SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE
These are
computer components that you cannot touch, feel or see. It is the program
material instruction that tells the system unit (C.P.U) what to do and how to do it at any point in time or
interval. We cannot touch these programs unlike the hardware which we can touch
and see. They are written programs designed to meet the essential needs of the
user. It can also be seen as a package that enables the system to manipulate
effectively. These instructions are written in a language that the computer can
understand and the language is called MACHINE
LANGUAGE.
Computer
software consists of step-by-step instructions arranged in a structured
sequence to control and co-ordinate the operations of computer hardware
components.
Computer cannot work without software. These
step-by-step instructions are called PROGRAMS.
The art of writing program is called PROGRAMMING
and those that specialize in the job are called PROGRAMMERS. Programs are usually stored in the storage media such
as CD ROM, DISKS, DISKETTE etc.
TYPES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE
There are two
types of software, they are:
1. SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
2. APPLICATION
SOFTWARE
SYSTEM SOFTWARE
These are
programs that manage the computer resources such as central processing unit (C.P.U), memory, communication links
and other peripherals.
System
software includes the operating system, drives, utilities and language translators.
A) OPERATING SYSTEM: Every computer
requires an operating system to function. The operating system manages the
computer resources. Example includes: MS
DOS, MS WINDOWS, UNIX, NOVELL, XENIN
and host of others.
B) UTILITIES:
They are also used to ease management and maintenance of computer system. They
includes windows explorer, Anti-virus software (Norton, MCAFEE, DR. SOLOMON)
etc.
C) LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS: They are used by programmers to write programs.
Translator as the name suggest, translates human codes to the language
understand by computers. Examples of programming languages required by
translators are: FORTRAN (Formula
Translator), COBOL (Common Business
Oriented Language), BASIC (Beginners
All purpose Symbolic Instruction Codes), C++,
JAVA, PASCAL etc.
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