Application software From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article needs additional citations for verification.

Please help improve th is article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be ch allenged and removed. (February 2010) OpenOffice.org Writer word processor. OpenOffice.org is a popular example of ope n source application software. The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), version 2.8. GIMP is freely distribut ed software. Application software is all the computer software that causes a computer to perf orm useful tasks (compare with Computer viruses) beyond the running of the compu ter itself. A specific instance of such software is called a software applicatio n, application or app. The term is used to contrast such software with system software, which manages a nd integrates a computer's capabilities but does not directly perform tasks that benefit the user. The system software serves the application, which in turn ser ves the user. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphi cs software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with d ocuments. Applications may be bundled with the computer and its system software or published separately, and can be coded as university projects.[1] Application software applies the power of a particular computing platform or sys tem software to a particular purpose. Some applications are available in versions for several different platforms; oth ers have narrower requirements and are thus called, for example, a Geography app lication for Windows or an Android application for education or Linux gaming. So metimes a new and popular application arises which only runs on one platform, in creasing the desirability of that platform. This is called a killer application. Contents [hide] 1 Terminology 2 Application software classification 2.1 Information worker software 2.2 Content access software 2.3 Entertainment software 2.4 Educational software 2.5 Enterprise infrastructure software 2.6 Simulation software 2.7 Media development software 2.8 Product engineering software 3 See also 4 References 5 External links Terminology[edit] In information technology, an application is a computer program designed to help people perform an activity. An application thus differs from an operating syste m (which runs a computer), a utility (which performs maintenance or general-purp ose chores), and a programming tools (with which computer programs are created). Depending on the activity for which it was designed, an application can manipul ate text, numbers, graphics, or a combination of these elements. Some applicatio n packages offer considerable computing power by focusing on a single task, such as word processing; others, called integrated software, offer somewhat less pow er but include several applications.[2] User-written software tailors systems to meet the user's specific needs. User-written software include spreadsheet templ

ates, word processor macros, scientific simulations, graphics and animation scri pts. 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 applicatio n 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 antitru st trial was whether Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser was part of its W indows operating system or a separable piece of application software. As another example, the GNU/Linux naming controversy is, in part, due to disagreement abou t the relationship between the Linux kernel and the operating systems built over this kernel. In some types of embedded systems, the application software and th e 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 defi nitions may exclude some applications that may exist on some computers in large organizations. For an alternative definition of an app: see Application Portfoli o Management. In recent years, the shortened term "app" (coined in 1985[3]) has become particu larly popular to refer to applications for mobile devices such as smartphones an d tablets, the shortened form matching their typically smaller scope in relation to applications used by PCs. Application software classification[edit] There are many different ways to divide up different types of application softwa re, and several are explained here. Since the development and near-universal adoption of the web, an important disti nction has emerged has been between web applications written with HTML, JavaScri pt and other web-native technologies and typically requiring you to be online an d running a web browser, and the more traditional native applications written in whatever languages are available for your particular type of computer. There ha s been contentious debate in the computing community regarding web applications replacing native applications for many purposes, especially on mobile devices su ch as smart phones and tablets. Web apps have indeed greatly increased in popula rity for some uses, but the advantages of applications make them unlikely to dis appear soon, if ever. Furthermore, the two can be complementary, and even integr ated. [4] [5] [6] Application software can also be seen as being either horizontal or vertical. Ho rizontal applications are more popular and widespread, because they are general purpose, for example word processors or databases. Vertical applications are nic he products, designed for a particular type of industry or business, or departme nt within an organization. Integrated suites of software will try to handle ever y specific aspect possible of, for example, manufacturing or banking systems, or accounting, or customer service. There are many types of application software: An application suite consists of multiple applications bundled together. They us ually have related functions, features and user interfaces, and may be able to i nteract with each other, e.g. open each other's files. Business applications oft en come in suites, e.g. Microsoft Office, LibreOffice and iWork, which bundle to gether a word processor, a spreadsheet, etc.; but suites exist for other purpose s, e.g. graphics or music. Enterprise software addresses the needs of an entire organization's processes an d data flow, across most all departments, often in a large distributed environme nt. (Examples include financial systems, customer relationship management (CRM) systems and supply chain management software). Departmental Software is a sub-ty pe of enterprise software with a focus on smaller organizations and/or groups wi thin a large organization. (Examples include travel expense management and IT He lpdesk.) Enterprise infrastructure software provides common capabilities needed to suppor t enterprise software systems. (Examples include databases, email servers, and s ystems for managing networks and security.) Information worker software lets users create and manage information, often for

