INTRODUCTION to SOFTWARE

MR.Phojithan,R.

A software is set of instructions that perform specific task. It interacts basically with the hardware to generate the desired output.

Software is usually divided into two major categories :

  1. SYSTEM SOFTWARE
  2. APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Software can also be classified as given below :

  1. PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE
    1. PAID SOFTWARE
    2. FREEWARE
  2. OPEN SOURCE

ADA LOVELACE was an English mathematician and writer, chiefly considered the 1st COMPUTER PROGRAMMER. Even though she wrote about a computer, the Analytical Engine, that was never built, she realized that the computer could follow a series of simple instructions, a program, to perform a complex calculation.




SYSTEM SOFTWARE

System software is a set of one or more programs, which are designed to control the operation and networking of computers. It acts as an intermediary between computer hardware and application program.

It can further be divided into three types:

  1. ☞ 1. OPERATING SYSTEM

    2. An operating system is a set of instructions that manages overall performance and functioning of the computer system by controlling the resources such as CPU, memory, I/O devices and overall flow of information within the system. It acts as an interface between the machine and its users.

    Some examples are :

    1. Linux
    2. MS-DOS
    3. Mac OS
    4. Windows
    5. Android
    6. IOS
    7. Harmony OS


  2. ☞ 2. UTILITIES

    3. These are designed to aid, manage and tune the computer hardware, operating system or application software. These are also known as service programs, service routines, tools, or utility routines.

    Examples:

    1. Disk Cleanup
    2. Disk Checkup
    3. Disk Formatting


  3. ☞ 3. LANGUAGE PROCESSORS

    4. For program execution, instructions must be converted into the machine language. Language processors are used to convert assembly language and high-level language programs into machine level language.

    Examples:

    1. Assemblers
    2. Compilers
    3. Interpreters



APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application software is a set of one or more programs designed to do a specific task such as :

  1. Processing of student admission, examination result
  2. Pay calculation
  3. Payroll
  4. General accounting
  5. Inventory control

All application software essentially performs the following tasks :

  1. It accepts user input.
  2. Then, it processes the user input according to the algorithms implemented within its code.
  3. Finally, it generates output.

It can further be divided into two types:

  1. ☞ 1. GENERAL PURPOSE
    2. General purpose / Off-The-Shelf application software is a type of application that can be used for a variety of tasks.
    It is not limited to one particular function.
    They provide large no of features for its users.
    It is likely to attract a lot of users, and therefore, it can be sold at quite a low price.
    1. MS Office Package
    2. Adobe Creative Cloud

  2. ☞ 2. SPECIALISED APPLICATION
    3. Special purpose software is software that can only be used for one particular task, but it cannot be used to perform any other tasks
    Typically, special purpose software is developed to fulfil a particular business need and therefore does not need to offer a wide range of alternative functions.
    Special purpose software is usually more expensive than general purpose software, because it will only be purchased by the users who need the particular functionality that it offers.
    1. Screen Recorder
    2. Scientific calculator

BESPOKE / TAILOR-MADE APPLICATION

Sometimes, users need a piece of software that can perform a certain task, but the general and special purpose software that is available does not offer the functionality required. When that happens, the user might consider bespoke software. It is developed to meet the user’s specific requirements.

Because bespoke software is developed for a specific task and/or user, it is unlikely that other users will wish to buy it, and therefore, development costs, as well as ongoing support and maintenance costs are high. The decision to purchase bespoke software therefore requires a lot of careful thought and planning.

  1. School Management System
  2. Traffic Monitoring System



PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE

Proprietary software, also known as Closed Source, is primarily commercial software that can be bought, leased or licensed from its vendor/developer. In general, proprietary software doesn't provide end users or subscribers with access to its source code. It can be purchased or licensed for a fee, but relicensing, distribution or copying is prohibited.

It is usually divided into two categories :

  1. ☞ 1. PAID SOFTWARE
    2. Computer Software that is developed for a profit.
    1. Windows
    2. Microsoft Office
    3. Adobe Creative Cloud

  2. ☞ 2. FREEWARE

    3. Freeware programs are programs that are given away free of charge and often made available on the Internet. The programmer offers programs as freeware either for personal satisfaction or to assess its reception among interested users. Program developers often retain all rights to their freeware and users are not free to copy or distribute or sell it further

    1. TeamViewer
    2. Telegram
    3. FormatFactory
    4. Free Studio


OPEN SOURCE

Open source describes the principles and methodologies to promote open access to the production and design process for various goods, products, resources and technical conclusions or advice. The term is most commonly applied to the source code of software that is made available to the general public with either relaxed or non-existent intellectual property restrictions. This allows users to create usergenerated software content through either incremental individual effort, or collaboration.

  1. GNU/Linux
  2. Mozilla Firefox
  3. VLC media player
  4. Libre Office

OSS : ADVANTAGES
  1. Better for Coders:
    2. Open source software development is quite different from conventional closed source software development. People start coding from the point of already existing level of code. They are not required to waste their time and energy to research on something, which has already been done by someone else.

  2. Better for Users:
    3. The user does not have to get into huge budgetary issue for using applications. The user can get his applications customised without getting into huge investments.

  3. Faster development:
    4. The applications are developed very fast by taking references from OSS developers working worldwide.

  4. Future of Open Source:
    5. So where does it all end? How exactly will open source shape our lives leading us to a better tomorrow? It is for certain that with this level of growth and progress, we expect to see open source as the driving force of the software industry in the next few years.

  5. Greater Freedom:
    6. OSS finds developers in users. Following the movement which has started and following the guidelines they had set for building OSS, it will continue its excellence in building better and better stuff for everyone.

  6. Open Standards:
    7. Also known as Open Formats, Open Standards are much more than just a published specification for storing digital content, media or data. It is a key to freedom.



SHAREWARE

Shareware software is copyrighted software that is distributed on a try before we buy basis by paying a nominal shareware fee.

Users who want to continue using the program after the trial period are encouraged to send a payment for the program to the program developer.

Shareware is generally less expensive because often a single programmer develops it.

  1. WinZip
  2. Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional
  3. Adblock Plus
  4. Skype
FIRMWARE

Firmware is a specific class of computer software that provides the low-level control for a device's specific hardware.

Firmware is installed directly onto a piece of hardware during manufacturing.

It is used to run user programs on the device and can be thought of as the software that enables hardware to run.

A PC’s firmware components are just as important as its OS. But unlike an OS, firmware cannot update itself automatically to fix issues detected after the unit gets shipped.

In a PC, the basic input/output system (BIOS) is an example of a firmware. It lets the program that the microprocessor uses to start the device when you turn it on. It also lets the PC’s OS communicate with connected devices

Today, embedded firmware exists in everything from smartphones to internet of things (IoT) devices. It is often included in devices not traditionally thought of as having computer control.