Learn Hardcore German: Die neue Software ist verfügbar, und viele Leute laden sie sofort herunter. - The new software is available, and many people download it immediately.

In German, a comma between two independent main clauses joined by und is optional. Both versions are correct: with a comma (more formal/clear) or without (more common in everyday writing). The comma can improve readability, especially when the clauses are longer.

Why is the pronoun sie used for Software instead of es?

Because Software is grammatically feminine in German (die Software). A feminine singular direct object is referred to as sie. Don’t confuse lowercase sie (she/it/they) with capitalized Sie (formal you).

Is herunterladen a separable verb? How does that affect word order?

Yes. In main clauses, separable verbs split:

The conjugated part (laden) sits in position 2.
The prefix (herunter) goes to the end. Example pattern: Viele Leute laden sie … herunter. In dictionaries and in non-finite forms, it appears as one word: herunterladen.

Where should sofort go? Could it be elsewhere?

The neutral spot is in the middle field before the separable prefix: … laden sie sofort herunter. Pronouns like sie tend to come before adverbs. You can front Sofort for emphasis (Sofort laden … herunter), but placing it after the prefix is unusual.

Can I use runterladen instead of herunterladen?

Yes. runterladen is the colloquial variant of herunterladen and is widely used in speech. In careful or formal writing, herunterladen is preferred.

Can I say downloaden?

Yes, it’s common, especially in tech contexts, but it’s an anglicism. Conjugation (regular):

ich downloade
du downloadest
er/sie/es downloadet
wir downloaden
ihr downloadet
sie/Sie downloaden Past participle: gedownloadet (also heard: downgeloadet). In formal German, herunterladen/heruntergeladen is stylistically safer.

How do I say this in the past tense?

Spoken/writing (Perfekt): Viele Leute haben sie sofort heruntergeladen.
Written narrative (Präteritum): Viele Leute luden sie sofort herunter.

What happens in a subordinate clause?

In subordinate clauses, the finite verb moves to the end and the prefix reattaches: … weil viele Leute sie sofort herunterladen. Similarly with dass: … dass viele Leute sie sofort herunterladen.

How do I form the zu-infinitive with a separable verb?

Insert zu between prefix and stem: herunterzuladen. Example: … ohne sie sofort herunterzuladen.

Why is it die neue Software (with -e) and not die neuen Software?

After the definite article die (feminine nominative singular), adjectives take the weak ending -e: die neue Software. The -en ending would be used in other cases (e.g., plural: die neuen Programme) or in certain case contexts.

Is Software countable in German?

Usually it’s a mass noun with no plural: die Software. You’ll often say die neue Software (a specific release) or talk about Programme/Anwendungen/Softwarelösungen for countable items. eine Software and Softwares occur in business/marketing, but many speakers avoid them.

Should I say Leute or Menschen?

Leute = people, informal and very common in everyday contexts.
Menschen = people/human beings, more neutral/formal or when you want to emphasize humanity rather than just a crowd. Here viele Leute is perfectly natural.

Does laden by itself mean “to download”?

No. laden means to load or to charge. Related verbs:

herunterladen = to download
hochladen = to upload
aufladen = to charge (a battery)
beladen = to load (a vehicle, container, etc.)

Why is it viele Leute and not vielen Leuten?

Because viele Leute is the subject in the nominative case (who is doing the downloading?). vielen Leuten is dative plural and would be used in different structures (e.g., mit vielen Leuten, zu vielen Leuten).