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Software

Software is a set of instructions that operates computers and is categorized into system software and application software. System software manages hardware and provides a platform for applications, while application software performs specific tasks for users. The document also discusses various types of software, including programming software, driver software, and middleware, and explains the differences between desktop and web applications.

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18 views4 pages

Software

Software is a set of instructions that operates computers and is categorized into system software and application software. System software manages hardware and provides a platform for applications, while application software performs specific tasks for users. The document also discusses various types of software, including programming software, driver software, and middleware, and explains the differences between desktop and web applications.

Uploaded by

NataliaRzonsowska
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOFTWARE

system software application service provider application


driver scripts middleware

Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and


execute specific tasks. It is the opposite of hardware, which describes the physical aspects of a
computer. Software is a generic term used to refer to applications, 1. ______ and programs
that run on a device. It can be thought of as the variable part of a computer, while hardware is
the invariable part.
The two main categories of software are 2. ____________software and
3._______________. An application is software that fulfills a specific need or performs tasks.
System software is designed to run a computer's hardware and provides a platform for
applications to run on top of.
Other types of software include programming software, which provides the
programming tools software developers need; 4. ____________, which sits between system
software and applications; and 5. ____________ software, which operates computer devices
and peripherals.
Early software was written for specific computers and sold with the hardware it ran
on. In the 1980s, software began to be sold on floppy disks, and later on CDs and DVDs.
Today, most software is purchased and directly downloaded over the internet. Software can be
found on vendor websites or 6. __________________websites

Examples and types of software


Among the various categories of software, the most common types include the
following:
System software Programming software Driver software
Middleware Application software

__________________________. The most common type of software, application


software is a computer software package that performs a specific function for a user, or in
some cases, for another application. An application can be self-contained, or it can be a group
of programs that run the application for the user. Examples of modern applications include
office suites, graphics software, databases and database management programs, web
browsers, word processors, software development tools, image editors and communication
platforms.
__________________________. These software programs are designed to run a
computer's application programs and hardware. System software coordinates the activities and
functions of the hardware and software. In addition, it controls the operations of the computer
hardware and provides an environment or platform for all the other types of software to work
in. The OS is the best example of system software; it manages all the other computer
programs. Other examples of system software include the firmware, computer language
translators and system utilities.
__________________________. Also known as device drivers, this software is often
considered a type of system software. Device drivers control the devices and peripherals
connected to a computer, enabling them to perform their specific tasks. Every device that is
connected to a computer needs at least one device driver to function. Examples include
software that comes with any nonstandard hardware, including special game controllers, as
well as the software that enables standard hardware, such as USB storage devices, keyboards,
headphones and printers.
___________________________. The term middleware describes software that
mediates between application and system software or between two different kinds of
application software. For example, middleware enables Microsoft Windows to talk to Excel
and Word. It is also used to send a remote work request from an application in a computer that
has one kind of OS, to an application in a computer with a different OS. It also enables newer
applications to work with legacy ones.
___________________________. Computer programmers use programming software
to write code. Programming software and programming tools enable developers to develop,
write, test and debug other software programs. Examples of programming software include
assemblers, compilers, debuggers and interpreters.
How does software work?
All software provides the directions and data computers need to work and meet users'
needs. However, the two different types -- application software and system software -- work
in distinctly different ways.
Application software
Application software consists of many programs that perform specific functions for
end users, such as writing reports and navigating websites. Applications can also perform
tasks for other applications. Applications on a computer cannot run on their own; they require
a computer's OS, along with other supporting system software programs, to work.
These desktop applications are installed on a user's computer and use the computer
memory to carry out tasks. They take up space on the computer's hard drive and do not need
an internet connection to work. However, desktop applications must adhere to the
requirements of the hardware devices they run on.
Web applications, on the other hand, only require internet access to work; they do not
rely on the hardware and system software to run. Consequently, users can launch web
applications from devices that have a web browser. Since the components responsible for the
application functionality are on the server, users can launch the app from Windows, Mac,
Linux or any other OS.
System software
System software sits between the computer hardware and the application software.
Users do not interact directly with system software as it runs in the background, handling the
basic functions of the computer. This software coordinates a system's hardware and software
so users can run high-level application software to perform specific actions. System software
executes when a computer system boots up and continues running as long as the system is on.

1. What is the difference between application software and system software?


2. Can desktop applications work without an internet connection?
3. How do web applications differ from desktop applications in terms of system
requirements?
4. When does system software execute?
Describe the software development lifecycle based on the diagram above.

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