Computer Software

Software is a set of programs that governs the operations of the computer system
effectively and makes the hardware to work.
Functions of software:-
It operate and manage the hardware resources and their performances.
Software acts as a bridge between hardware and user of a computer.
It helps to get output as the desired format of the users.
Software enables user to interact with the computer.
Types of Software:-

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System Software:-
The software which performs the basic functions to start and operate the hardware
components of the computer system is called system software.
System Management Programs:-

The programs which are used to operate hardware components of the computer system

and to manage all the computer related resources are called system management

programs.

System Development Programs:-

The software which allow the user for developing programs in different programming

languages are called system development programs.

Language Translator:-
The software which are used to convert the source program code in one language to low
level language is called language translator.
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Compiler:- ****
A compiler is a language translator which converts the entire high level programs into a
low level (machine Language) program.

High-Level Low-Level
Language Compiler Language
program Program
Source Code Object Code

Interpreter:- *****
Interpreter is a language translator which converts high level programs into low level
program line by line.

High-Level Interpreter (Line- Low-Level

Language by-Line Processing) Language
program
Source Code Program
Object Code

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Assembler:-*****
An assembler is also a language translator that translates an assembly language
program into a low-level program.

program in Low-Level
Assembly Assembler Language
Language Program

Note:- Example of Assembly Language:- MVI, ADD, SUB etc.

Linker:-
Linker is an important software which combines all the modules into a large
program by linking them.

***Modules:-
A large program is divided into a smaller programs known as modules.
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Loader:-
The loader is a program which takes this object program, prepares it for execution
and loads this executable code of the source program into memory for execution.

Debuggers:-
Debugger is a program which allows user to test and detect errors and bugs
present in the program.

Editors:-
Editors is a program which allows the users to write source program or text in the
computer system.

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Application Software:-
Application software can be described as end user software as it is used by end
users to accomplish a variety of different tasks. Such as data processing,
engineering calculations, research works, database works, web browsing, playing
games etc.
Types of Application Software:-
 General purpose Application Software.
 Special purpose Application Software.
General Purpose Application Software:-
The application software that are used for doing common tasks of data
processing for the users are called general purpose application softwares.
Example of General Purpose Application Software:-
•Word Processor.
•Spread sheet.
•Database Management system.
•Presentation graphics.
•Web application software.
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Special purpose Application Software:-
The application software that are used for the development of the organisational
works for the interest are known as special purpose application softwares.
It includes the following works:-
•Pay-roll system for employees.
•Railway and Airlines system.
•Inventory management system.
•Income tax computation.
•Multimedia related programs.

Utility Software:-****
The utility Software are referred to as service programs, service routines etc. They
are specifically designed to help the end users to manage and tune the computer
hardware or software.
Examples of some of the commonly used utility software includes:-
•Searching.
•Printing.
•Maintaining and Manipulating files.
•Creating backup.
•Scanning viruses. Page 7
Generation of Computer Languages:-
 First Generation Languages.
 Second Generation Languages.
 Third Generation Languages.
 Fourth Generation Languages
 Fifth Generation Languages.

First Generation Languages:-

In the first generation languages the machine languages were
developed. These machine languages were used in early computers. The
programmers wrote their program in pure binary form and so the first generation
languages are also called low-level programming languages.

Example:- 100011100

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Second Generation Languages:-
The second generation languages comprise of assembly language. This
languages uses mnemonics operations code instead of binary code.
Advantage of the second generation languages are they are easy to write and
modify the programs as compared to first generation languages.

Example:- MVI, ADD, SUB etc

Third Generation Languages:-

The third generation languages also called the high level languages, were
introduced in 1960’s. This generation languages use English like words or
expression to write instructions and hence they are easy to write and modify.

Example:- BASIC, COBOL, FORTAN, PASCAL, C, C++ etc.

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Fourth Generation Languages:-
These generation languages were developed to overcome the limitations of the 3rd
generation languages this generation languages were considered as very high-level
languages.
Example:- SQL, FOCUS etc.

Fifth Generation Languages:-

The fifth generation languages focus on knowledge based system, expert system,
natural language processing etc. Artificial Intelligence has been developed in this
generation.

Example:- PROLOG (PROgramming in LOGic), Mercury.

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Classification of Programming Languages:-
Machine Language
Assembly Language
High Level Language

Machine Language:-
It is written using binary digits zero’s and one’s. A program written in the binary
form is called a machine language program. This language depends on the
internal structure of the computer. It is also known as Low Level Language (LLL).
Advantage:-
• As it is written using binary codes so convertor is not required.
Disadvantage:-
• It is difficult to understand or to debug.
• Program is long.
• Entry of a program is slow.
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Assembly Language:-
It is written using mnemonics codes. A program written in mnemonics is known as
Assembly Language Program (ALP).

Advantage:-
• Compilation time is less as compared to High Level Language.
• writing of programs in assembly language is much easier as compared to writing
in machine language.

Disadvantage:-
• Writing program is difficult and time consuming as compared to high level
languages.
• Program written for one computer cannot be used for other.

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High Level Language:-
High Level Languages are written in english like words or expression which is
called statements. It is machine independent.
Example:- BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, FORTAN, ALGOL etc.

Advantages:-
• The instructions in high-level languages are easily understandable.
• Writing of the programs is easier and faster.
• It is machine independent.

Disadvantages:-
• It has low efficiency of memory utilization.
• Computer for this high-level language is costly.
• Convertor is required to convert the program written in High Level Language to
Machine language
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