Software:

Definition of Software:

Software is a program that enables 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.

Version:
New implementations that determined by the needs and developments are usually made to software. Then, they
are presented in market after these implementations. The name of the software does not change, however they
take new numbers implying the version. For example the versions of the Windows Operating System are
Windows 3.01, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. Another example is for
MATLAB; MATLAB 5.0, MATLAB 6.5 MATLAB 7.0 etc.

Software Types:

System software is a generic term referring to any computer software that is an essential part of the computer
system

Machine code or machine language is a system of instructions and data directly understandable by a computer's
central processing unit. The instructions are formed by bits 1 and 0. Machine language is dependent on
hardware.

An operating system (OS) is a software program that manages the hardware and software resources of a
computer. A key component of system software, the OS performs basic tasks, such as controlling and allocating
memory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking,
and managing files.

The tasks of the Operating System;

i. Managing the system resources; OS manage all system resources from power on to power off the
computer (harddisk, RAM, removable storage drivers and removable storage devices, I/O units)
ii. Presenting an easier interface to the user; OS represents computers functions being in a complex
structure built by many hardware units by some instructions or graphical symbols. The user may use and benefit
the computer hardware units without knowing how the hardware units functions and communicate each others
by means of the medium that the interface presents.

iii. To enable the user to use the system resources efficiently and economically; It
coordinated different hardware units. It prepares the medium to user to use the hardware units efficiently. For
example, to share the RAM between different application programs is the task of operating system.

iv. To provide a standard working medium; Computers comprise different hardware units and
different low-level software. These differences are not reflected to the user by means of the Operating System,
hence a standard working medium to the users in all computers. It prevents the problems that may occur due to
the diversity of CPU, of the computer models, of the drivers.

The OS is stored in harddisk. When the computer is powered-on, first BIOS stored in the ROM are run. POST
(Power on Self Test) routine stored in the BIOS controls the basic resources of the computer: Are the memories
are in function?