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WHAT IS SOFTWARE?

The software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms, and their associated documentation,
for a computer system.

Generally the software is the name given to programs that are installed on computer system.
Strictly speaking, a program is a set of sequential instructions, which consists of combination of
source code and objects code whereas the software is more than program. It consists of program
documentation and procedures used to setup and operate the software system. Computer
software is the product that software engineers design and built. It encompasses programs that
execute within computer of any size and architecture, documents consists of hard-copy and
virtual form and data that combine numbers and text but also includes representation of
pictorial, video and audio information. When we write a program for computer we named it as
software. But software is not just a program; many things other than the program are also
included in software.

Some of the constituted items of software are described below.

 Program: It is a set of instruction to solve a particular problem. The program or code itself
is definitely included in the software.

 Data: The data on which the program operates is also considered as part of the software.

 Documentation and Comments: Comments are there to give meaning to different


section of the code. Documentation consists of different types of manuals such analysis
report, design document implementation and testing etc. these are very important thing
that most of us forget during software development. All the documents related to the
software are also considered as part of the software.
 Operating procedures: - It carries the details of instruction to setup and use the software
system and instruction on how to read to system failure.
Fig1.1.1: Constituted items of software

So the software is not just the code written in COBOL, Java, FORTRAN or C++. It also
includes the data and all the documentation related to the program. There are four general
phases during the development of any computer program:

1. Specify the problem.


2. Design algorithms i.e. analyze and break down into a series of steps towards solution.
3. Write the code in programming language.
4. Compile and run i.e. test the program).

Fig1.2: Phases of program development


When writing a computer program it is absolutely vital that the problem to be solved is fully
understood. A good percentage of large programming projects run into trouble owing to a
misunderstanding of what is actually required. The specification of the problem is crucial.

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