APPLICATIONS
Application software (also known as app) refers to a software that is designed for purposes of performing various coordinated tasks, activities or functions for the user’s benefit. Examples of application include a spreadsheet, a web browser, a media player, an email client, a word processor, an aeronautical flight simulator, a photo editor, a console game or a file viewer. Application software is used as a collective noun to refer collectively to all the applications. This is in contrast with the system software, which are used for running the computer.
A computer may be bundled together with the applications as well as its system software or they may be published separately, and they may be coded as open-source, university or proprietary projects. Mobile apps refer to the term given to those apps that are built for mobile platforms.
CLASSIFICATION
Applications can be classified in many different ways or orders. By the legal view, application is mostly classified with the so called black box approach, with regard to the rights of its final subscribers or end-users.
Software applications can also be classified with respect to the programming language that has been used to write the source code and execute, and respect of their outputs and purpose.
- By property and use rights. Application software is mainly distinguished among two major classes: open source software vs closed source software applications, and among proprietary or free software applications. Proprietary software is placed under the exclusive software license grants and exclusive copyrights. The open-closed principle states that software can be “open only for extension, but not for modification”. Such kind of applications can only get add-on by third-parties.
- By coding language. Since the near universal adoption and the development of web, an important distinction that has come up, has been between web applications that are written with JavaScript, HTML and other web native technologies and requiring one to be online and running a web browser.
- By purpose and output. Application software may be seen as vertical or horizontal. Horizontal applications are more widespread and popular, since they are general purpose, for example, databases or word processors. Vertical applications on the other hand are niche products that are designed for a particular type of business or industry or a department that is within an organization. Integrated software suites will try to tackle every specific aspect that is possible. For example, banking worker or manufacturing, or customer service or accounting.
Some of the different types of application software include:
- An application suite. This consists of many applications that are bundled together. They normally have related functions, user interfaces and features, and can be able to interact with each other for example opening each other’s files. Many business applications often mainly come in suites like iWork, LibreOffice and Microsoft Office.
- Enterprise software. This addresses the needs of data flow in the processes of a whole organization, across various departments, mainly in a large distributed environment. For example, customer relationship management (CRM) system, supply chain management software and enterprise resource planning systems.
- Information worker software. This enables the users to create as well as manage information, mainly for individual projects in a department, in contrast to enterprise management. For example, resource management and time management.
- Educational software. This is related to the content access software but it has the features or content adapted for use in by students or educators. For example, it may deliver tests.
- Simulation software. This simulates abstract or physical systems for either training or research.
