Computer software (or simply software) is the programs and procedures that enable a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.

The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1957. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all information processed by computer systems, programs and data. The concept of reading different sequences of instructions into the memory of a device to control computations was invented by Charles Babbage as part of his difference engine. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem. Hally, Mike (2005:79). Electronic brains/Stories from the dawn of the computer age. British Broadcasting Corporation and Granta Books, London. ISBN 1-86-207663-4.

Relationship to hardware

---

Computer software is so called in contrast to computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. In computers, software is loaded into RAM and executed in the central processing unit. At the lowest level, software consists of a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions (object code), which change the state of the computer from its preceding state. Software is an ordered sequence of instructions for changing the state of the computer hardware in a particular sequence. It is generally written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are compiled or interpreted into machine language object code. Software may also be written in an assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language must be assembled into object code via an assembler.

More on [ Computer software ]

Software - Twitter Search

reading & tagging: ZDNet Australia: The state of ERP - page 4 : Insight - Software http://bit.ly/7jbZ2e
Oracle_JAPAC (Oracle JAPAC PR Team) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:15:27 -0000
reading & tagging: ZDNet Australia: The state of ERP - page 4 : Insight - Software http://bit.ly/7jbZ2e
1/4 Ok, following on from the massive Telecom XT outage on Monday, it got me thinking – we know it was related to the ChCh RNC & a software
grantis (Grant ) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:15:26 -0000
1/4 Ok, following on from the massive Telecom XT outage on Monday, it got me thinking – we know it was related to the ChCh RNC & a software
Pour une fois, des (bonnes) nouvelles en français sur Day Software, http://tinyurl.com/yc6oulk
bdelacretaz (Bertrand Delacretaz) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:15:19 -0000
Pour une fois, des (bonnes) nouvelles en français sur Day Software, http://tinyurl.com/yc6oulk
Software-General Discussion: Winamp Remote http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=403528
techglesoftware (Software Zone) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:15:14 -0000
Software-General Discussion: Winamp Remote http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=403528
ISPON shops for N500m to retool indigenous software for global competitiveness - Vanguard - http://tinyurl.com/ycw5qeo
ClearCode (ClearCode) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:15:10 -0000
ISPON shops for N500m to retool indigenous software for global competitiveness - Vanguard - http://tinyurl.com/ycw5qeo
General Marketing: Manual Software Submission http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=17237
techgle (Techgle) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:15:01 -0000
General Marketing: Manual Software Submission http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=17237

Subscribe to Software RSS feed