SOFTWARE

SOFTWARE

1. Software is the logical part of a computer system, which is composed of programs, data, drivers, etc. Software is the set of instructions that a computer has to carry out; therefore, it cannot do anything without appropriate software.

   • 1. TYPES OF SOTWARE.
     • 1.1 System Software
       • Operating systems
       • Device Drivers
       • System Utilities
     • 1.2 Programming Software
       • set of applications that allow a programmer to develop their own computer programs using their logical knowledge and programming languages
     • 1.3 Application Software
       • These are the programs that allow us to perform specific tasks on our system. Most of the programs we use daily belong to this type of software, as they enable us to carry out various types of tasks on our system.
   • 2. Characteristics of applications:
     • In general, an application is a compiled program written in any programming language. Applications can have different distribution licenses, such as freeware, shareware, trialware, etc. Applications have some form of interface, which can be a text-based interface, a graphical interface, or both.

2. 3.OPERATING SYSTEMS

   • The operating system (OS) is the primary software of a computer or any other electronic device. It starts when the device is turned on, manages the system's resources (hardware and software), and enables user communication with the machine.
     • 3.1 TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
       • There are single-user systems, where only one user can work with the computer at a given time (many early versions of systems belonged to this group), and multi-user systems, which allow multiple users to execute processes or commands simultaneously (almost all modern systems fall into this category).
       • We distinguish between open-source or freely distributable systems (which are free) and proprietary systems (whose license must be paid for, either separately or included in the equipment's price).
     • 3.2 Main Functions of the Operating System
       • Provides a communication interface between the user and the machine, using a common language (commands) or intuitive visual elements (windows, menus, dialog boxes, etc.). Through the graphical interface, we interact with the computer. Controls the operation of devices (memory, hard drive, printers, etc.) so that users can access and use them. Therefore, the system needs to configure and recognize each hardware device. Manages the installation and execution of user applications, providing them with the necessary hardware resources and monitoring potential failures that may occur. Manages the storage of information on various media or disks and the data movements that occur between different components of the computer. Provides security measures to ensure that various resources used by users and applications follow permissions and rules that prevent accidental or unauthorized use.