
• The interface an application uses when it interacts withtransport protocol software
• An API defines a set of operations that an application can perform when it interacts with protocol software
• An API contains a separate procedure for each basic operation.
• Typical applications include:
1. Industrial automation
2. Business software
3. Video games
4. Telecommunications
5. Databases
6. Educational software
7. Mathematical software
8. Image editing
9. Word processing
10.Spreadsheet
• INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION: Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services.
• BUSINESS SOFTWARE: Business software is generally any software program that helps business increase productivity or measures their productivity.
• VIDEO GAMES: A video game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device.
• TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Telecommunication is the transmission of messages, over significant distances, for the purpose of communication.
DATABASES: A database consists of an organized collection of data for one or more uses, typically in digital form.
• EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE: Educational software is computer software, the primary purpose of which is teaching or self-learning.
• MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE: Mathematical software is software used to model, analyze, or calculate numeric, symbolic, or geometric data.
• IMAGE EDITING: Image editing encompasses the processes of altering images, whether they be digital photographs, traditional analog photographs, or illustrations.
• WORD PROCESSING: Word processing is the creation of documents using a word processor.
• SPREADSHEET: A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper, accounting worksheet.
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