Softwares.. are they soft?

Let's start with the basics. Softwares are basically sets of instructions and related data that instruct the computer what to do and how to do it. Computer software, commonly termed as "programs" and also "applications" are just different sets of instructions.
 Softwares are developed by programmers using languages that we understand that are translated by other programs in to languages that the computer understands.

Softwares are divided into three categories:

• System software: These are the softwares which are specifically designed to interact with the hardware, operate the hardware as well as provide a basic framework for helping other softwares to run alongside them. Examples include operating systems, firmwares, device drivers, etc.
• Programming software: These are the softwares that the software programmers use to create, debug and maintain other programs and applications. Examples are compilers, debuggers, interpreters, linkers, and text editors, that can be combined together to accomplish a task.
• Application software: All other software types come under this category. They include programs that need computation, word processors, browsers, entertainment softwares, games, databases, educational softwares, etc.

Software development is neither an easy process nor a short process. It has its own development life cycles, that programmers follow while creating an efficient and well designed software.
Well, that's it for now. Starting with descriptions of actual softwares next week.

And PS: softwares might not be soft. They cannot be touched, so no one knows if they are soft or not.