Three major categories of software

1. Programming Software -
2. Software Applications- serve as productivity tools to help computer users solve problems
1. Examples - Microsoft Word, Media Player, Photoshop
3. System Software - Coordinates hardware operations and does behind the scenes work the computer user seldom sees.
1. Utility Software
2. Boot Loaders
3. BIOS

Food for Thought
       The hardware in a computer system is equipped to produce whatever output a user requests
   

A fast, stupid machine

• Programmers begin with an algorithm: a set of step-by-step instructions written in a natural language, e.g., English
• The steps are often ambiguous, error-prone generalities
• The steps are translated into the vocabulary of a programming language

Algorithm - A procedure or formula for solving a problem

>Machine Language: numeric codes that represent data
>High-level language: falls between machine language and natural human language
               -Compilers translate high-level language into machine language

>Natural Languages: resemble languages spoken by humans

Machine Languages
1.FASM
2.Unix
3.FORTRAN