ICDL – 19 MAY 2023
WHAT IS SOFTWARE?
Software is a set of instructions or programs used to
operate computers and to execute specific tasks.
TWO TYPES OF SOFTWARE
1. OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE (OS) – the
programs that control the computer and enables it to
function.
E.g. Android,
Windows,
Mac OS, etc.
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2. APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE
– programs that help the user to perform specific tasks.
Some examples.
Word processor for preparing text-based documents
Spreadsheets for analysing and summarising numerical
data.
Photo-editing programs for visual graphics.
Music player for audio output.
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INTEGRATED SOFTWARE
These are the applications software that are designed by
a single company to perform different tasks, and are
grouped together.
Example of integrated software
Microsoft Office:
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Advantages of an integrated software:
• Separate packages have a similar interface
• Separate packages designed to share and exchange
data
• Sold as a suite of programs – one purchase
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LICENSING AGREEMENTS
These are actually
legally binding
contracts between
you as the user and
the software
company. These
license agreements
are often termed
EULAs or
End-User Licence
Agreements
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LICENSING AGREEMENTS
Single user licence
This generally means that you
may only install ONE copy of
the software.
You can also usually make one backup copy of the
media (CD or DVD) that contained the software.
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LICENSING AGREEMENTS
Site licence
Unrestricted number of
installations within the
company or organisation
More expensive than a single
licence, but cheaper than buying
single copy for each computer
(Also referred to as Volume licencing)
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FREE SOFTWARE
Freeware and Shareware
Fully functioning software that can be
FREEWARE used and copied without any restrictions
Software that you can download free and
use for a trial period for free. After the
SHAREWARE trial period, or to get the ‘full’ version,
you need to pay for it.
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FREE SOFTWARE
Open source software (OSS)
Software that may be freely used, modified and distributed,
but not sold.
Examples of open source
software:
• Linux operating system
• Office suites OpenOffice
and LibreOffice
• Java programming language
• MySQL database system
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FREE SOFTWARE
Open source software – cont.
Potential disadvantages of open source software:
• No guarantee of quality or that it works correctly
• Often many different versions of the same product
• Can generally only get it from the internet –
downloads can use a lot of data and take some time
• Not as widely used
• Documentation and support may not be easy to
access
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FREE SOFTWARE
Copyright
Copyright: refers to the legal right to make copies,
publish and sell.
Intellectual property: broader concept – recognises
the ownership of the person that came up with the
original idea or thought.
Creative Commons: non-profit organisation that
promotes the sharing and free use of knowledge and
products legally
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