We explain what application software is, what it is for and examples. Also, what are the system and programming software.
What is application software?
In computing, is understood by application software,programs of applications or in some cases applications, to the set of computer programs generally installed in the system by the Username, and designed to carry out a objective determined and concrete, playful, instrumental, communicative, informative, etc.
In other words: all those programs that have nothing to do with the operation of the computer, but we install in it to give it certain functions as a work tool (spreadsheet, word processor, graphic design programs, etc.), leisure (video games, audio or video players, etc.) or information (digital encyclopedias,Internet navigator, etc.), among others.
The application software is normally designed and marketed separately from the system software that is factory-incorporated into the computer, and its selection and installation in the system is at the total free will of the user. It is, however, not impossible for many programs of this type to come pre-installed - due to business agreements and specific promotions - on the hard drive of a newly purchased computer.
Application software examples
Some popular examples of Application Software are:
- Google Chrome. This is the name of this browserInternet designed and published by Google Inc., and distributed completely free of charge by the net. He revolutionized the industry by being one of the lightest and fastest explorers of the moment.
- OpenOffice. An office software package, freely distributed over the Internet, to compete with popular paid versions, such as Microsoft Office. OpenOffice operates with open source and has both a word processor (Writer), a spreadsheet (Calc), a presentation and slide software (Impress), a database (Base) and a mathematical formula editor (Math), such as a graphics and visual effects editor (Draw).
- Call of Duty. Title of a range of war videogames, characterized by their first-person narrative and programmed by the business Infinity Ward (although distributed by Activision). It was one of the most popular video games of its kind and has often been criticized for its violence and political content.
- Skype A software designed to establish telephone communications or videoconferences using Internet data transmission. It allows the user to establish their contact list, manage various accounts and emit and receive both audio and video signals in real time. It is currently owned by the companyMicrosoft.
- MediaMonkey. It is a multimedia player program: for audio and video files, developed by Ventis Media Inc. It allows you to organize, tag and play files, and operates on various operating systems.
- Adobe Illustrator. Designed for graphics editing and virtual representation of a workshop art, this program operates on the basis of a drawing board called a "work table", in which artistic and creative design work is carried out, aided by various digital tools. It is owned by Adobe Systems and is contained in the Adobe Creative Cloud package.
System software
The system software is pre-installed on the computers.
System software differs from application software in that it does not offer the user the ability to fulfill their tasks, but rather keeps the system running. computer system. In other words, it is an operating system: a program designed to run the machine and keep it turned on and ready, ready for the execution of application programs.
This type of software usually comes pre-installed on computers, although it can be replaced by others at the user's discretion. In that case the new system software will need to be purchased and installed as with any application software.
Some examples of this type of program are: Windows, Unix, Linux, iOs, etc.
Programming software
It is thus known to programming languages, that is to say, to the programs that serve to design other programs. For this, the user or programmer has various tools to assist in writing the code for the new piece of software, such as test functions or user-friendly interfaces.
All existing programs come from programming software, and each software of this type allows you to "write" a language or protocol different, although many, of course, are the equivalent of polyglots.
Some examples of this type of software are: QBasic, Visual Pro, C ++, Java script, etc.