what are the 2 kinds of software and can you give examples of each?

Question

Its for my computer subject

Answer 1

Two kinds of software? Actually there are a lot more than two kinds!!

But, OK, I'll play along: there are actually three ways to answer that question. The first one is to consider a computer system as a whole, the second is to consider how software is created, and the third is to consider whether your software is part of the hardware or really a software as such.

If you consider entire/whole computer systems, there are two kinds of software: the first kind is the operating system, the second are the applications software.

In this case, the operating system is orchestra conductor: it tells all the other software what to do, when to do it and when to stop. For example, Windows is an operating system. If you are running Microsoft Word under Windows, Word is controlled by Windows, and it is Windows which will authorize Word to write a file, print a document, or open a window on the screen.

So: operating system = Windows. "Normal" software = Word.

Other operating systems include Linux, Macintosh OS X (that's version 10), OpenBSD, Solaris, etc... But the bassic difference is the same: the operating system controls the software.

Now, there is another kind of distinction between software: the way they can be created. All the software you use (including the operating systems) are created either by compiling or by interpreting.

What does that mean? If you are compiling a software, this means you use a special program -- called a compiler -- to transform a series of instructions into a real software that you can actually use.

On the other hand, you can also use another program -- called an interpreter -- to analyze a series of instruction and execute them as if it was a real software. It's a subtle distinction, so bear with me for a second.

Please note that these instructions I am talking about are grouped into what is known as a "programming language". More on this later.

Let's take a very simple series of instructions, one that only displays a short message on your computer screen:

print "Hello, World!"

If you are using a compiler, you will create a small software (let's call it "hello"), which will do nothing but display "Hello, World!" on your computer screen. Your "hello" software, once created, does not need the compiler anymore. This is how a lot of software are created, because that makes them "independent" (or "stand alone"), and it's then easy to copy and exchange your software with someone else.

On the other hand, if you are using an interpreter, you will have to run the interpreter every time you want to display "Hello, World!" on your computer screen. This also means that, if you want to give your "hello" software to your friend, he or she has to have the interpreter. But one advantage with interpreters over compilers is that it's easier to program and easier to debug.

For instance, if your software does not work like you want it to (if you want it to say "Good Morning, New York!" instead of "Hello, World!"), you just need to correct the instructions and restart the interpreter to see your changes. A compiler takes more time to create a software than an interpreter, especially if your software is large. Then again, once it is done, a software created with a compiler is usually faster and smaller than a software created with an interpreter.

Like I have said, there are "programming languages". Some of these languages are compiled, others are interpreted, and some can be bother compiled AND interpreted: the best of both worlds!

Compiled languages are, for instance: C, C++ (C plus plus), Fortran, Pascal, Modula 2.

Interpreted languages are, for example: Basic, Perl, Python, Shell, Ruby, Java.

All of these languages use slightly different instructions to do the same thing. For instance, you can use:

print "Hello, World!" in Basic and Python
print "Hello, World!"; in Perl (note the ";" at the end)

and:

echo Hello, World! in Shell

All of these instruction will do the exact same thing. They are just different because the interpreter/language used is different. Why there are different programming languages is beyond the scope of this answer.

Finally... what about "dynamic" and "static" software? (Please note these are my own terms, and they are not exactly correct. more info later).

Your computer has got several small software that are integrated into its memory: they are usually called the BIOS. The BIOS will do several very basic things (usually it will check your computer configuration, its hard disk, and its connections to the outside world) before loading the operating system (see above) into memory.

You can think of the BIOS as a security guard: its job is not to function all the time, simply to check everything is OK before loading the operating system and letting it do its thing. For instance, the operating system can override the information supplied by the BIOS. That's because the BIOS does very simple checks, while the operating system is able to do a lot more. The name BIOS itself means "Basic Input/Output System", and that's exactly what it is: basic.

Since the BIOS is held into the memory of your computer, it's considered as "hardware", meaning part of your computer, and not really part of the "software".

So, you have the BIOS (hardware), which loads the operating system (software) into memory, which in turns controls the software that you use. The software you use can be created either with a compiler or with an interpreter. The operating system and the BIOS are usually created with a compiler.

To summarize:

-1- If you look at hardware and software, there are two kinds of software: the BIOS and everything else.

-2- If you look at a computer system, there are two kinds of software: the operating system and everything else.

-3- If you look at how software is made, there are two kinds of software: the programs created with a compiler and the software created with an interpreter.

I hope this helps, and I hope it's clear enough!

Answer 2

Windows XP- business operating software.
Visio- software used for designing places and flow charts.

Answer 3

Application software is that which is written for a very specific purpose, or "application". It is "applied" to a certain type of information, such as documents (e.g., Word) or payroll information or forms processing or database handling... Versus Systems software, which handles the entire operating, which involves the entire computer, including the operation of ALL the hardware and ALL the applications running either one at a time or, more likely, several at once, and using the hardware resources.