What is software? Definition
A technological era like this is given by a huge amount of software that surrounds us and even overwhelms us.. The concept is implicit in the reality of any person today. We use it, as before, on the computer or computerbut also on our phones to take a note, while we play, when enjoying an e-learning course, when looking for a job in job apps, when watching Netflix on TV and even when programming the oven, to name a few examples.
Thus, surrounded by this, it is ironic to see how we barely know this concept, and it is precisely this that we will remedy today by telling you what is software, the types that existhow and what it is used for and, in general, everything you need to know about this resource that has already become essential in our lives.
What is the software and what is it for? Definition
The most basic definition that we can find and that, in turn, describes exactly what it is would be the one that Wikipedia itself gives us, which tells us about a “software of a computer system“However, we would be doing you and ourselves a disservice if that is the only thing we had to contribute regarding this concept.
It’s about those rules, premises, actions and instructions that do not exist on a physical levelwhich are not tangible, cannot be touched, but which, nevertheless, they are executed and work to communicate with the machine in question, offering very diverse servicesin computer equipment, televisions, smartphones, etc., currently these use complex designed with artificial intelligence.
Thus, it turns out to be a compendium of logical components that come together to form a product designed to run and function on a computer. It is its operational part.
To understand it better, we can say that they are computer programsboth those used by the end user and all those that are in a longer process and hidden from the public that, in turn, includes design, development and , in turn, from other software. And it is that, as you will be able to see later, everything we run on our devices is software, whether of one type or another.
Source
The origin of this comes in parallel to the first computers, in the 40sAt this time, its differentiation with respect to hardware was not very clearly understood (we will see it later); was not conceived as something independent of this.
This decade and the next offered free products, without licenses. These were exchanged like the one who changes a recipe with the neighbor.
History
It was already in the 60swell into it, when the ARPANET emerged, that a community began to form that began to show, in a specific way, the characteristics, principles and values of the software.
The impulse of the field came with two conferences that NATO sponsored in the years 1968 and 1969.
Of course, the following decades, in addition to novelties, were marked by various problems that even came to form what became known as “software crash”the most outstanding aspect of the history of this product, precisely because of its impact at all levels.
Evolution
We can say that we are talking about evolution since the 60s Well, despite, as we say, causing a major crisis to occur, its evolution was becoming evident.
We can define a first era that is marked by the use of software by the same developers, the same corporation that was in charge of creating their programs as they came up with, for their own use.
The second era is given by the multiple concept, including all kinds of multipurpose systems and multiprogramming. Another key aspect is the introduction of new concepts that favored the interaction between the person and the machine.
The third era, which da mid 70’s, includes the distribution of these systems, the use of different computers, each with a purpose, and always communicated. Right now the software industry accounts for the bulk of the world economy.
At this moment we are in what is the fourth era, which is characterized by the specification of the techniques used to designdevelop and improve software and, with it, user experiences, which have become the main objective of the sector.
Classification and types of software according to its use
Depending on the use we give them, that is, the objective for which they are designed, we have a classification that includes programming, system, application, malware and social software.
programming software
It takes the cake for importance for being the one who creates everything else, including, of course, the other types of software that we are going to see below. It is required, at an absolutely basic level, both in app development and in general computing.
For it, it requires which, in turn, are also other programming software as editors and IDE environments, diverse compilers (there are many), or software of that allow testing, version managers…
Regarding human resources, knowledge is required, obviously, in programming and also in logic and mathematics.
Within this type we have the subtypes:
- Integrated development environment or IDE: It is a kind of suite or set of programming tools that make development productivity higher. There are different ones, getting, with their different functionalities, the advance towards one or another path.
- code debugger: As its name indicates, working to debug the code, which is always appreciated, both for those who program and develop it, as well as seeing it from the outside, once the developed product is executed.
- Text editor: Offers the creation of clean code without the use of other external programs.
- Compiler: It is in charge of reading a program in its original language and decrypting it to display it in common language, so that it is compatible with your machine and can be executed on it.
system software
Its main function is very general but direct; East works to enable the operation of the hardware of which it is a part. Of course, There are many types, aimed at working on one aspect or another and with very different characteristics. (Apart from others very similar, of course).
we would talk about a such as Android, Linux, MacOS, BlackBerryOS… and also drivers designed for the proper interaction between system and equipment.
We have:
app software
Of application or utility, they are those used in situations other than the above, that is, not to design and develop nor to operate equipment. In this case, what is intended is to enjoy functionality of interest to the end user and that can be really varied.
Everything we use on our devices includes application software. In fact, we can say that they are everything that does not fall within the two previous typologies, that is, for end user. An email client, a browser, a streaming content platform, any app you download from the App Store or Google Play Store and endless other things.
The types we find within this include:
Malicious or Malware
They are programs designed to negatively affect the users’ computers where they are installed, or to do the same in other software.. In general, the aim is to disable antivirus, destroy hard drives, disable or disable certain functions of a program or, simply, steal information, although there are many more objectives behind these increasingly sophisticated software.
Depending on its mode of operation and its objective, we find:
- : It is a program that has a malicious code that seeks to spread between computers. It enters them without your authorization in any way, through an executable, and it systematically copies itself to each piece of software you run.
- worms: These are a special virus, but such is their knowledge and the havoc caused throughout history, that they have been called a particular type of malware.
- trojans: It is an apparently innocuous program that includes inside other software that is malicious, having access to our computer and our information once we have downloaded and installed the software first. It has no playback capability; it can remain in a state of hibernation until it is time to act.
- Backdoors: Just as the worm is a type of virus that has earned its name as a type of malware, the backdoor does the same corresponding to the Trojan type. In this case, we have that the hacker takes control of the system that he infects, being able to install more software, send massive emails, etc.
- Keyloggers: Software to record the keystroke you make in your theater, so that you get information about everything you type. Usually the targets are passwords.
- dialers: Telephone number dialer software that seeks the contact of the equipment with the network. Some are harmless, but others seek to dial numbers with billing.
- root kits: They are rooting kits for equipment. It is a highly complex code introduced into machines and systems to gain control of them, managing them, making it very difficult for someone to reach the cybercriminal due to the absence of traces.
- Spyware: Software that seeks to collect information from the user who uses the machine on which it is installed. This is sent to whoever corresponds, either the creator himself or to the computer network that is specified. They are the easiest to detect and remove.
social type
Are communication tools designed to facilitate interaction by social conventionincluding messaging services, social networking platforms, chats…
They include support for conversations between two or more users, feedback, ease of content sharing, and digital and virtual expressions of a personal relationship.
Examples and types of programs according to their type of development
Another classification that is worth knowing and considering is the one that is made based on the copyright that these programs have. In addition, another interesting point to know is the that is, from the moment an idea is started until it is put into production for users, a laborious process as well as exciting.
free software
As the concept itself indicates, we are talking about a product that you can download to your computer and distribute without paymentneither on your part nor on the part of those who also receive it from you.
In many cases, we have to form part of a larger, more complete program, which does have a cost. Of course, there are also cases in which, in exchange for enjoying its free status, we must see ads, which are the livelihood of the developers.
Even if it’s free its usually not available. The fact that there is no cost does not mean that it lacks copyright. For this reason, no one can market it to take advantage of it, much less…
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