Application software

Application softwareis anycomputer programthat is intended forend-useruse – notoperating,administeringorprogrammingthe computer. Anapplication(app,application program,software application) is any program that can be categorized as application software.Common types of applications includeword processor,media playerandaccounting software.

The termapplication softwarerefers to all applications collectivelyand can be used to differentiate fromsystemandutilitysoftware.

Applications may be bundled with thecomputerand its system software or published separately. Applications may beproprietaryoropen-source.

The short termapp(coined in 1981 or earlier) became popular with the 2008 introduction of theiOS App Store,to refer toapplications for mobile devicessuch assmartphonesandtablets.Later, with introduction of theMac App Store(in 2010) andWindows Store(in 2011), the term was extended in popular use to include desktop applications.

Terminology

The delineation between system software such asoperating systemsand application software is not exact, however, and is occasionally the object of controversy.For example, one of the key questions in theUnited States v. Microsoft Corp.antitrusttrial was whether Microsoft'sInternet Explorerweb browserwas part of itsWindowsoperating system or a separate piece of application software. As another example, theGNU/Linux naming controversyis, in part, due to disagreement about the relationship between theLinux kerneland the operating systems built over thiskernel.In some types ofembedded systems,the application software and the operating system software may be indistinguishable from the user, as in the case of software used to control aVCR,DVDplayer, ormicrowave oven.The above definitions may exclude some applications that may exist on some computers in large organizations. For an alternative definition of an app:seeApplication Portfolio Management.

When used as an adjective,applicationis not restricted to mean: of or on application software.For example, concepts such asapplication programming interface(API),application server,application virtualization,application lifecycle managementandportable applicationapply to all computer programs alike, not just application software.

Killer app

Sometimes a new and popular application arises that only runs on oneplatformthat results in increasing the desirability of that platform. This is called akiller applicationorkiller app,coined in the late 1980s.For example,VisiCalcwas the first modernspreadsheetsoftware for the Apple II and helped sell the then-newpersonal computersinto offices. For theBlackBerry,it was itsemailsoftware.

Platform specific naming

Some applications are available for multiple platforms while others only work on one and are thus called, for example, ageographyapplicationforMicrosoft Windows,or anAndroidapplication foreducation,or aLinuxgame.

Classification

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

From the legal point of view, application software is mainly classified with ablack-box approach,about the rights of itsend-usersorsubscribers(with eventual intermediate and tiered subscription levels).

Softwareapplications 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 vsopen source softwareapplications, andfreeorproprietary softwareapplications.

Proprietary software is placed under the exclusive copyright, and asoftware licensegrants limited usage rights. Theopen-closed principlestates that software may be "open only for extension, but not for modification". Such applications can only getadd-onsfrom third parties.

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

FOSS software applications released under afree licensemay beperpetualand alsoroyalty-free.Perhaps, theowner,theholderor third-partyenforcerof any right (copyright,trademark,patent,orius in re aliena) are entitled to add exceptions, limitations, time decays or expiring dates to the license terms of use.

Public-domain softwareis 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 anycopyright attributionand thereforerevocation.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 theweb,an important distinction that has emerged, has been betweenweb applications— written withHTML,JavaScriptand other web-native technologies and typically requiring one to be online and running aweb browser— and the more traditional native applications written in whatever languages are available for one's particulartype 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 assmartphonesandtablets.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.

By purpose and output

Application software can also be seen as being eitherhorizontalorvertical.Horizontal applications are more popular and widespread, because they are general purpose, for example word processors or databases. Vertical applications areniche 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:

• Anapplication suiteconsists 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 applicationsoften come in suites, e.g.Microsoft Office,LibreOfficeandiWork,which bundle together a word processor, a spreadsheet, etc.; but suites exist for other purposes, e.g. graphics or music.
• Enterprise softwareaddresses the needs of an entire organization's processes and data flows, across several departments, often in a large distributed environment. Examples includeenterprise resource planningsystems,customer relationship management(CRM) systems,data replicationengines, andsupply 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 travelexpense managementand IT Helpdesk.)
• Enterprise infrastructure softwareprovides common capabilities needed to support enterprisesoftware systems.(Examples include databases, email servers, and systems for managing networks and security.)
• Application platform as a service (aPaaS)is acloud computingservice that offers development and deployment environments for application services.
• Information workersoftwarelets users create and manage information, often for individual projects within a department, in contrast to enterprise management. Examples includetime 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 softwareis 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 consumedigital entertainmentand published digital content. (Examples includemedia players,web browsers,and help browsers.)
• Educational softwareis 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 softwaresimulates physical or abstract systems for either research, training, or entertainment purposes.
• Media development softwaregenerates print and electronic media for others to consume, most often in a commercial or educational setting. This includesgraphic-art software,desktop publishing software, multimedia development software, HTML editors, digital-animation editors, digital audio and video composition, and many others.
• Product engineering softwareis used in developing hardware and software products. This includescomputer-aided design(CAD),computer-aided engineering(CAE), computer language editing and compiling tools,integrated development environments,and application programmer interfaces.
• Entertainment Softwarecan 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 bycomputing platformssuch as a desktop application for a particularoperating system,delivery network such as incloud computingandWeb 2.0applications, or delivery devices such asmobile appsformobile 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 acommand-line interfaceorgraphical user interface.This does not include application software bundled within operating systems such as asoftware calculatorortext editor.

Information worker software

• Accounting software
• Data management
  • Contact manager
  • Spreadsheet
  • Database software
• Documentation
  • Document automation
  • Word processor
  • Desktop publishing software
  • Diagramming software
  • Presentation software
  • Email
  • Blog software
• Enterprise resource planning
• Financial software
  • Banking software
  • Clearing systems
  • Financial accounting software
  • Financial software
• Field service management
  • Workforce management software
• Project management software
  • Calendaring software
  • Employee scheduling software
  • Workflow software
• Reservation systems

Entertainment software

• Screen savers
• Video games
  • Arcade games
  • Console games
  • Mobile games
  • Personal computer games
• Software art
  • Demo
    • 64K intro

Educational software

Main article:List of educational software

• Classroom management
• Reference software
• Sales readiness software
• Survey management
• Encyclopedia software

Enterprise infrastructure software

• Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations(AIOps)
• Businessworkflowsoftware
• Database management system(DBMS)
• Digital asset management(DAM) software
• Document managementsoftware
• Geographic information system(GIS)

Simulation software

• Computer simulators
  • Scientific simulators
  • Social simulators
  • Battlefield simulators
  • Emergency simulators
  • Vehicle simulators
    • Flight simulators
    • Driving simulators
  • Simulation games
    • Vehicle simulation games

Media development software

• 3D computer graphics software
• Animation software
• Graphic art software
  • Raster graphics editor
  • Vector graphics editor
• Image organizer
• Video editing software
• Audio editing software
  • Digital audio workstation
• Music sequencer
  • Scorewriter
• HTML editor
• Game development tool

Product engineering software

• Hardware engineering
  • Computer-aided engineering
  • Computer-aided design (CAD)
  • Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
  • Finite element analysis

Software engineering

• Compiler software
• Integrated development environment
  • Compiler
  • Linker
  • Debugger
• Version control
• Game development tool
• License manager

See also

• Software development– Creation and maintenance of software
• 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 networkPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Super-app– Mobile application that provides multiple services that include financial transactions

External links

• Learning materials related toApplication softwareat Wikiversity