Application software

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

An application program (software application, or application, or app for short) is a

media players, and accounting software are examples. The collective noun "application software" refers to all applications collectively.[3] The other principal classifications of software are system software, relating to the operation of the computer, and utility software
("utilities").

Applications may be bundled with the computer and its system software or published separately and may be coded as proprietary, open-source, or projects.[4] When referring to applications for mobile devices such as phones, the term "app" is more commonly used.

Terminology

In information technology, an application (app), an application program, or application software is a computer program designed to help people perform an activity. Depending on the activity for which it was designed, an application can manipulate text, numbers, audio, graphics, and a combination of these elements. Some application packages focus on a single task, such as word processing; others called integrated software include several applications.[5]

User-written software tailors systems to meet the user's specific needs. User-written software includes spreadsheet templates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, audio, graphics, and animation scripts. Even email filters are a kind of user software. Users create this software themselves and often overlook how important it is.

The delineation between system software such as

antitrust trial was whether Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser was part of its Windows operating system or a separate piece of application software. As another example, the GNU/Linux naming controversy is, in part, due to disagreement about the relationship between the Linux kernel and the operating systems built over this kernel. In some types of embedded systems, the application software and the operating system software may be indistinguishable from the user, as in the case of software used to control a VCR, DVD player, or microwave oven. The above definitions may exclude some applications that may exist on some computers in large organizations. For an alternative definition of an app: see Application Portfolio Management
.

Metonymy

The word "application" used as an adjective is not restricted to the "of or on application software" meaning.

application programming interface (API), application server, application virtualization, application lifecycle management and portable application
apply to all computer programs alike, not just application software.

Apps and killer apps

Main article: Killer application

Some applications are available in versions for several different platforms; others only work on one and are thus called, for example, a

Linux game. Sometimes a new and popular application arises that only runs on one platform, increasing the desirability of that platform. This is called a killer application or killer app, coined in the late 1980s.[7][8] For example, VisiCalc was the first modern spreadsheet software for the Apple II and helped sell the then-new personal computers into offices. For Blackberry it was their email
software.

The shortened term "app" (coined in 1981 or earlier

Windows Store
, the term was extended in popular use to include desktop applications.

Classification

There are many different and alternative ways to classify application software.

From the legal point of view, application software is mainly classified with a

subscribers
(with eventual intermediate and tiered subscription levels).

Software applications are also classified with respect to the programming language in which the source code is written or executed, and concerning their purpose and outputs.

By property and use rights

Application software is usually distinguished into two main classes: closed source vs

open source software applications, and free or proprietary software
applications.

Proprietary software is placed under the exclusive copyright, and a

open-closed principle states that software may be "open only for extension, but not for modification". Such applications can only get add-ons
from third parties.

Free and open-source software (FOSS) shall be run, distributed, sold, or extended for any purpose, and -being open- shall be modified or reversed in the same way.

FOSS software applications released under a

enforcer of any right (copyright, trademark, patent, or ius in re aliena
) are entitled to add exceptions, limitations, time decays or expiring dates to the license terms of use.

Public-domain software is a type of FOSS which is royalty-free and - openly or reservedly- can be run, distributed, modified, reversed, republished, or created in derivative works without any copyright attribution and therefore revocation. It can even be sold, but without transferring the public domain property to other single subjects. Public-domain SW can be released under a (un)licensing legal statement, which enforces those terms and conditions for an indefinite duration (for a lifetime, or forever).

By coding language

Since the development and near-universal adoption of the

type of computer. There has been a contentious debate in the computing community regarding web applications replacing native applications for many purposes, especially on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Web apps have indeed greatly increased in popularity for some uses, but the advantages of applications make them unlikely to disappear soon, if ever. Furthermore, the two can be complementary, and even integrated.[10][11][12][13]

By purpose and output

Application software can also be seen as being either

niche products
, designed for a particular type of industry or business, or department within an organization. Integrated suites of software will try to handle every specific aspect possible of, for example, manufacturing or banking worker, accounting, or customer service.

