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Miloslav Ciz 2022-01-15 00:39:44 -06:00
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# Software
Software (SW) are programs that run on a computer, i.e. its non-physical parts (as opposed to [hardware](hw.md)); for example an [operating system](os.md), the internet [browser](browser.md) etc.
Usually we can pretty clearly say what is software and what is hardware, but there are cases where it's debatable. Normally software is that about the computer which *can relatively easily be changed* (i.e. reinstalled by a typing a few commands or clicking a few buttons) while hardware is *hard-wired*, difficult to modify, and not expected or designed to be modified. Nevertheless e.g. some [firmware](firmware.md) is kind of software in form of instructions which is however many times installed in some special kind of memory that's difficult to reprogram and not expected to be reprogrammed often -- some software may be "burned in" into a circuit so that it could only be changed by physically rewiring the circuit (the ME spyware in [Intel](intel.md) [CPU](cpu.md)s has a built-in [minix](minix.md) operating system). And this is where it may sometimes be difficult to decide where the line is drawn. This issue is encountered e.g. by the [FSF](fsf.md) which certifies some hardware that works with free software as "Respects Your Privacy" (RYF), and they have very specific definition what to them classifies software.