Software is a very important thing for a computer, if you understand that the computer is the body, then the software is its soul, just as there is no work of the body without the soul, in the same way, a computer cannot run without software.
The software uses all the hardware resources of the computer system. There are many types of software and their functions are also different. So let’s get complete information about the software –
What is software?
Software is made up of many programs. It helps in performing many functions of the computer. Software is also called utilization of hardware resources. If we consider the hardware as the body of the computer, then we can compare the software with the mind of the computer.
Just as a body without a brain is useless, in the same way a computer cannot exist without software. For example, if we use a mouse, then the software is needed to run it too.
It includes application software, system software, middleware, etc. Performs productive tasks for the user of application software such as word processors. By interfacing the operating system with the hardware, such as system software, the interface provides the user interface and services required by the application.
When we start the computer, first of all, the software is loaded into the RAM. and is executed in the central processing unit. Software at the lowest level is programmed individually for those processors of the computer in machine language.
Software is a systematic sequence of instructions. Which arranges the position of computer hardware in a particular order. Software is written in machine language and high-level language.
Software is also written in assembly language, which is a mnemonic representation of a machine language using the natural language alphabet. The assembly language is used to assemble the object code through the assembler.
Purpose of Software? Why software is required – What is the software required
Friends, the way you will not be able to run a machine that you do not even know. Similarly, if you are given a monitor and a CPU and keyboard, you cannot use it unless the operating system is loaded into it.
From this, you can understand that the first requirement of a computer is the operating system, which is software. Which comes under System Software.
The main requirement of any software is to start Gadget like a computer, mobile, etc. After you have loaded the operating system into your computer, then your computer is able to start.
After this, you will need all the necessary software on the computer. Software (application) will be required for different tasks like graphics, office, charts, etc.
Apart from this, if your computer gets infected with a virus then you will again need software called Utility. That is to say, you will need the software from time to time as per the requirement.
Let us know something about it –
Need for software
- Software required to start the computer.
- Software for typing letters.
- Software for chart creation.
- Presentation creation software.
- Software in data management.
- Software in use of the Internet.
- Software for the functioning of the operating system.
What are the Types of Software?
In today’s time, you will find thousands of software in the market, so let’s know the different types of software Is not clear or correct.
System software helps in running computer hardware and computer systems. This includes the operating system, device drivers, servers, utilities, etc.
Programming software generally provides tools to help a program write computer programs and software using various programming languages more conveniently. This tool includes text editor, compiler, interpreter, linker, debugger, etc.
An integrated development environment merges all these tools into a single software bundle. And the program does not need to type many commands for compiling, interpreting, debugging, tracing, etc. as the IDE usually has a developed graphical user interface or GUI.
Application software allows the user to perform one or more specific tasks. Common applications include business software, educational software, medical software, databases, and computer games.
The business world uses the application the most. But software is being used by humans in almost all fields.
What is a System Software | What Is an OS Software
It is computer software that manages and controls hardware resources so that application software can perform tasks, it is an essential part of a computer system, such as an operating system.
If system software is stored in non-volatile storage such as integrated circuits, it is commonly referred to as firmware. In detail, the system software is a set of programs that organize and control the hardware in a computer system.
What is an operating system?
This is the first software that is loaded after the computer is started. You must be aware that this is a very essential software for the booting of the computer system.
It is necessary not only for booting into the computer system but also for running other application software and utility software on the computer.
After the creation of the source code, the programmer needs to make changes to the machine code before the source code can be executed on the computer.
Machine code is a series of one’s and 0’s. This task of converting source code is done with the help of two types of programs.
What is a compiler?
Converts the source code into machine code to make an executable file. The components of this executable file are called object codes. Programmers execute this Executable object code after copying any item on the computer.
In other words, once the program is compiled, it becomes an independent executable file, which does not require a compiler to execute.
Every preprogramming language is required that convert the code. For example, the C language requires a C compiler and the Pascal language requires a Pascal compiler.
What is an interpreter?
It is a program that executes one instruction of the program written in a high-level language, one by one by converting it into machine language. It does not convert all the instructions of high-level language programs into machine language at once.
The interpreter also executes each instruction by converting it into machine language. So the execution of the program also happens at the time of translation. It also takes less space in the memory and does not even create an object program in the memory of the source program because along with translating each line and instruction, it also executes it.
If there is an error in a directive, it immediately indicates it. The programmer corrects it. Only after that does it execute again by converting it into machine language, thus finding the error becomes easy with the help of the Interpreter.
But it does not create any object program. So whenever we re-execute the program of a high-level language. So it is translated into machine language by an interpreter, so an interpreter is always needed.
