Webware
Webware is the same as a web application, web-app, rich Internet application (RIA) or Cloudware. Different terms but same meaning.
Webware is the term given to describe Web-based software - software that runs either on the Web and is not installed onto a computer's hard drive or is installed and runs on a local computer; and in either case, it uses a web browser, that defines Webware whereas a web app runs on the Internet only. In addition, this terms applies to devices that also connect users to the Internet for interaction with such software. When run over the Internet Webware can be accessed by multiple users at the same time and from any computer with Internet connectivity. Social networking websites, room booking systems, and stores management software and education software are just a few examples of Webware. This term is different from Webware for Python in that it refers to a name of a software rather than to label an entire classification of software.
Webware is a software which is executed from the Web and runs on the server and/or within the users' browser without the need to download and install it. It is simply a web-based application or web application. Web applications that are served online via web and installed on local computer cannot be considered a webware such as in the case of Adobe AIR applications. They are simply desktop applications powered by Adobe AIR framework. Although they are served online from the web but that serving part is actually downloading and installation phase. Once those get installed on the users' computer, they are not different anymore from the locally installed desktop applications because they are run locally as standalone applications whether they are connected online or not. When you move to another computer and access the same page where the Adobe AIR app came from, you will have to re-download and re-install it again thus eliminating the most important characteristics of a web applications which is centralization, ready-to-run and ready-to-use.
The key characteristics in categorizing a software as a webware are:
- Nothing needs to be installed. No special configuration or changes are needed on user's computer.
- Nothing needs to be uninstalled because web apps don't leave traces like desktop apps do. If you do not want to use the web app anymore, you just close it.
- Centralization. A web application is centralized in nature. It is accessed from a single location, a web server using a web client software which is typically a web browser.
- Web-based applications are always up-to-date compared to traditional desktop software. Updates can be made quickly and easily since the admin only needs to update a single copy on the server unlike the multiple copies of traditional desktop software installed on several computers. Support and maintenance are easier due to its centralized nature.
- Everybody has a browser - familiar interface encourages use.
- A big part of the application's consumed computing power and resources are offloaded from the users' PC and the burden is transferred on to a server.
- Cross platform compatibility since it runs within the web browser, it can be accessed on any modern operating system.
- No local admin rights required.
- Piracy-proof.
- Lesser risk of viruses. Web applications are not prone to virus infections compared to traditional desktop software and are less likely capable of infecting the users' computer due to strict standard security mechanism of web browsers in place such as the Same Origin Policy. There may be rogue web-based applications but their bad behavior are easier to detect than those of installed desktop software embedded with malware code.
- Widest potential user base or audience due to its cross-platform and centralized nature.