There are many types of application software:[16]

  • An application suite consists of multiple applications bundled together. They usually have related functions, features, and user interfaces, and may be able to interact with each other, e.g. open each other's files. Business applications often come in suites, e.g. Microsoft Office, LibreOffice and iWork, which bundle together a word processor, a spreadsheet, etc.; but suites exist for other purposes, e.g. graphics or music.
  • supply chain management software. Departmental Software is a sub-type of enterprise software with a focus on smaller organizations or groups within a large organization. (Examples include travel expense management
    and IT Helpdesk.)
  • Enterprise infrastructure software provides common capabilities needed to support enterprise software systems. (Examples include databases, email servers, and systems for managing networks and security.)
  • Application platform as a service (aPaaS) is a cloud computing service that offers development and deployment environments for application services.
  • Information worker software lets users create and manage information, often for individual projects within a department, in contrast to enterprise management. Examples include time management, resource management, analytical, collaborative and documentation tools. Word processors, spreadsheets, email and blog clients, personal information systems, and individual media editors may aid in multiple information worker tasks.
  • Content access software is used primarily to access content without editing, but may include software that allows for content editing. Such software addresses the needs of individuals and groups to consume
    media players, web browsers
    , and help browsers.)
  • Educational software is related to content access software, but has the content or features adapted for use by educators or students. For example, it may deliver evaluations (tests), track progress through material, or include collaborative capabilities.
  • Simulation software simulates physical or abstract systems for either research, training, or entertainment purposes.
  • Media development software generates print and electronic media for others to consume, most often in a commercial or educational setting. This includes graphic-art software, desktop publishing software, multimedia development software, HTML editors, digital-animation editors, digital audio and video composition, and many others.[17]
  • Product engineering software is used in developing hardware and software products. This includes computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE), computer language editing and compiling tools, integrated development environments, and application programmer interfaces.
  • Entertainment Software can refer to video games, screen savers, programs to display motion pictures or play recorded music, and other forms of entertainment which can be experienced through the use of a computing device.

By platform

Applications can also be classified by computing platforms such as a desktop application for a particular operating system,[18] delivery network such as in cloud computing and Web 2.0 applications, or delivery devices such as mobile apps for mobile devices.

The operating system itself can be considered application software when performing simple calculating, measuring, rendering, and word processing tasks not used to control hardware via a command-line interface or graphical user interface. This does not include application software bundled within operating systems such as a software calculator or text editor.

Information worker software

Entertainment software

Educational software

Main article: List of educational software
  • Classroom management
  • Reference software
  • Sales readiness software
  • Survey management
  • Encyclopedia software

Enterprise infrastructure software

Simulation software

Media development software

Product engineering software

Software engineering

See also

  • Software development – Creation and maintenance of computer programs and applications
  • Mobile app – Software application designed to run on mobile devices
  • Web application – Application that uses a web browser as a client
  • Server application
     – Computer to access a central resource or service on a network
  • Super-app – Mobile application that provides multiple services that include financial transactions

References

  1. ^ "application software". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  2. doi:10.17487/RFC4949. RFC 4949
    . Informational.
  3. PC Magazine. Ziff Davis
    .
  4. ^ Ryan, Thorne (2013-03-14). "Caffeine and computer screens: student programmers endure weekend long appathon". The Arbiter. Archived from the original on 2016-07-09. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  5. ISBN 0-262-03255-4
    .
  6. ^ a b Ulrich, William (August 31, 2006). "Application Package Software: The Promise Vs. Reality". Cutter Consortium. Cutter Benchmark Review. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  7. PC Magazine. Ziff Davis
    . Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  8. ^ "killer app". dictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26. Origin of killer app 1985–1990
  9. ^ Thom Holwerda (24 June 2011). "The History of 'App' and the Demise of the Programmer". osnews.com. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  10. ^ Gassée, Jean-Louis (2012-09-17). "The Silly Web vs. Native Apps Debate". Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  11. ^ Frechette, Casey (2013-04-11). "What journalists need to know about the difference between Web apps and native apps". Poynter. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  12. ^ Valums, Andrew (2010-02-10). "Web apps vs desktop apps". valums.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  13. ^ "Web Application Development Services Company UK | Custom Web App Development Agency". www.bespokesoftwaredevelopment.com. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  14. ^ "What Is a Horizontal Application?".
  15. ^ "What Are Horizontal Services?". Archived from the original on 2013-10-31.
  16. ^ "What is Application Software & Its Types | eduCBA". eduCBA. 2015-12-21. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  17. ISBN 0-465-02990-6
    .
  18. ^ "Definition of desktop application". PCMAG. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
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