Hardware and Software

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Hardware – Physical components that make up a

computer system.

Software – Computer programs and related data

that provide the instructions for telling computer hardware what to do and how

to do it.

Hardware and software have a symbolic relationship, this

means that without software hardware is very limited, and without hardware

software couldn’t run at all.

Classification of Software

Software is classified in two different categories:

·

System Software

·

Application Software

DO NOT USE BRAND NAMES IN ANSWERS

Without software most hardware will not do anything or

execute specific tasks. To make most hardware run software is needed.

System Software

System

Software – Software designed to operate the computer hardware and to

provide a platform for running application software.

Modern computer systems are complex machines, involving many

different components. To keep the system running smoothly System software is

needed.

This software will handle the running of the computer

components and also providing general functionality to the system, such as

tools to speed up the system, tools to develop new software and programs which

can protect the system from Cyber-attack.

There are multiple

types of System software:

·

Operating Systems - These are a collection of

programs that make the computer hardware conveniently available for the user.

It also hides the complex parts of the computer system in order to maintain

ease of use.

The operating system interprets commands

issued by application software such as word processors and spreadsheets. The

operating system acts as an interface between the application software and the

computer.

·

Utility Programs – Utility is a type of system

software designed to help analyse, configure, optimise and generally maintain

the computer system. A single piece of Utility software is usually called a

utility or tool.

Utility software is not application

software. Utility software focuses on how the computer infrastructure

(Including the systems hardware, operating system, and application software and

data storage) operates. This usually means that utility programs are aimed at

advanced users.

·

Library Programs - Library programs are

collections of resources used to develop software. These include pre written

code and sub-routines. Library programs contain code and data which is provided

to other programs these services include: interface, printing, network code and

graphics engines.

This is why for example Microsoft Office

programs such as word and PowerPoint have similar looks and functionality in

the interface. Most programming languages have a set of standard libraries

which handle things such as input/output and specialist maths and functions.

·

Development Software – This software allows

new programs to be written and ran on computer systems, by converting source

code into machine code. There are 3 types of Translator software:

o

Assembler – Converts assembly code into machine

code

o

Interpreter- Converts 3rd

generation languages such as JavaScript into machine code, one line at a time.

o

Compiler- Converts 3rd generation

languages such as c++ into machine code all at once.

There are multiple

types of Application software:

·

General purpose software – General purpose

application software is a type of software which can be used for a variety of

tasks, not just one. For example word processors are general purpose as you

could write a Menu or you could write an essay or possibly make a poster.

Examples of this are: Word processors. Spreadsheet and presentation software

·

Special purpose software – Special purpose software is a type of software

which is created to execute one specific task. An example of this would be a

chess game, it only allows you to play chess.

Other examples of this are: Web Browsers, calculators and media

players.

·

Bespoke software- Bespoke software is software

that has been tailor made for one specific user/group and is built purely for

the task at hand. Examples of this are for medical equipment and programs for

specific financial institutes and banks.