Commonly known as programs or apps, consists of all the instructions that tell the hardware how to perform a task. These instructions come from a software developer in the form that will be accepted by the platform (operating system + CPU) that they are based on. For example, a program that is designed for the Windows operating system will only work for that specific operating system. Compatibility of software will vary as the design of the software and the operating system differ. Software that is designed for Windows XP may experience a compatibility issue when running under Windows 2000 or NT.
Software is capable of performing many tasks, as opposed to hardware which can only perform mechanical tasks that they are designed for.
Software provides the means for accomplishing many different tasks with the same basic hardware. Practical computer systems divide software systems into two major classes:
System software:
Helps run the computer hardware and computer system itself. System software includes operatin g systems, device drivers, diagnostic tools and more. System software is almost always preinstalled by the software manufacturer.
Application software:
Installed on your computer. Allows users to accomplish one or more tasks. It includes word processing, web browsing and almost any other task f or which you might install software. (Some application software is pre systems.) Software is generally created (written) in a high-- installed on most computer level programming language, one that is (more or less) readable by people. These highlevel instru ctions are converted into "machine language" instructions, represented in binary code, before the hardware can "run the code". When you install software, it is generally already in this machine language, binary, form.
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