Application software

OpenOffice.org Writer word processor. OpenOffice.org is a popular example of open source application software

Application software, also known as an application, is computer software designed to help the user to perform singular or multiple related specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players.

Application software is contrasted with system software and middleware, which manage and integrate a computer's capabilities, but typically do not directly apply them in the performance of tasks that benefit the user. A simple, if imperfect analogy in the world of hardware would be the relationship of an electric light bulb (an application) to an electric power generation plant (a system). The power plant merely generates electricity, not itself of any real use until harnessed to an application like the electric light that performs a service that benefits the user.

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Terminology

In computer science, an application is a computer program designed to help people perform an activity. An application thus differs from an operating system (which runs a computer), a utility (which performs maintenance or general-purpose chores), and a programming language (with which computer programs are created). Depending on the activity for which it was designed, an application can manipulate text, numbers, graphics, or a combination of these elements. Some application packages offer considerable computing power by focusing on a single task, such as word processing; others, called integrated software, offer somewhat less power but include several applications.[1] User-written software tailors systems to meet the user's specific needs. User-written software include spreadsheet templates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, 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 operating systems and application software is not exact, however, and is occasionally the object of controversy. For example, one of the key questions in the United States v. Microsoft antitrust trial was whether Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser was part of its Windows operating system or a separable 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 to 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 application: see Application Portfolio Management.

Application software classification

There are many types of application software:

Examples Of Application software

Information worker software

  • Time and Resource Management
    • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
    • Accounting software
    • Task and Scheduling
    • Field service management software
  • Data Management
  • Documentation
    • Document Automation/Assembly
    • Word Processing
    • Desktop publishing software
    • Diagramming Software
    • Presentation software
  • Analytical software
    • Computer algebra systems
    • Numerical computing
      • List of numerical software
    • Physics software
    • Science software
    • List of statistical software
    • Neural network software
  • Collaborative software
  • Reservation systems
  • Financial Software
    • Day trading software
    • Banking systems
    • Clearing systems

Content access software

  • Electronic media software

Entertainment software

Educational software

  • Classroom Management
  • Entertainment Software
  • Learning/Training Management Software
  • Reference software
  • Sales Readiness Software
  • Survey Management

Enterprise infrastructure software

Simulation software

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

Media development software

  • Image organizer
  • Media content creating/editing
    • 3D computer graphics software
    • Animation software
    • Graphic art software
    • Image editing software
      • Raster graphics editor
      • Vector graphics editor
    • Video editing software
    • Sound editing software
      • Digital audio editor
    • Music sequencer
      • Scorewriter
    • Hypermedia editing software
      • Web Development Software

Product engineering software

References

  1. Ceruzzi, Paul E. (1998). A History of Modern Computing. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. ISBN 0262032554.
  2. Campbell-Kelly, Martin; Aspray, William (1996). Computer: A History of the Information Machine. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 0465029906.