Software and its Types

Ahmad Hussain (Deedat)Class. No: 253

Department of English, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan

The term software is used for a sequence of instructions given to the computer to perform a specific task.

The set of instructions that takes data from input devices, manipulate and process the data, and send it to an output device is called “software”.

Software:

Programming is the process by which a set of instructions is written for a computer to perform some specific activity.

Programs written in computer are referred to as “Software”.

Programming:

Flow Chart:Computer Softwares:

Computer Software

LANGUAGES System

SoftwareApplication Software

High Level Low Level

Operating

SystemTranslator

s

Application

PackagesCustomized Packages

Low level Languages: Low level computer languages are machine codes or close to it.

For example: 0 and 1

Low level languages are further divided in to;

o 1) Machine Language: It expresses instructions in the binary codes of computer i:e 0 and 1.

o 2) Assembly Language: It utilizes symbols to represent operation codes and storage locations, also called symbolic language. It is alphanumeric language known as “mnemonic codes”.

o Example: ADD for Addition, SUB for subtraction, start label etc.

Computer Languages:

Very close to English Language.

They are basically symbolic languages which use English words and mathematical symbols rather than mnemonic codes.

Each instruction in this language is translated into many machine language instructions.

Example: PL/1 (Programming language, version 1), C Language, GPSS etc

High Level Languages:

Programs which hold instructions related with the working of hardware and software of the computer system.

The set of programs which increase the capabilities of the system and to make the use of computer more effective.

They are also called “Firmware”.

Further divided into two categories.

System Software:

A set of programs which coordinate and control computer operations.

They provide communication between the user and the computer hardware.

Main functions of OS are : Job control Memory management Supervisor Multiprogramming Produce error messages

1)Operating Systems(OS):

Before defining translators, the following terms must be defined:

a. Source Program: A program written in non-machine language. For example, a program written in assembly or high level language like FORTAN, COBOL etc is source program.

b. Object Program: The source program is translated into machine language. The translated program is called Object Program.

2) TRANSLATORS:

The translation process is pictorially represented as follow:

According to this diagram, translators are programs which convert instructions in assembly or high level languages because computer can only understand machine language.

Translation Process:

SOURCE PROGRAM TRANSLATOR OBJECT

PROGRAM

They are also known as “packages”.

They help the users to require their required outputs.

These are the software developed by experts in high/low level languages for non-experts.

o There are two types of Application software/packages:

I. Application software/packagesII. Customized Packages

APPLICATION SOFTWARE:

The general programs in the market developed by famous software development companies are known as Application Programs. E.g.

Word processors: word star, MS-word etc. Games: IGI, Chicken invaders, FIFA Spread sheets; Lotus, Excel etc Graphics: Haward Graphics, Instant Artist. Educational: Medicine, Commerce, Archeology etc.

I) Application software:

These are developed according to the needs of an organization.

The program can be developed by a single programmer or by a team of programmers depending upon the requirements. E.g. Programming for:-

• Banking• Accounts• Industries• Stock and sales etc.

ii) Customized Software/Packages: