Friday, 11 July 2014

SOFTWARE AND PROGRAMING LANGUAGES / SYSTEM SOFTWARE / APPLICATION SOFTWARE


SOFTWARE AND PROGRAMING LANGUAGES

SOFTWARE:
DEFINITION:
·         “A piece of software is a computer program which has been written to carry out a particular task.”
·         “A set of instruction to solve a particular problem”
Without software the hardware that is used to build a computer system would not be very useful. A software program contains the instructions that the computer must follow to carry out the task. Sometimes more than one program is required to complete a task. When this is the case the group of programs which together complete the task are known as a software package.
Software programs are originally produced by computer programmers who will write the instructions that form the program in a programming language.
Example pieces of software are:
·         A word processor.
·         A multimedia encyclopedia.
·         A spreadsheet.

TYPES OF SOFTWARE
A software is usually classified as being two types
1.      Systems software
2.      Applications software.

SYSTEM SOFTWARE
 Systems software controls the operation of a computer. Without systems software a computer would not function. The most important piece of systems software is the operating system. The operating system will perform vital tasks such as:
·         Managing communications between software and hardware.
·         Allocating computer memory to other software programs.
·         Allocating CPU time to other software programs.

TYPES
·       Operation systems
·       Utility program
·       Programming languages
·       Device drivers
 
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
  DEFINATION:
“Application software consists of programs designed to perform specific tasks for users”.
 Application software can be used as a productivity/business tool; to assist with graphics and multimedia projects; to support home, personal, and educational activities; and to facilitate communications.
TYPES:
Word Processor 
Presentation Software
Database
Spreadsheet
Communication software
Desktop Publisher
Graphics Package

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