program ==>
software
<programming> (Or "computer program", "program", "code") The instructions
executed by a computer, as opposed to the physical device on which they run (the
"hardware").
The term was coined by the eminent statistician, John Tukey.
Programs stored on non-volatile storage built from integrated circuits (e.g. ROM
or PROM) are usually called firmware.
Software can be split into two main types - system software and application
software or application programs. System software is any software required to
support the production or execution of application programs but which is not
specific to any particular application. Examples of system software would
include the operating system, compilers, editors and sorting programs.
Examples of application programs would include an accounts package or a CAD
program. Other broad classes of application software include real-time software,
business software, scientific and engineering software, embedded software,
personal computer software and artificial intelligence software.
Software includes both source code written by humans and executable machine code
produced by assemblers or compilers. It does not usually include the data
processed by programs unless this is in a format such as multimedia which
depends on the use of computers for its presentation. This distinction becomes
unclear in cases such as spread sheets which can contain both instructions
(formulae and macros) and data. There are also various intermediate compiled or
semi-compiled, forms of software such as library files and byte-code.
Some claim that documentation (both paper and electronic) is also software.
Others go further and define software to be programs plus documentation though
this does not correspond with common usage.
The noun "program" describes a single, complete and more-or-less self-contained
list of instructions, often stored in a single file, whereas "code" and
"software" are uncountable nouns describing some number of instructions which
may constitute one or more programs or part thereof. Most programs, however,
rely heavily on various kinds of operating system software for their execution.
The nounds "code" and "software" both refer to the same thing but "code" tends
to suggest an interest in the implementation details whereas "software" is more
of a user's term.
(2002-07-21)
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