What is Software?

Software (SW) refers to the logical hardware or software of a digital computer and contains all the legal components necessary to ensure that certain tasks are performed, unlike the physical components of the system called hardware.

Software Types and Usage Areas

Such logical components allow, among others, the user to perform all tasks related to the text editing system software, such as an operating system. And basically interacting with the rest of the physical components and applications, which allows the rest of the programs to work properly, it also provides an interface for the user.

The SW is usually replaced by expressions such as a program or application.

This concept can go beyond computer programs in different situations, and source code can be executed. Documentation, data to be processed and user information is also part of the SW. That is, it covers everything intangible, everything related to non-physical.

The term software was first used in 1957 by John W. Tukey.

In computer science and software engineering, the SW is all information processed by computer systems programs and data.

The concept of reading instruction sequences other than the memory of a device to check calculations was introduced by Charles Babbage as part of the differential machine.

The theory that forms the basis of the most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing with an application in The Computable Numbers article of 1936.

Types

While the SW variants are sometimes confusing, the software is divided into four classes for practical purposes. These are; system, programming, application, and social software.

   System Software

Its purpose is to adequately separate the user and the programmer from the details of the computer used. It specifically isolates memory, disks, ports, and communication devices, printers, displays, and keyboards that contain the internal features of the keyboard.

The system sw manages the user and the programmer with appropriate high-end interfaces, tools, and support utilities that allow maintenance. It includes operating systems, device drivers, diagnostic tools, fix and optimization tools, servers, and tools.

   Programming Software

It is a set of tools that allows the programmer to develop computer programs in a practical way using different alternatives and programming languages. Includes text editors, compilers, translators, linkers, debuggers.

Integrated Development Environments (IDE) often group tools in a visual environment, so the programmer does not need to enter more than one command to compile, interpret, debug. They usually have an improved graphical user interface (GUI).

   Application Software

It is a task that allows users to perform one or more specific tasks in any field of activity that may be automatic or assisted, with particular emphasis on the job.

It includes system control and industrial automation, office applications, educational sw, enterprise sw, databases, telecommunications, video game, medical sw, a numerical and symbolic computing sw, CAD, CAM, and algorithmic trading sw applications.

   Social Software

Social software does not program aspects properly. These tools include email, mailing lists, IRC, instant messaging, blogs, and more.

It aims to break the separation and isolation of those participating in remote programs and facilitate the construction of information.

Supporting conversations between individuals or groups from social software, real-time instant messages to areas of collaboration in deferred time leads to indirect digital reputation, which allows a group to know the contributions of other participants.

It helps to provide feedback support and digital expression of the individual’s personal relationships and to create new relationships.

There is consensus that it is possible to talk not only about first-generation communication tools such as e-mail, discussion forums, and chat but also about a number of second-generation services, including social bookmarks.

Blogs are simple publications about ideas, jokes, and comments that we want to share with other interlocutors. Today, blogs are an effective shopping method over a network. Improves the relations between the participants.

All applications and web services offered by the Internet today must be analyzed by teachers before they can be applied to the teaching/learning process.

The development and generalization of the web depend on the quality and maturity of open source sw and the inclusion of new versions of social sw on the platforms.

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