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Software consists of computer programs that instruct the execution of a computer. [1] Software also includes design documents and specifications. The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital computers in the mid-20th century.
Application software is any computer program that is intended for end-user use – not operating, administering or programming the computer. An application ( app , application program , software application ) is any program that can be categorized as application software.
Software development entails the establishment of a systems development life cycle of a software product. It encompasses a planned and structured process from the conception of the desired software to its final manifestation, [4] which constitutes computer programming, the process of writing and maintaining the source code. Software development ...
System software is a generic term referring to the computer programs used to start and run computer systems including diverse application software and networks. Computer programming tools, such as compilers and linkers, are used to translate and combine computer program source code and libraries into executables, which are programs that fall ...
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, peripherals, and other ...
Thus, free software means that computer users have the freedom to cooperate with whom they choose, and to control the software they use. To summarize this into a remark distinguishing libre (freedom) software from gratis (zero price) software, the Free Software Foundation says: "Free software is a matter of liberty, not price.
A kernel connects the application software to the hardware of a computer. The kernel's main purpose is to manage the limited resources of a computer: The kernel program should perform process scheduling, [132] which is also known as a context switch. The kernel creates a process control block when a computer program is selected for execution.
A programmer, computer programmer, or coder is a person who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to programming may also be known as a programmer analyst.