3 answers
Victor
Student
5
Questions
3 answers
Bradley Rogers
Web Programmer
15
Answers
Lexington, Kentucky
Updated
Bradley’s Answer
Hi, software is a way to tell the computer how to solve problems, these days software is in whats called near human language. In the old days you had to use the computers notation at the low level to do things.
What we have is some circuits (internal processor) and for them to do the steps to compute, they have to use the mechanism we have in the processor. So to answer what software is, its a language that is easy to write and its compiled into the processor's language. Just because its electrical? Doesnt mean it has to be, a processor could be built with mechanical objects. A processor for todays pc or apple came from more simple things that got more and more complex over the years. A good way to understand software is to look at the old mainframe computer with punched cards. There you write out the program on cards, well, you write it in this special paper sheet for programming; then take to the card punch and someone types out what you wrote to get a stack of cards. There is a computer manager who picks which cards get run next. Usually you give them the cards, then come back later for the printout. Your cards are run, the computer uses the info you put in the program, does the computations and prints the results.
These days the pc is so complex, it would take, guessing, computers of the 1970s and 80s that would fill the inside of a Walmart to do the same, and it wouldnt be as fast. So software now means you run a program that has a compiler to put your program statements into the computers language.
There are 2 kinds of software. One deals with the processor of a pc or a phone, you program something that runs as an app. or, you program whats called SQL or structured query language. For this you dont need to know about the processor, at all. This language deals with moving and sorting data. Airlines were the first major user of sql. In the airline you have flights? From all the cities, all day. A customer says what flight goes from this city to that city? SELECT flights WHERE starting_airport = LAX AND destination_airport = whatever. And you add other pieces to make the data you want. And it returns a list of information. Some people have patience to think in those terms.
Me, its easier to work with processors and that side. Well, there is alot to it, but hope this helps a little. Good luck!
What we have is some circuits (internal processor) and for them to do the steps to compute, they have to use the mechanism we have in the processor. So to answer what software is, its a language that is easy to write and its compiled into the processor's language. Just because its electrical? Doesnt mean it has to be, a processor could be built with mechanical objects. A processor for todays pc or apple came from more simple things that got more and more complex over the years. A good way to understand software is to look at the old mainframe computer with punched cards. There you write out the program on cards, well, you write it in this special paper sheet for programming; then take to the card punch and someone types out what you wrote to get a stack of cards. There is a computer manager who picks which cards get run next. Usually you give them the cards, then come back later for the printout. Your cards are run, the computer uses the info you put in the program, does the computations and prints the results.
These days the pc is so complex, it would take, guessing, computers of the 1970s and 80s that would fill the inside of a Walmart to do the same, and it wouldnt be as fast. So software now means you run a program that has a compiler to put your program statements into the computers language.
There are 2 kinds of software. One deals with the processor of a pc or a phone, you program something that runs as an app. or, you program whats called SQL or structured query language. For this you dont need to know about the processor, at all. This language deals with moving and sorting data. Airlines were the first major user of sql. In the airline you have flights? From all the cities, all day. A customer says what flight goes from this city to that city? SELECT flights WHERE starting_airport = LAX AND destination_airport = whatever. And you add other pieces to make the data you want. And it returns a list of information. Some people have patience to think in those terms.
Me, its easier to work with processors and that side. Well, there is alot to it, but hope this helps a little. Good luck!
Wojciech Gradzki
Software System Senior Engineer
3
Answers
Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
Updated
Wojciech’s Answer
Some characteristics of software are:
intangibility: software is a non-physical product, universality: software can be used on any device compatible device, modifiability: software can be modified (change its functionality or to fix errors), durability: software does not wear out or deteriorate over time, but it can become outdated, transferability: software can be easily copied, dependability: Software must be reliable, secure, and meet specified requirements to ensure it performs its intended functions, complexity: software can be complex and difficult to understand, especially for non-technical users.
intangibility: software is a non-physical product, universality: software can be used on any device compatible device, modifiability: software can be modified (change its functionality or to fix errors), durability: software does not wear out or deteriorate over time, but it can become outdated, transferability: software can be easily copied, dependability: Software must be reliable, secure, and meet specified requirements to ensure it performs its intended functions, complexity: software can be complex and difficult to understand, especially for non-technical users.
Stephen Anton
1
Answer
Updated
Stephen’s Answer
Software is very simple at the most basic level: it is a set of instructions that tells some sort of device exactly what to do. It can range anywhere from an automotive control module unlocking door locks when a button is pushed, to a sophisticated computer program running on a cloud server which allows you to download and store a file to your local computer when you click on a link in a web browser… and anything in between.
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