Outline of software

Updated on Dec 25, 2024

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to software:

Software – collection of computer programs and related data that provides the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it. Software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer for some purposes. In other words, software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing system. The term was coined to contrast to the old term hardware (meaning physical devices). In contrast to hardware, software "cannot be touched". Software is also sometimes used in a more narrow sense, meaning application software only. Sometimes the term includes data that has not traditionally been associated with computers, such as film, tapes, and records.

What type of thing is software?

Software can be described as all of the following:

Technology –

Computer technology –

Tools –

Types of software

Application software – end-user applications of computers such as word processors or video games, and ERP software for groups of users.

Business software

Computer-aided design

Databases

Decision-making software

Educational software

Image editing

Industrial automation

Mathematical software

Medical software

Molecular modeling software

Quantum chemistry and solid state physics software

Simulation software

Spreadsheets

Telecommunications (i.e., the Internet and everything that flows on it)

Video editing software

Video games

Word processors

Middleware controls and co-ordinates distributed systems.

Programming languages – define the syntax and semantics of computer programs. For example, many mature banking applications were written in the language COBOL, invented in 1959. Newer applications are often written in more modern languages.

System software – provides the basic functions for computer usage and helps run the computer hardware and system. It includes a combination of the following:

Device driver

Operating system

Package management system

Server

Utility

Window system

Teachware – any special breed of software or other means of product dedicated to education purposes in software engineering and beyond in general education.

Testware – any software for testing hardware or software.

Firmware – low-level software often stored on electrically programmable memory devices. Firmware is given its name because it is treated like hardware and run ("executed") by other software programs. Firmware often is not accessible for change by other entities but the developers' enterprises.

Shrinkware is the older name given to consumer-purchased software, because it was often sold in retail stores in a shrink wrapped box.

Device drivers – control parts of computers such as disk drives, printers, CD drives, or computer monitors.

Programming tools – assist a programmer in writing computer programs, and software using various programming languages in a more convenient way. The tools include:

Compilers

Debuggers

Interpreters

Linkers

Text editors

Integrated development environment (IDE) – single application for managing all of these functions.

By publisher

List of Adobe software

List of Microsoft software

By platform

List of Macintosh software

List of old Macintosh software

By genre

List of software categories

List of 2D animation software

List of 3D animation software

List of 3D computer graphics software

List of 3D modeling software

List of antivirus software

List of compilers

List of computer algebra systems

List of computer-assisted organic synthesis software

List of computer simulation software

List of concept- and mind-mapping software

List of content management systems

List of graphing software

List of information graphics software

List of Linux distributions

List of operating systems

List of protein structure prediction software

List of molecular graphics systems

List of numerical analysis software

List of optimization software

List of quantum chemistry and solid state physics software

List of spreadsheet software

List of statistical packages

List of Unified Modeling Language tools

List of video editing software

List of web browsers

Comparisons

Comparison of 3D computer graphics software

Comparison of accounting software

Comparison of audio player software

Comparison of computer-aided design editors

Comparison of data modeling tools

Comparison of database tools

Comparison of desktop publishing software

Comparison of digital audio editors

Comparison of DOS operating systems

Comparison of email clients

Comparison of force field implementations

Comparison of instant messaging clients

Comparison of issue tracking systems

Comparison of Linux distributions

Comparison of mail servers

Comparison of network monitoring systems

Comparison of nucleic acid simulation software

Comparison of operating systems

Comparison of raster graphics editors

Comparison of software for molecular mechanics modeling

Comparison of system dynamics software

Comparison of text editors

Comparison of vector graphics editors

Comparison of web frameworks

Comparison of web server software

Comparison of word processors

History of software

History of software engineering

History of free and open-source software

History of software configuration management

History of programming languages

Timeline of programming languages

History of operating systems

History of Mac OS X

History of Microsoft Windows

Timeline of Microsoft Windows

History of the web browser

Web browser history

Software development

Software development – development of a software product, which entails computer programming (process of writing and maintaining the source code), but also encompasses a planned and structured process from the conception of the desired software to its final manifestation. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products.