The best pc software puts dumb hardware to smart use. These collections of code are capable of anything from balancing the family budget to analyzing cancer genomes.
To visualize and clear space on your drive, try WinDirStat or Space Sniffer (try not to giggle). For a powerful GIF creator and editor that works locally, look no further than ScreenToGIF.
1. Security
Software gives directions to the hardware in a computer and it also provides data that helps the hardware work efficiently. The main two different types of computer software are application and system software.
Application software consists of programs that perform specific tasks for end users. These can be anything from word processors and multimedia players to online communication tools and productivity apps like a calendar or to-do list.
System software is what enables other computer programs to run. It runs on the underlying operating system and manages most of the computer hardware, including devices like monitors, printers and hard drives. It is important because it allows the operating system to talk to the hardware in a machine language of ones and zeroes. It also converts human-readable code into a form that is easily read by a computer (known as source code). It includes things like the firmware, device drivers and system utilities. This software is always running and it is constantly updating and performing optimisations.
2. Performance
Computer software includes a wide assortment of tools and programs that make using your computer more efficient, productive or even enjoyable. These include word processors, music and video games, graphics and design software. Online communication tools such as Skype or Google Hangouts, and productivity tools like a calculator or to-do list are also popular.
All software provides the directions computers need to work and meet user needs, but there are two different types: application software and system software. The two kinds of software work in distinctly different ways.
PC benchmarking suites like 3DMark can assess your CPU, GPU and SSD/HDD performance to grade your desktop. These kinds of tests can also help you identify specific areas where improvements can be made, such as reducing power consumption or increasing network throughput. The key to achieving better performance is setting goals, measuring in a controlled environment, making changes and re-testing. This way you can know that your changes actually have a positive impact on the overall performance of your hardware.