Many users of personal computers do not seek to delve into all the nuances of the operation of operating systems, utility programs, computer terminology. However, there are several terms, the meaning of which should be known to every person who has a computer. In particular, these words include "driver" and "distribution".
Program distribution form
Distribution is a word derived from the English distribute, meaning "to distribute." With regard to computer topics, a distribution is understood as a way of distributing programs. The fact is that in most cases, for the program to work, it is not enough just to copy it to the hard disk of the computer; a number of additional operations will be required: creating an entry in the operating system registry, placing files in the appropriate folders, setting the program parameters. In addition, many of the auxiliary files required for the program to work are compressed, which allows them to be reduced in size, for example, for writing to disk.
The distribution kit of the program is an executable file (or several files), the launch of which initiates the process of installing the program on the computer. As a rule, the user is asked to select the location of the files, read the license agreement and make preliminary settings, after which the installation wizard will independently unzip the necessary files into the appropriate folders, make entries in the operating system registry, and even create a shortcut to quickly launch the program.
Interaction of programs and devices
The second important concept, knowledge of which is desirable for the user, is the driver. A driver is a utility program that ensures that the operating system interacts correctly with certain devices. Drivers are required for all devices, from motherboard and video card to mouse and keyboard.
As a rule, any operating system contains many standard drivers, especially Windows, which uses the Plug & Play principle, which frees the user from the need to search for drivers on the Internet or on disks. Nevertheless, it is impossible to foresee all the configurations of devices and their brands, so you still have to search for some of the drivers directly on the websites of device manufacturers. Also, keep in mind that drivers can be improved and updated, so it is worth checking them regularly for updates.
In most cases, complex devices are bundled with an installation disc that contains the latest drivers. If there is a need to search for drivers on the Internet, do not forget that different sets of drivers are required for different operating systems. By the way, on the manufacturers' websites you can download the driver distributions, that is, the executable files that will install all the drivers on their own.
