Information and Communication Technology

3.1.1 The Software 

Computers need clear-cut instructions to tell them what to do, how to do, and when to do. A set of instructions to carry out these functions is called a programme. A group of such programmes that are put into a computer to operate and control its activities is called software. These programmes must reside in the internal storage (memory) to execute their instructions. For example, if we want to delete some data store d in memory, the system uses, one set of programme instructions. Similarly, if we want to sort a list of names, it uses another set of instructions designed to perform this task.

Software is an essential requirement of computer systems. As a car cannot ru n without fuel, a computer cannot work without software. The software may be broadly classified into two major categories:

• System software
• Application software

System software may include the following types of software:

• Operating system
• Language translators
• Linker programmes
• Loader programmes
• Editor programmes
• Utility programmes

These are designed to help users to manage computer resources and to run their application programmes effectively. These are complex programmes and are devel oped and supplied by computer vendors.

Application software includes, among others, the following most popular packages:

• Word processing packages
• Electronic spread sheet programmes
• Database management systems
• Graphics software

These are packages deve loped to carry out specific applications that are used in many organisations