The interpreter is easy to use because it is easy to find the error of the program. Assembler is a program that translates assembly language into machine language, converting high-level language into machine languages like an interpreter and compiler. The assembler converts mnemonic code into binary code.
What are linker and loader?
Linker is also called link editor. It is a program that takes one or more objects created by compilers and assembles them into an executable program. Loader is the program that performs the tasks of the linker program and then schedules that executable program as a memory image for action without saving that program in the executable file. Loader programs are useful for prototyping and testing applications.
What is a debugger and what does it do?
It is not possible that the error does not occur when the program is built. So a program named debugger is used to deal with this problem. It is a program that has the ability to test and debug other programs. When the program crashes, the debugger shows that position in the original code.
If it is a source labeled debugger or a symbolic debugger, which is commonly seen in the Integrated Development Environment. If it is a low-level debugger or a machine-language debugger, it indicates that line in disassembly.
Due to a program bug, when the program is not able to continue, then it crashes. The debugger in general is also more sophisticated. These include operating the program step by step, stopping the program at a particular event with the help of breakpoints, and tracking the values of certain variables.
What is an Application Software?
It is a sequence of computer software that directly employs the capabilities of the computer to perform the task as per the user’s expectation. Examples of application software are World Processor, Media Player, and Spreadsheet.
Sometimes many applications are bundled together as a single package and denoted as an application suite. Microsoft Office and Open office.org offer word processors, spreadsheets, and many other applications together.
The user interface of different applications of the suit is almost the same. Which makes it easy for the user to learn and use each application.
Often it has some capabilities that they interact with each other for the benefit of the user. For example, it is possible to bring a spreadsheet created in a spreadsheet application into a word processor document.
User-developed software is also called application software. User-written software enables the user-written system to meet the specific needs of the user.
User-written software includes spreadsheet templates, word processor macro, scientific simulation, graphics, and animation scripts. In addition, an e-mail filter is also a type of user software, the user himself writes this software.
In some types of embedded systems, it may not be possible for the user to differentiate between the application software and the operating system, as can be seen in the software that controls VCRs, DVD players, and microwave ovens.
Types of Application Software according to the function – Types of application software with their functional areas
Programs that perform the main tasks for the user are called application software. Let us know some application software –
Word processor – To create document letters etc.
Spreadsheet – Solve numerical problems, millions of times faster than a calculator.
Presentation software – for a better presentation of business strategies on large projectors and screens.
Database management system – To collect, organize and make data available in the form of information.
Graphics and designing software – To create simple and difficult types of pictures and to give a beautiful and attractive look to distorted photographs.
What is utility software – What is utility software?
It is also known as a service program. It is a type of computer software specially designed to help manage computer hardware, operating systems, and application software.
There are many types of utility software available in the market, which you must be aware of, such as Disk Defragmenter, System profilers, Archive utility, Virus scanner, Compression utility, Encryption utility, etc.
What Is a Disk Defragmenter Software?
It is a utility software that locates computer files whose contents are stored in disjointed fragments on the hard disk. And joins these segments together to increase the efficiency of the disk. A disk checker can scan the contents of a hard disk.
To find out such files which have been corrupted in some way or have not been saved correctly. Disk cleaner software can detect files that are unnecessary for computer operations or occupy important places. Disk Cleaner helps the user determine which one to delete from a loaded disk.
What is a System profile software?
It provides detailed information about the software installed and the hardware attached to the computer. Backup software makes a copy of all the information stored in the computer
And restores the entire system’s data in the event of a disk failure or restores that particular file due to the accidental deletion of the files.
Virus scanner software Or Antivirus Software
It scans computer viruses from files and folders.
Compression utility software
Compression utility compresses the contents of the hard disk to store more information in the hard disk. When a file is provided to the compression utility, it compresses it and gives it as a small file output.
Encryption utility software
It creates an encrypted file using a special kind of algorithm. For this, it has to provide normal text and a key.
Free domain software
This software is basically available on the Internet. They can be downloaded from the Internet, for example, Freeware and Shareware. Freeware is software that does not have any fees, that is, it is absolutely free.
Shareware This software can be run for free for a certain period of time. And when the user considers it useful, he can buy it by paying a fee, it is also downloaded from the internet.
What is Open source software?
This software is a completely new concept and a revolution in the software industry, its source code has been made free to download from the net and it can be changed and customized according to your requirement, Linux is an example of this.
The disadvantage of this type of software is that they do not have any standard form, which causes problems for the normal user.
Integrated Development Environment – Integrated development environment
It is also known as Integrated Design Environment and Integrated Debugging Environment. It is a type of computer software that helps computer programmers to develop software.