Types of software
1. System software. These are programs that are part of the operating system and are an integral part of it. Typically, they provide control over components of a computer system, such as a processor, RAM, input/output devices, and network equipment. A typical example of a system program is a driver. A driver is a computer program that allows other programs to access the hardware of a device (for example, a printer, scanner, video card, etc.). Drivers are an integral part of the operating system – a set of programs that organize the coordinated work of all computer modules.
2. Utilities. These include those programs that perform auxiliary, maintenance, or service functions, such as archivers, antivirus programs, and programs for servicing a computer’s hard drive. Programs of this type are also called utilities (from the English. Utilize – “use”).
3. Applications. This extensive class of programs designed to solve individual user-defined tasks associated with processing data in a specific field of activity. These include, for example, text, graphic, audio, video editors, database management tools, training, test, game programs, etc.
Most programs today are created with reference to a specific operating system (for example, Windows, Linux, Android, macOS), etc. This fact must be taken into account when choosing one or another program.
Before starting the program, you need to install it correctly, that is, install it on this computer. There are special installers, for example, Rpm for Linux or Windows Installer for Windows. Very often installers are part of the operating system by default. Install the program – means to install (unzip) all its significant files in the appropriate directories of the operating system. In order for the program to install correctly, it must contain a so-called distribution. The distribution package of the program (from the English distribute – distribute) is the set of components necessary for its installation (installation). An operating system distribution usually contains programs for initializing the system.
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