A Comprehensive Overview of Software Types

Technology is part of everyday life but have you ever wondered how it works?
Behind the computers and mobile phones is the software that runs them. Computer code that communicates with hardware to make it function.

The Internet is the focus of modern coding. Web sites and web apps are popular but are they the only types of software?
This article gives a beginner’s tutorial on the different types of software and how they relate to your business.
Read on to discover the difference between freeware and open source and system drivers. And how the right software developer can improve your bottom line.
What is software?
Software is the collection of data, programs, procedures, routines and instructions that tell a computer or electronic device how to run, work and execute specific tasks. This is in contrast to hardware, which is the physical system and components that perform the work.
How does software work?
How exactly does software work? Well, it is just another term for a computer programme and a programme is a set of instructions that tells the device how to perform.
Those instructions are written in code that the computer can understand.
At the core of all software is logic and the principle of input > process > output.
The programme needs information to work with i.e. the input. Think tapping a button on your phone. It then asks a series of questions based on a set of rules. For example, should the button print an invoice or cancel an order?
The output is what happens as a result. When your printer starts up, the invoice comes out of the tray. Types of Software
Software can take the form of one line of code or, like Microsoft’s Windows operating system, span into millions.
Software also works with other software to join as a cohesive system. Thousands of software components designed to work together make up your smartphone. Code languages and styles vary in size and scope. The software used to work a modern microwave is very different from the code that runs an Apple Mac.
The remainder of this article helps to explain the different types of software including:
Application Software
System Software
Firmware
Programming Software
Driver Software
Freeware
Shareware
Open Source Software
Closed Source Software
Utility Software
We provide examples of each and how they could serve your business.
You’ll see the difference between applications versus system software and how the industry has evolved over the years to the IT juggernaut it’s become today.
Application Software
Application software is a software program or group of programs designed for end-users. There are many types of application software.
Types of Application Software and Examples
Word Processing Software: Google Docs, Microsoft Word, WordPad and Notepad
Database Software: MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Oracle, IBM DB2 and FoxPro
Spreadsheet Software: Google Sheets, Apple Numbers and Microsoft Excel
Multimedia Software: Media Player, Winamp, QuickTime and VLC Media Player
Presentation Software: Google Slides, Microsoft Powerpoint, Keynotes, Prezzy
Enterprise Software: customer relationship management (CRM) software (HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamic 365)), project management tools (Jira, Monday), marketing automation tools (Marketo, HubSpot), enterprise resource planning (ERP) software (SAGE, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics), treasury management system (TMS) software (SAP S/4HANA Finance, Oracle Treasury), business intelligence (BI) software (SAP Business Intelligence, MicroStrategy, Microsoft Power BI)
Software for Information Workers: Resources management and documentation tools Communication Software: Zoom, Google Meet, Skype
Educational Software: Dictionaries – Encarta, Britannica; Mathematical: MATLAB; Others: Google Earth, NASA World Wind
Simulation Software: Flight and scientific simulators
Content Access Software: Accessing content through media players, web browsers
Application Suites: Apache OpenOffice, Microsoft Office365, Apple’s iWork, LibreOffice, G-Suite, Oracle E-Business Suite
Software for Engineering and Product Development: IDE or Integrated Development Environments
Email Software: Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail
Benefits of Application Software
Applications are the lifeblood of our digital devices.
Mobile app developers create solutions to let businesses sell and market themselves online. Financial applications run the stock market. The banking system uses applications to transfer money and log transactions.
If your business needs a digital solution it usually comes in the form of an app.
System Software
System software includes the programs that manage the computer itself, such as the operating system, file management utilities, and disk operating system (or DOS), and provides a platform for other software. The system’s files consist of libraries of functions, system services, drivers for printers and other hardware, system preferences and other configuration files. The programs in system software encompass assemblers, compilers, file management tools, system utilities and debuggers.
While application software is non-essential and won’t shut down your device by being uninstalled, system software is essential and creates a platform that apps sit inside.