CIS2110
Computer Software:Types and functions
What is computer software?
Computer instructions or data. Anything that can be stored electronically is software.Computer software, or just software is a general term used to describe a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that perform some tasks on a computer system.
more from wikipedia...
| application software | programs that do work users are directly interested in |
| system software | which includes operating systems and any program that supports application software |
| middleware | is sometimes used to describe programming that mediates between application and system software or between two different kinds of application software |
| utility software | small useful programs with limited capability |
| applets | small applications that sometimes come with the operating system as "accessories." |
| firmware | software stored on a microprocessor or read-only memory chip |
Software Category Examples
- Application Software Categories
- Business Software
- Graphics and Multimedia
- Home and Personal
- Educational
- Communications
- Operating System Software
- MS - DOS
- Windows XP, Vista
- Linux
- Unix
- Programming Software
- Assembly
- C, C++
- Java
- Perl
- Javascript
- HTML, XHTML, CSS
- Testware
- compilers - e.g. gnu c compiler
- anti-viruses
- defragmenters
- file and disk maintenance
- Business Software
- Project Management Software
- Accounting Software
- Enterprise Computing Software
- Document Management Software
- Graphics and Multimedia Software
- Educational Software
- Home Use Software
- Personal Software
- Web Based Software
- Harmful Software
- Viruses
- Worms
- Trojan Horses
Reading assignment 1: Read up on the different types of computer software here. Scroll down the page to see the many different types they list.
Reading Assignment 2: Read up on the different types of utilities at this site.
Question: Investigate what a compiler is and how it works. Differentiate between a 'compiler' and an 'interpreter'.