well software is like any other thing u install in ur computer like games or programs like ms word
2006-08-17 18:03:07
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Computer software (or simply software) is the programs that enable a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.
The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1957. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all computer programs. The concept of reading different sequences of instructions into the memory of a device to control computations was invented by Charles Babbage as part of his difference engine. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem. [1]
its easy to deal with & also easily accessible
2006-08-18 01:12:33
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Software" redirects here. For other uses, see Software (disambiguation).
A screenshot of computer software in action.Computer software (or simply software) is the programs that enable a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.
The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1957. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all computer programs. The concept of reading different sequences of instructions into the memory of a device to control computations was invented by Charles Babbage as part of his difference engine. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem. [1]
2006-08-18 01:08:17
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answer #3
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answered by mrresearchman 6
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A software is a computer program written in high level language to solve a specific problem . There are lots of high level languages , designs available to solve some of the business needs. How these programs are converted to low level machine understandable code is taken care by the compiler of that language .The specification of any high level language needs to be understood by a programmer b4 writing a software , some thing like you shld know to speak a language to communicate with the other person belonging to the same community,
2006-08-18 01:07:58
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Could you please rephrase your question because it sounds like you don't know what software is. e.g of a software is the disc that comes with your computer to install a program. It's software because you can touch or feel it. Oppose to hardware which is your computer or anything you can feel or touch.
2006-08-18 01:04:59
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answer #5
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answered by young kim 4
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All pogramm's written to run your various Things like Os(windows,linux) Dos (written in a special code) Games 'Drivers(programs to tell other programs what to do with certain types of hardware).
IN other words compare it to an insruction(written or spoken)
to make the Hardware do what ever it is ment to do.
I hope you get the idea?!
Take care!
2006-08-18 01:13:09
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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software is a program used in computer and its related products,,,,,,,,,,
there areonly two types of softwares,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
system software,,,,,,,,,,,,,, for example windows xp and other operating system
application software for example adobe photoshop, coreldraw, ms office,,,,,,,,
2006-08-18 01:03:59
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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its very fine silk
2006-08-18 01:02:04
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answer #8
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answered by J. R. 2
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Computer software (or simply software) is the programs that enable a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.
The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1957. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all computer programs. The concept of reading different sequences of instructions into the memory of a device to control computations was invented by Charles Babbage as part of his difference engine. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem.
Software has historically been considered an intermediary between electronic hardware and data, which latter entity the hardware processes according to the sequence of instructions defined by the software. As computational math becomes increasingly complex, the distinction between software and data becomes less precise. Data has generally been considered as either the output or input of executed software. However, data is not the only possible output or input. For example, (system) configuration information may also be considered input, although not necessarily considered data (and certainly not applications data). The output of a particular piece of executed software may be the input for another executed piece of software. Therefore, software may be considered an interface between hardware, data, and/or (other) software.
Types
Practical computer systems divide software into three major classes: system software, programming software and application software, although the distinction is somewhat arbitrary, and often blurred.
System software helps run the computer hardware and computer system. It includes operating systems, device drivers, diagnostic tools, servers, windowing systems, utilities and more. The purpose of systems software is to insulate the applications programmer as much as possible from the details of the particular computer complex being use, especially memory and other hardware features, and such accessory devices as communications, printers, readers, displays, keyboards, etc.
Programming software usually provides tools to assist a programmer in writing computer programs and software using different programming languages in a more convenient way. The tools include text editors, compilers, interpreters, linkers, debuggers, and so on. An Integrated development environment (IDE) merges those tools into a software bundle, and a programmer may not need to type multiple commands for compiling, interpreter, debugging, tracing, and etc., because the IDE usually has an advanced graphical user interface, or GUI.
Application software allows humans to accomplish one or more specific (non-computer related) tasks. Typical applications include industrial automation, business software, educational software, medical software, databases and computer games. Businesses are probably the biggest users of application software, but almost every field of human activity now uses some form of application software. It is used to automate all sorts of functions.