individual projects within a department, in contrast to enterprise management. E xamples include time management, resource management, documentation tools, analy tical, and collaborative. Word processors, spreadsheets, email and blog clients, personal information system, and individual media editors may aid in multiple i nformation 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 t he needs of individuals and groups to consume digital entertainment and publishe d digital content. (Examples include media players, web browsers, and help brows ers.) Educational software is related to content access software, but has the content and/or features adapted for use in by educators or students. For example, it may deliver evaluations (tests), track progress through material, or include collab orative 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 co nsume, most often in a commercial or educational setting. This includes graphicart software, desktop publishing software, multimedia development software, HTML editors, digital-animation editors, digital audio and video composition, and ma ny others.[7] Product engineering software is used in developing hardware and software product s. This includes computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE), computer language editing and compiling tools, integrated development environmen ts, and application programmer interfaces. Applications can also be classified by computing platform such as a particular o perating system, delivery network such as in cloud computing and Web 2.0 applica tions, or delivery devices such as mobile apps for mobile devices. The operating system itself can be considered application software when performi ng simple calculating, measuring, rendering, and word processing tasks not used to control hardware via 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[edit] Enterprise resource planning Accounting software Task and scheduling Field service management Data management Contact management Spreadsheet Personal database Documentation Document automation/assembly Word processing Desktop publishing software Diagramming software Presentation software Email Blog software Reservation systems Financial software Day trading software Banking software Clearing systems arithmetic software Content access software[edit] Electronic media software Web browser Media players

Hybrid editor players Entertainment software[edit] Screen savers Video games Arcade games Video game console emulator Personal computer games Console games Mobile games Educational software[edit] Classroom management Reference software Sales readiness software Survey management Enterprise infrastructure software[edit] Business workflow software Database management system (DBMS) software Digital asset management (DAM) software Document management software Geographic information system (GIS) software Simulation software[edit] Computer simulators Scientific simulators Social simulators Battlefield simulators Emergency simulators Vehicle simulators Flight simulators Driving simulators Simulation games Vehicle simulation games Media development software[edit] 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 Game development tool Product engineering software[edit] Hardware engineering Computer-aided engineering Computer-aided design (CAD) Finite element analysis Software engineering Computer language editor Compiler software Integrated development environment Game development software Debuggers Program testing tools

License manager See also[edit] Utility software Web application References[edit] ^ Moeller, Katy. "At BSU's Appathon, code trumps sleep | Local News". Idahostate sman.com. Retrieved 2013-04-24. ^ Ceruzzi, Paul E. (2000). A History of Modern Computing. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-03255-4. ^ http://www.osnews.com/story/24882/The_History_of_App_and_the_Demise_of_the_Pro grammer ^ Gasse, Jean-Louis (2012-9-17). "The Silly Web vs. Native Apps Debate". The Sill y Web vs. Native Apps Debate. Retrieved 2013-07-14. ^ Frechette, Casey (2013-4-11). "What journalists need to know about the differe nce between Web apps and native apps". Poynter. Retrieved 2013-07-14. ^ Valums, Andrew (2010-02-10). "Web apps vs desktop apps". valums.com. Retrieved 2013-07-14. ^ Campbell-Kelly, Martin; Aspray, William (1996). Computer: A History of the Inf ormation Machine. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-02990-6. External links[edit] Wikiversity has learning materials about Introduction_to_Computers/Appli cation_software Categories: Application software Navigation menu Create accountLog inArticleTalkReadEditEdit sourceView history Search Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Donate to Wikipedia Interaction Help About Wikipedia Community portal Recent changes Contact Wikipedia Toolbox Print/export Languages Afrikaans ??????? Az?rbaycanca ????? ????????? Bosanski Catal Cesky Dansk Deutsch Eesti Espaol ????? Franais Gaeilge ???

Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia slenska Italiano ????? Latina Latvie u Lietuviu Magyar ?????? Bahasa Melayu ?????? Nederlands ??? Norsk bokml ???? ????? Polski Portugus Runa Simi ??????? ????? Slovencina ????? Basa Sunda Suomi Svenska Tagalog ????? ??? Trke ?????????? ???? Ti?ng Vi?t ?? Edit links This page was last modified on 17 July 2013 at 10:48. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; add itional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and P rivacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-prof it organization. Privacy policyAbout WikipediaDisclaimersContact WikipediaMobile viewWikimedia Fo undation Powered by MediaWiki