Shovelware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The derogatory computer jargon term shovelware refers to software noted more for the quantity of what is included than for the quality or usefulness.
This was commonly used to describe software on early CD-ROMs such as collections of public domain software. The relatively large capacity of CD-ROMs at the time would inspire producers to try to fill them with as much software as possible without regard to integration issues or usability so they could advertise the comprehensiveness of the product.
The term is coined with semantic analogy to "freeware", "shareware", etc. Rather than hand-picking software and carefully placing it in the collection, the analogy goes, the publisher has indiscriminately "shoveled" the software on to the CD. Hence, shovelware.
The term "shovelware" is sometimes replaced with "bloatware" especially when a program has too many useless features that use up memory and processing power. A program may be described as "bloated" if it uses more system memory than necessary.
In reverse, shovelware can also describe a program which doesn't utilize most of the potential that it has. Adam Sessler of X-Play described the Playstation 3 launch game Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire as "shovelware of the highest order", which took little advantage of the new system's capabilities and was rushed out in order for it to be a launch title [1].
Shovelware also is the term given to media content (often from a newspaper, TV or radio station) that is hastily thrown onto a corresponding Web site with little regard to the layout or design.
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