A computer software is generally located on a computer and it comprises of computer programs that tells the software how to operate, then communicates that information to the computer itself. Currently, there are about 10 different types of computer software on the market. They include Application Software, Middleware Software, Computer Programming Languages, System Software, Teachware, Testware, Firmware, Shrinkware, Device Drivers and Programming Tools.
Application Software
Application software is also referred to as an application or an “app”. Some examples of application software are Microsoft Office Suite, a CAD (Computer Aided Design) Software Tool, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Reader. Computer users use them on a daily basis.
Middleware Software
Middleware software consists of services that interact with the application software or other types of software on the computer. These are webservers and application servers. They are actually operate between the application software and the operating system. Some examples of webservers are the Apache HTTP Server, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), and the Sun Java System Web Server. Application servers on the other hand are search engines, like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
Computer Programming Languages
A computer programming language is an artificial language made of syntaxes and predefined keywords. They include languages such as C++, Java, Cobol and C. They are used to write mostly application software. They control the behavior of the application software or the computer itself.
System Software
System software consists of operating systems like Microsoft Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, and Unix. It helps the computer hardware to operate and connect with the applications software.
Teachware Software
These are software that teaches an individual about a particular product, specifically in software engineering. Some of these examples are Macintosh HyperCard and the Java Remote Control Tool.
Testware Software
This type of software is used for testing hardware or software packages. They are designed specifically for software testing and are generally used by software and application testers. Software or QA (Quality Assurance) testing are either conducted automatically or manually by these testers.
Firmware Software
Firmware is actually treated like hardware because other software programs run it. Some examples are remote controls, calculators, digital cameras, mobile phones and memory cards.
Shrinkware Software
These are consumer purchased software, usually sold in stores. They are referred to as shrinkware because they are sold in stores in a shrink-wrap box. Some examples of these are computer games, DVDs, and software applications, like accounting, word processing and database software.
Device Drivers
These are software that controls the disk drives, printers, DVD/CD drives, and the computer monitors. Device drivers can often be downloaded free of charge online. They actually ensures that the hardware functions properly with the computer.
Programming Tools
A programming tool is a software development tool that is used by software developers to support other programs and applications. These tools include debuggers, programming and compilation tools, like Microsoft Visual Studio, XCode and scripting languages like PHP, Ruby and Python amongst many others.
Computer software is essential for computers and especially for computer users. They simplify the daily lives of users and allow them to accomplish seemingly impossible and time-consuming tasks in a relatively short period of time. These days, if you want to be productive and efficient, computer software is not an option, but a necessity.
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