S o f t w a r e  

FAQ

Software (programs, applications) is needed for every computer (this was different in the 40s and 50s). Software is generated (using so-called programming languages) by programmers, and used by so-called users.

• System software
  • operating system (MS-DOS, Windows, MacOS, Unix, Linux, ...)
• applications software
  • custom software: tailored individually
  • commercial software (you buy in shops)
  • freeware/shareware

Remember: Software must be stored, just the same as data.

Some kinds of software

• Word processing (Word, ...)
• Spreadsheets (Excel, ...)
• Database Management (Access, ...)
• Graphics
  • bit-based graphics (Paint, Corel Photo Paint ...)
  • vector graphics (Corel Draw, ...)
• Presentation (Powerpoint)
• Browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Opera)
• Games
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