Computer software (or simply software) is the programs and procedures that enable a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.

The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1957. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all information processed by computer systems, programs and data. The concept of reading different sequences of instructions into the memory of a device to control computations was invented by Charles Babbage as part of his difference engine. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem. Hally, Mike (2005:79). Electronic brains/Stories from the dawn of the computer age. British Broadcasting Corporation and Granta Books, London. ISBN 1-86-207663-4.

Relationship to hardware

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Computer software is so called in contrast to computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. In computers, software is loaded into RAM and executed in the central processing unit. At the lowest level, software consists of a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions (object code), which change the state of the computer from its preceding state. Software is an ordered sequence of instructions for changing the state of the computer hardware in a particular sequence. It is generally written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are compiled or interpreted into machine language object code. Software may also be written in an assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language must be assembled into object code via an assembler.

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SurveyMonkey: Free online survey software & questionnaire tool http://wong.to/2dy8
MarcLussy (Marc Lussy) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:48:02 -0000
SurveyMonkey: Free online survey software & questionnaire tool http://wong.to/2dy8
If we'd had twitter in the 1990s - tweet from the command line! http://www.floodgap.com/software/ttytter/ HT @spwhitton
davidgerard (davidgerard) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:47:50 -0000
If we'd had twitter in the 1990s - tweet from the command line! http://www.floodgap.com/software/ttytter/ HT @spwhitton
New #job: Software Engineer - Use CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES!! #jobs #tech http://bit.ly/6MiuV5
TechJobs_Boston (Boston Tech Jobs) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:47:47 -0000
New #job: Software Engineer - Use CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES!! #jobs #tech http://bit.ly/6MiuV5
Software Tool For Wordpress: The software tool I need created... Takes just 5 minutes to set up your site. With a f... http://cli.gs/4aMMA
wordpress_jobs (wordpress jobs) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:47:36 -0000
Software Tool For Wordpress: The software tool I need created... Takes just 5 minutes to set up your site. With a f... http://cli.gs/4aMMA
RT @marismith: Snagit for Mac is out in beta! http://bit.ly/5qslPi [This is the cool screencapture software; I use all the time on my PC].
EllieWalsh (EllieWalsh) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:47:29 -0000
RT @marismith: Snagit for Mac is out in beta! http://bit.ly/5qslPi [This is the cool screencapture software; I use all the time on my PC].
Software-General Discussion: Firebird Messed Up File Registrations http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=588619
techglesoftware (Software Zone) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:47:17 -0000
Software-General Discussion: Firebird Messed Up File Registrations http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=588619

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