Software categories are groups of software. They allow software to be understood in terms of those categories, instead of the particularities of each package. Different classification schemes consider different aspects of software.
- System Software
System software is a collection of programs written to service other programs.
Ex. Compilers, Editor, operating system, drivers etc
2. Real – Time Software
Software that monitors or analyzes or controls real-world events as they occur is called real time.
Elements of real-time software include a data gathering component that collects and formats
information from an external environment, an analysis component that transforms information as
required by the application.
A control/output component that responds to the external environment and a monitoring component
that coordinates all other components so that real-time response can be maintained.
Ex. Weather Forecasting
3. Application Software
Application software consists of standalone programs that solve a specific business need.
Application software is used to control the business function in real-time.
Application software processes business or technical data. Ex. Transaction Processing, Sales Processing, Manufacturing Software etc.
4. Engineering/Scientific Software
Characterized by “number crunching” algorithms.
Application software is set of programs designed for engineering and scientific purposes.
Applications range from astronomy to volcano logy, from automotive stress analysis to space shuttle
orbital dynamics, and from molecular biology to automated manufacturing.
Ex. Computer Aided Design (CAD), system stimulation etc.
5. Embedded Software
Intelligent products have become common place in nearly every consumer and industrial market.
Embedded Software resides within product and is used to control products and systems for the
consumer.
Embedded software can perform limited and esoteric functions.
Ex. Keypad control for a microwave oven, digital functions in an automobile such as fuel control,
dashboard displays, and braking systems.
6. Product line Software
Designed to provide a specific capability for use by many different customers.
Product line software can focus on a limited and esoteric marketplace.
Ex. Word processing, spreadsheet, CG, multimedia, etc.
7. Web Based Software
The Web pages retrieved by a browser are software that incorporates executable instructions and data.
Web apps can be little more than a set of linked hypertext files.
It evolves into sophisticated computing environments that not only provide standalone features,
functions but also integrated with corporate database and business applications.
8. Artificial Intelligence Software
AI software makes use of non-numerical algorithms to solve complex problems that are not amenable
to computation or straightforward analysis
Ex. Robotics, expert system, game playing, pattern recognition, theorem providing etc.