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Program and library
A program may not be sufficiently complete for execution by a computer. In particular, it may require additional software from a software library in order to be complete. Such a library may include software components used by stand-alone programs, but which cannot be executed on their own. Thus, programs may include standard routines that are common to many programs, extracted from these libraries. Libraries may also include 'stand-alone' programs which are activated by some computer event and/or perform some function (e.g., of computer 'housekeeping') but do not return data to their activating program. Programs may be called by other programs and/or may call other programs.vb
Three layers
Starting in the 1980s, application software has been sold in mass-produced packages through retailersUsers often see things differently than programmers. People who use modern general purpose computers (as opposed to embedded systems, analog computers, supercomputers, etc.) usually see three layers of software performing a variety of tasks: platform, application, and user software.
Platform software
Platform includes the basic input-output system (often described as firmware rather than software), device drivers, an operating system, and typically a graphical user interface which, in total, allow a user to interact with the computer and its peripherals (associated equipment). Platform software often comes bundled with the computer, and users may not realize that it exists or that they have a choice to use different platform software.
Application software
Application software or Applications are what most people think of when they think of software. Typical examples include office suites and video games. Application software is often purchased separately from computer hardware. Sometimes applications are bundled with the computer, but that does not change the fact that they run as independent applications. Applications are almost always independent programs from the operating system, though they are often tailored for specific platforms. Most users think of compilers, databases, and other "system software" as applications.
User-written software
User software tailors systems to meet the users specific needs. User software include spreadsheet templates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, graphics and animation scripts. Even email filters are a kind of user software. Users create this software themselves and often overlook how important it is. Depending on how competently the user-written software has been integrated into purchased application packages, many users may not be aware of the distinction between the purchased packages, and what has been added by fellow co-workers.
See also: Software architecture.
Creation
Main article: Computer programming
Operation
Computer software has to be "loaded" into the computer's storage (also known as memory and RAM).
Once the software is loaded, the computer is able to execute the software. Computers operate by executing the computer program. This involves passing instructions from the application software, through the system software, to the hardware which ultimately receives the instruction as machine code. Each instruction causes the computer to carry out an operation -- moving data, carrying out a computation, or altering the control flow of instructions.
Data movement is typically from one place in memory to another. Sometimes it involves moving data between memory and registers which enable high-speed data access in the CPU. Moving data, especially large amounts of it, can be costly. So, this is sometimes avoided by using "pointers" to data instead. Computations include simple operations such as incrementing the value of a variable data element. More complex computations may involve many operations and data elements together.
Instructions may be performed sequentially, conditionally, or iteratively. Sequential instructions are those operations that are performed one after another. Conditional instructions are performed such that different sets of instructions execute depending on the value(s) of some data. In some languages this is know as an "if" statement. Iterative instructions are perfomed repetitively and may depend on some data value. This is sometimes called a "loop." Often, one instruction may "call" another set of instructions that are defined in some other program or module. When more than one computer processor is used, instructions may be executed simultaneously.
A simple example of the way software operates is what happens when a user selects an entry such as "Copy" from a menu. In this case, a conditional instruction is executed to copy text from data in a 'document' area residing in memory, perhaps to an intermediate storage area known as a 'clipboard' data area. If a different menu entry such as "Paste" is chosen, the software may execute the instructions to copy the text from the clipboard data area to a specific location in the same or another document in memory.
Depending on the application, even the example above could become complicated. The field of software engineering endeavors to manage the complexity of how software operates. This is especially true for software that operates in the context of a large or powerful computer system.
Currently, almost the only limitations on the use of computer software in applications is the ingenuity of the designer/programmer. Consequently, large areas of activities (such as playing grand master level chess) formerly assumed to incapable of software simulation are now routinely programmed. The only area that has so far proved reasonably secure from software simulation is the realm of human art— especially, pleasing music, and literature.
Kinds of software by operation: computer program as executable, source code or script, configuration.
2006-08-18 01:13:22
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answer #9
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answered by jaikamal_tiens 2
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