A Simple Computer Software Definition

What is Software?

Software is a set of instruction written to interface between man and machine.

Who writes these instructions?

Programmers write these instructions.

How the programmers write the instructions /software?

They use computer languages to write software applications.

Software can be divided into three main categories:

•  Languages

•  Applications

•  Operating Systems (OS)


LANGUAGES:
It is one of the software type, use to write extensive applications and operating systems It did not contains any limitations in programming. By using the languages you can write any thing for a computer.

For instance just imagine a language like a piece of cloth with that you want to make a shirt or paint curtain for windows or door, than you will take that cloth to the tailor and have him made for you or if you know tailoring you can stitch it at home.

Where as: Cloth is Computer Language
Tailor is Computer programmer
Shirt/Paint is Computer application

Examples of languages are:

•  C

•  C++

•  Fortran

•  Cobol

•  Pascal

•  Perl

•  Assembly Language

•  Machine Language

•  Java


APPLICATIONS:
Software applications are user friendly and most of the time it is custom made for the end-user. Because it serving a specific purpose so it is having its own limits and bounds. It will not work beyond its bounding, for example if you want design picture in a word editor you may not able to get the result according to your desire.

Following are the different categories of applications:

•  Database Applications

•  Front End Applications

•  Reports Applications

•  Word Editors

•  Spread Sheets Editors

•  Application for presentation

•  Graphics Designing Application

•  CAD designing Application

•  Computer Games

•  SCADA Applications


Some of the popular Applications are:

•  Oracle

•  MSoffice (Word,Excel,Access,PowerPoint,Outlook, etc.)

•  VB

•  VC++

•  Autocad


OPERATING SYSTEM:
This is the interface between user and computer or man and machine. This is the main and mandatory software in computer. Without Operating System (OS) computer will never starts. It is the mediator between you as an user and computer.

Think that you are supposed to talk to a person who does not understand your language. What you will do in this situation? Of course you take the help of person who knows both yours and other person's language, he is the mediator. And that's what the computer Operating System is doing.

It is very interesting that the thing from which OS has comes out still require OS to run on. In other words all languages and applications require a platform which is nothing but OS. So that conclusion on any computer first should have OS than you can have language or application on it.

Example of some of the Operating Systems:

•  Windows

•  Unix

•  Apple Mach

•  Ban

•  VMS

•  RS

•  OS2

•  IRIX

•  AIX

•  HP-UX


I hope you like this article. I am trying my best to provide you the simplest information.

Please feel free to comment. Your suggestions and comments are appreciated and help me to improve the quality of the information.

Author is the owner of Computer Learning Center website where people learn basic and advanced computers. Also they learn about how to make money by using their home based computers.

From the Desk of Mohammed Amerullah Qureshi

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