7. SOFTWARE

Software can be defined as set of coded instructions or programs which are designed by programmers and implemented in the computer system to perform operation. There are two types of Software:

 

SYSTEM SOFTWARE:

These are set of programs designed by software manufacturers to control the operation of the entire system. System software are written in low-level language called Machine Code.

Examples of system software are:

•Operating System

•Compilers & Interpreters

•Utility Programs

OPERATING SYSTEM:

These are set of programs that supervises all activities that take place within the computer system. They are designed to check the performances of the hardware and other software running in the computer system.

Examples of Operating System are:

1.Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS)

2.Windows

3.Linux

4.Unix

 

COMPILERS & INTERPRETERS

These are set of programs used in translating programs written in high-level language into machine codes. Machine Language is the only language understood by the computer.

1.  Assembler: translate source program in Assembly Language into object program.
2. Compiler: translate source program in high-level language completely into object program before execution.
3. Interpreter: translate source program in high-level language to object program in such a way that each instruction in the source program is translated to object form and executed by the computer before the next instruction is acted upon.
4. Source Program: Any program written in any computer language other than machine language.
5. Object Program: program available in machine language form are called object program.Machine Language: this is the major language the computer understands.
6. Low-level Language: this involves writing of codes for the computer to obey in binary digits of 0s and 1s.
7. High-level Language: This is the most accepted and widely used means of programming where instructions are written almost similar to English Language. E.g.

•  BASIC – Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
• COBOL – Common Business Oriented Language
• Fortran – Formula Translator
• Visual BASIC
•  Java etc.