1. What are the various categories of software?
Software products are mainly categorized into:
- System software: Softwares like operating systems, compilers, drivers, etc. fall into this category.
- Networking and web development software: Computer networking software offers the necessary functionality for computers to communicate with one another and with data storage facilities.
- Embedded Software: Software used in instrumentation and control applications such as washing machines, satellites, microwaves, TVs, etc.
- Artificial Intelligence Software: Expert systems, decision support systems, pattern recognition software, artificial neural networks, and other types of software are included in this category.
- Scientific software: These support a scientific or engineering user’s requirements for performing enterprise-specific tasks. Examples include MATLAB, AUTOCAD, etc.
2. What are the characteristics of software?
There are six major characteristics of software:
- Functionality: The things that software is intended to do are called functionality. For example, a calculator’s functionality is to perform mathematical operations.
- Efficiency: It is the ability of the software to use the provided resources in the best way possible. Increasing the efficiency of software increases resource utilization and reduces cost.
- Reliability: Reliability is the probability of failure-free operational software in an environment. It is an important characteristic of software.
- Usability: It refers to the user’s experience while using the software. Usability determines the satisfaction of the user.
- Maintainability: The ease with which you can repair, improve, and comprehend software code is referred to as maintainability. After the customer receives the product, a phase in the software development cycle called software maintenance begins.
- Portability: It refers to the ease with which the software product can be transferred from one environment to another.
Apart from the above-mentioned characteristics, the software also has the following characteristics:
- Software is engineered, it is not developed or manufactured like hardware. Development is an aspect of the hardware manufacturing process. Manufacturing does not exist in the case of software.
- The software doesn’t wear out.
- The software is custom-built.
3. What is a framework?
A framework is a well-known method of developing and deploying software. It is a set of tools that allows developing software by providing information on how to make it on an abstract level, rather than giving exact details. The Software Process Framework is the basis of the entire software development process. The umbrella activities are also included in the software process structure.
4. What is the main difference between a computer program and computer software?
The key difference between software is a collection of several programs used to complete tasks, whereas a program is a set of instructions expressed in a programming language. A program can be software, but software the vice versa is not true.
5. Which SDLC model is the best?
According to the annual State of Agile report, Agile is the best SDLC methodology and also one of the most widely used SDLC in the IT industry. The reason is that it is a hybrid of incremental and iterative approaches and works well in a flexible environment. That being said, select the model that suits your requirements.
6. What is Debugging?
Debugging is the process of finding a software bug, in the context of software engineering. To put it another way, it refers to the process of finding, evaluating, and correcting problems. Debugging is essential once the software fails to run properly.
7. What does a software project manager do?
A software product manager leads and manages the software product management department. They are in charge of the software product’s specialization, goals, structure, and expectations. They also head the planning, backlog grooming, stakeholder management, and providing roadmap necessary to create the best software.
