Computer Softwares

Computer Softwares

is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices.

It is also a collection of instructions that enables the user to interact with a computer, its hardware, or to perform tasks.

Application Software

is used to accomplish specific tasks other than just running the computer system.

It consist of a single program, such as an image viewer; a small collection of programs (often called a software package) that work closely together to accomplish a task; a larger collection (often called a software suite) of related but independent programs and packages that have a common user interface or shared data format, such as Microsoft Office.

• productivity tools

• multimedia software

• media players

• internet browsers

• communication software

• database software

• antivirus program

What are the types of Application Software?

System Software

helps the user, hardware, and application software to interact and function together.

It is a type of computer program that is designed to run a computer's hardware and different application programs.

• Microsoft Windows

• Apple Mac OSX

• Linux

• Unix

• Oracle Solaris

Computer System Software

• Apple’s IOS

• Google’s Android

• Window’s Phone OS

• Bada

• Blackberry

• Firefox

Mobile Devices System Software (Mobile Phones, Tablet PC)

• RokuTV

• WebOS

• AndroidTV

• Tizen

• Amazon Fire

Appliances (Smart TV) System software

Driver Software

It is often classified as one of the types of system software. They operate and control devices and peripherals plugged into a computer.

Programming Software

It is the type of software that is not used by end-users. It is not for you unless, of course, you are a developer or a programmer who writes code.

These are programs that are used to write, develop, test, and debug other software, including apps and system software.

Version

It represents the progression or evolution of a product or system over time.

These are sequential updates or iterations, often introduced to add features, fix bugs, or improve performance.

They typically replace their predecessors and provide a better user experience.

Example: From Windows 10, new version was released called as Windows 11.

Variant

refers to an alternative or adapted form of a product or system, designed to meet specific needs, preferences, or market requirements.

It usually coexist within the same time frame, each serving a distinct audience or purpose. They are often derived from a shared base design or platform but differ in specific attributes or features.

Example: Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro Edition

Patches

These are small updates released by software developers to fix specific issues or vulnerabilities in a program. Changes or modifications are made to existing features instead of the release of new key features.

These are designed to address bugs, security flaws, or other issues that have been identified after the initial release of the software. A patch is typically small in scope and targeted to address a problem.

Example: From Windows 8 to Windows 8.1

FOSS (Free Open Source Software)

is a software that respects the user freedom that means you can have the software freely without any charge (pay no licensing fees to use).

Richard Stallman

developed the “free and open source software”- a software which could be copied by others and made changes too as they pleased.

1. Freedom to run the program whenever you wish (free to use)

2. Freedom to study the source code of the program and change it to make a program that do what you wish (free to modify)

3. Freedom to distribute the copies of the program to others (free republication / recopy)

4. Freedom to distribute the copies of the modified version

What are the 4 essentials of freedom?

Linux Operating System

What is the most well-known example of open source software?

Open Source Software

it is a software you can modify and adapt it to your necessities

Free Software

A software that cannot be transformed. You can use it for free but only with qualities or features with it was created. It is not flexible at all.

Proprietary Software

This software reserves all rights to the author except a license to run the software on the purchaser's computer.

Herein, the software developers attempt to prevent outsiders from gaining access to their source code (closed-source), this in order to protect the sole right of the proprietor to add features or correct defects.

Computer Software License

A software license is a document that provides legally binding guidelines for the use and distribution of software.

Software licenses typically provide end users with the right to one or more copies of the software without violating

Perpetual License

authorizes users to utilize the software permanently, normally at a single one-time charge. The licensee can use that software forever.

Subscription License

These licenses are obtained on a monthly or annual basis and give users the ability to use the software only within the specified subscription period.

User-Based licensing

is a type of software licensing that requires software providers to set their licensing fees depending on the number of users using the software in the company.

Users Named

each software license is mainly given for each person, and that is also with a login and password that can be used to safely access the software from any such type of computer.

Concurrent Users

requires a specified amount of users of an enterprise or company to share consumer licenses.

Metered / Consumer-based Licensing

It limits software access based on something that can be counted. The criteria can be the number of times the user has signed in, the number of times they've used a particular feature, or even the amount of time they've spent using the software.

Feature-based license

it makes different features available to different customers. It allows you to offer the same software at different price points.

Licensing of Devices

gives users authorization to install and run software on a single desktop, server, or data center device —whatever becomes more suitable for use.

It is also a more cost-effective solution in situations where many workers use the same computer to complete their assigned duties.

Network License

provides software connectivity to all apps and computers linked to a single network.

It may support an infinite number of users or could be used to promote a concurrent licensing model that limits the total range of network sessions for such particular use.

Trial License

it’s the license for the trial of the premium plugin, theme, or any other software.

These free trials help a lot to introduce your product and all the effective features. In this way, you can convert your visitor to loyal customers.

Most of the time users get the 7 or 14-day trial option.

Fixed-Term license

This license provides a start date, usually the date of purchase, and an end date for access to the software.

Although technically a subscription license can also fit this definition, This licensing implies that the customers don't necessarily expect to renew the license.

Academic License

It is used by companies that build educational software for schools, colleges, universities. Here, the user will get the license either at low cost or free.

OEM License

stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, and indicates that the manufacturer was the original producer of the part

This license is a license for software that is delivered with the hardware and is only for use on that piece of hardware.

These licenses are tied to the lifecycle of the hardware and typically cannot be transferred to other hardware.

Project-based license

This license is a temporary license that lets collaborators from outside an organization hop on to the organization's software licenses for as long as they're working together.

EULA (End User License Agreement)

This is a contract between the software developer and a potential user. By means of this contract it is established that the developer of the software is its de facto owner, and that a copy of the respective software bought from a vendor (or downloaded from the Internet) only licenses it to a user.

Free Software License

It is a notice that gives the software user rights to modify the software that’s provided for free.

Users don’t need to agree to anything, as this type of license basically declares, “I grant you the permission to copy and modify this software as you want.”

GPL (General Public License)

It is a widely used free software license, which guarantees end users the freedom to run, study, share and modify the software.

It guarantees developers the freedom to take a program and modify it in any way they want, as long as they then distribute that altered version as free software.

The license was originally written by Richard Stallman of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) for the GNU Project. Historically, the GPL license family has been one of the most popular software licenses in the free and open-source software domain.

BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution License)

These licenses originated from a Unix-type operating system. They fall under the category of permissive licenses, and there is minimal restriction on how you use and distribute them.

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology License)

This is another permissive license. It’s been around since the late 1980s, so is very popular with developers who want to change software code to their own needs and create a new product without facing any restrictions or at least minimal restrictions.

One of the main reasons that the this license is so popular is that they can modify the code, add to it, and then publish and distribute their own version as well as being able to sell it.

ISC (Internet Systems Consortium License)

This is a permissive license. It could be described as a ‘stripped-down’ version of the MIT license as it removes some of the language and jargon that some people consider unnecessary.

Anyone who alters the software has to include the original license.

And that they must include a copy of the license itself when they copy or modify the original licensed code in any new version.

Apache License

Produced by the Apache Software Foundation, Apache is a permissive free software license that is very popular with developers and commercial organizations.

As with other permissive licenses, anyone can take the original software and modify it as they see fit, then distribute their modified version under the terms of the original Apache product