App software

GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), version 2.6, a free distribution app

In computing, application software is a type of computer software designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities. for the benefit of the user. Examples of an application —sometimes the English shortening app is used, from application— would be a word processor, a spreadsheet, an accounting application, a web browser, a media player, an aeronautical flight simulator or a photo editor. "Application Software" refers collectively to all applications, as an analogy to system software, which is primarily related to software run by the operating system.

Applications can be packaged with the computer and its system software or published separately, and can also be coded as proprietary, open source, or university projects. Applications built for platforms mobile phones are called mobile apps.

Currently, with the use of mobile devices, the term app has been extended, which is a shortening of the English word application, and extended by the success of the called Apple's App Store. In Spanish, its use is discouraged, but if it is used, it is recommended to write app in italics, and it should not be spelled out when reading it, because it is not an acronym (it is pronounced /ap/), although this can make it difficult the pronunciation of the words that immediately follow, by forcing a pause to pronounce or marking the final p of app —which is not something that occurs naturally in Spanish. The shortening that could be recommended of the term 'application', in any case would be 'appli' (with its plural 'aplis'), written in common script.

Terminology

In information technology, an application is a computer program designed to help people perform an activity. Thus, an application differs from an operating system (which runs a computer), a utility (which performs maintenance or general tasks), and a programming tool (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 companies group various programs of different orientation in use, so that they form a package (called suites or office suites), which are usually satisfactory for the most pressing needs of the user. Each and every one of them serves to save the user time and money, by allowing him to do useful things with the computer with some ease; In any case, there are differences between the programs that are offered, since some provide certain features, although others impose a certain design that is too strict, and since, in addition, some are more pleasant and easy to use than others.

The software system written tailor-made for the user meets their specific needs. This includes spreadsheet templates, word processing 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.

However, the delineation between system software, such as operating systems, and application software, is not exact and is sometimes the subject of controversy. For example, one of the key questions in the antitrust trial of United States v. Microsoft Corp. questioned whether Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser was part of its Windows operating system or a detachable piece of application software. Citing another example, the GNU/Linux naming controversy is, in part, due to disagreement over the relationship between the Linux kernel and operating systems built on top of it. In some types of embedded or embedded systems, the distinction between application software and operating system software may be indistinguishable to the user, such as software used to control a VCR, DVD player, or oven. microwave oven. The above definitions may exclude some applications that may exist on some computers in large organizations.

Metonymy

The word "application", when used as an adjective, is not restricted to meaning "of or relating to application software". For example, concepts such as interface APIs, application server, application virtualization, application lifecycle management, and portable applications apply to all computer programs equally, not just application programs.

Amazing apps and apps

Some apps are available in versions for several different platforms; others only work on one and are called that, for example, a Geography app for Windows, an Android app for education, or a Linux game. Sometimes a new and popular app comes along that only works on one platform, increasing the convenience of that platform. This is called a killer app or app killer. For example, VisiCalc was the first modern spreadsheet software for the Apple II and helped sell the new personal computers in offices. For Blackberry it was their email software.

In the first decade of the 21st century, the abbreviated "application" (coined 1981 or earlier) has become popular to refer to apps for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, the shortened form matching its generally smaller scope compared to apps on PCs. Even more recently, the shortened version is also used for desktop application software.

Classification

Since the development and near-universal adoption of the web, an important distinction has emerged between web applications, written with HTML, JavaScript, and other native web technologies and typically requiring one to be online and running a web browser, and the more traditional native applications written in the languages available for the particular type of computer. There has been a contentious debate in the computing community about web apps replacing native apps for many purposes, especially on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Web apps have skyrocketed in popularity for some uses, but the benefits of apps mean they're not likely to go away anytime soon, if they do. Furthermore, the two can be complementary and even integrated.

Application software can also be viewed as horizontal or vertical. Horizontal applications are more popular and widespread as they are for general use, for example word processors or databases. Vertical applications are specialized products, designed for a particular type of industry or business or department within an organization. Integrated software packages will try to handle every possible specific aspect of, for example, manufacturing or banking systems, or accounting, or customer service.

There are many types of application software:

LibreOffice Writer, an open source text processor that is a component of LibreOffice

• An application package consists of multiple applications grouped together. They usually have related features, features, and user interfaces, and can interact with each other, for example open the files of others. Commercial applications often come in packages, e.g. Microsoft Office, LibreOffice and iWork, which group a text processor, a spreadsheet, etc. but packages exist for other purposes, e.g. graphics or music.

• The software entrepreneurship addresses the needs of the processes and data flows of a complete organization, through several departments, often in a large distributed environment. Examples include enterprise resource planning systems, customer relationship management systems (CRM) and supply chain management software. Departmental software is a subtype of business software with a focus on smaller organizations or groups within a large organization. (Examples include travel management and IT Helpdesk).

• The software business infrastructure provides common capabilities needed to support enterprise software systems. (Examples include databases, email servers and systems for managing networks and security).

• The software for information workers allows users to create and manage information, often for individual projects within a department, in contrast to the business administration. Examples include time management, resource management, analytical, collaborative and documentation tools. Text processors, spreadsheets, email and blog clients, the personal information system and individual media editors can assist in the tasks of multiple information workers.

• The software content access is mainly used to access content without editing, but may include software that allows content editing. Said software addresses the needs of individuals and groups to consume digital entertainment and published digital content. Examples include multimedia players, web browsers and help explorers.

• The software education is related to software access to content, but it has the content or characteristics adapted for use by educators or students. For example, you can deliver evaluations/tests, track progress through the material or include collaboration capabilities.

• The software simulation, as its name indicates, simulates physical or abstract systems for research, training or entertainment purposes.

• The software media development generates print and electronic means for others to consume them, most of the time in a commercial or educational environment. This includes software of graphic arts, software desktop publishing, multimedia development software, HTML editors, digital animation editors, digital audio and video composition and many others.

• The software products engineering is used to develop products hardware and software. This includes computer-assisted design (CAD), computer-assisted engineering (CAE), programming language editing and compilation tools, integrated development environments and application programmer interfaces.

Applications can also be categorized by computing platform. E.g. for a particular operating system, network server such as cloud computing and Web 2.0 applications, or type of devices such as mobile applications for mobile devices.

The operating system itself can be considered application software when performing simple calculation, measurement, representation, and word processing tasks that are not used to control the hardware via the command line interface or graphical interface of user. This does not include application software included within operating systems, such as calculator software or a text editor.

Software for Information Workers

• Accounting software
• Data management
  • Contact Manager
  • Calculation sheet
  • