Software Basics
Monday, February 26, 2024 2:31 PM
I. Essentials
a. Software - all nonhardware components of a digital device
i. Primary purpose: help the computer system monitor itself on order
to function efficiently
b. Development tools - creating software applications, web sites, OSs,
utilities
c. Application software - set of comp programs that helps person carry out a
task.
d. There's no universal standard for categorizing software
e. Mobile devices have a slight diff config to software
i. Files stored in app, so need for a utility that allows access to file
management system no needed
II. Distribution
a. Most software online, can be downloaded directly from developer or
aggregator
b. Executable file - computer program carried out step by step w/in
microprocessor
c. Software can contain viruses, other malware, should download new apps
from trusted sources
d. Software developers have a site for distributing software
e. System requirements specify the operating system and minimum
hardware capacities necessary for a software product to work.
f. Software can be obtained under pricing models
i. Free
ii. One time payment
iii. Subscription
iv. Trial
v. Freemium
vi. Free use of a stripped-down/basic version of product
g. Software upgrade - new version or edition of a software product is
released
h. Software update - small section of program code that replaces part of the
currently installed software.
III. Software Licenses
a. Software license - legal contract that defines way in which a comp
program may be used
i. Referred to as EULAs (End user license agreements)
b. License agreements are displayed during installation process
i. I Agree", consent to terms of license agreement
c. Public domain software - not protected by copyright, b/c copyright has
expired or author placed program in public domain, making it avail w/o
restriction
d. Proprietary software- restrictions on its use that are delineated by
copyright, patents, or license agreements
e. Commercial software - distributed from software publisher's website or
from app store
i. Most is distributed under a single-user license, limits use to one
person at a time
f. Site license - priced at a flat rate and allows software to be used on all
comps @ specific location
g. Multi-user license - priced per copy, allows the allocated # of copies to be
used simultaneously
h. Freeware - copyrighted software that's avail for free
i. Its fully functional, no payment
i. Demoware - proprietary software made avail as a trial version
i. Distributed for free and often comes preinstalled on new devices,
limited until u pay for it
j. Product activation - protecting software from illegal copying by requiring
users to enter a product key or an activation code
k. Hash value - unique number derived from encoding one or more data
sets, like: names, serial #s, and validation codes
l. Open source software- avail to programmers who want to modify and
improve the software, makes uncompiled program instructions
i. Ex) linux, BSD, GPL
m. BSD license = Berkeley Software distribution license of a server operating
system
n. GPL (general public license) - developed for a free operating system called
GNU
i. Slightly more restrictive than BSD license b/c it requires derivative
works to be licensed
IV. Fake and Pirated Software
a. Pirated software - Software that is illegally copied and sold
i. Unsuspecting consumers have inadvertetntly obtained pirated
software, even when paying pull price for software from reputable
source
ii. May not update properly and is not eligible for authenticated
upgrades
b. Signs of pirated software:
i. Software sold at websites for prices well below retail
ii. Commercial software offered as a free download from a third-party
Web site or T or server
iii. Software sold in clear CD-ROM jewel case, w/ no documentation,
license, registration card, or C of Authenticity.
iv. Software marked as "Academic" that requires no proof of eligibility
Software Page 1
, iv. Software marked as "Academic" that requires no proof of eligibility
v. Marked at OEM or "For distribution Only w/ New PC Hardware
Software Page 2
Monday, February 26, 2024 2:31 PM
I. Essentials
a. Software - all nonhardware components of a digital device
i. Primary purpose: help the computer system monitor itself on order
to function efficiently
b. Development tools - creating software applications, web sites, OSs,
utilities
c. Application software - set of comp programs that helps person carry out a
task.
d. There's no universal standard for categorizing software
e. Mobile devices have a slight diff config to software
i. Files stored in app, so need for a utility that allows access to file
management system no needed
II. Distribution
a. Most software online, can be downloaded directly from developer or
aggregator
b. Executable file - computer program carried out step by step w/in
microprocessor
c. Software can contain viruses, other malware, should download new apps
from trusted sources
d. Software developers have a site for distributing software
e. System requirements specify the operating system and minimum
hardware capacities necessary for a software product to work.
f. Software can be obtained under pricing models
i. Free
ii. One time payment
iii. Subscription
iv. Trial
v. Freemium
vi. Free use of a stripped-down/basic version of product
g. Software upgrade - new version or edition of a software product is
released
h. Software update - small section of program code that replaces part of the
currently installed software.
III. Software Licenses
a. Software license - legal contract that defines way in which a comp
program may be used
i. Referred to as EULAs (End user license agreements)
b. License agreements are displayed during installation process
i. I Agree", consent to terms of license agreement
c. Public domain software - not protected by copyright, b/c copyright has
expired or author placed program in public domain, making it avail w/o
restriction
d. Proprietary software- restrictions on its use that are delineated by
copyright, patents, or license agreements
e. Commercial software - distributed from software publisher's website or
from app store
i. Most is distributed under a single-user license, limits use to one
person at a time
f. Site license - priced at a flat rate and allows software to be used on all
comps @ specific location
g. Multi-user license - priced per copy, allows the allocated # of copies to be
used simultaneously
h. Freeware - copyrighted software that's avail for free
i. Its fully functional, no payment
i. Demoware - proprietary software made avail as a trial version
i. Distributed for free and often comes preinstalled on new devices,
limited until u pay for it
j. Product activation - protecting software from illegal copying by requiring
users to enter a product key or an activation code
k. Hash value - unique number derived from encoding one or more data
sets, like: names, serial #s, and validation codes
l. Open source software- avail to programmers who want to modify and
improve the software, makes uncompiled program instructions
i. Ex) linux, BSD, GPL
m. BSD license = Berkeley Software distribution license of a server operating
system
n. GPL (general public license) - developed for a free operating system called
GNU
i. Slightly more restrictive than BSD license b/c it requires derivative
works to be licensed
IV. Fake and Pirated Software
a. Pirated software - Software that is illegally copied and sold
i. Unsuspecting consumers have inadvertetntly obtained pirated
software, even when paying pull price for software from reputable
source
ii. May not update properly and is not eligible for authenticated
upgrades
b. Signs of pirated software:
i. Software sold at websites for prices well below retail
ii. Commercial software offered as a free download from a third-party
Web site or T or server
iii. Software sold in clear CD-ROM jewel case, w/ no documentation,
license, registration card, or C of Authenticity.
iv. Software marked as "Academic" that requires no proof of eligibility
Software Page 1
, iv. Software marked as "Academic" that requires no proof of eligibility
v. Marked at OEM or "For distribution Only w/ New PC Hardware
Software Page 2
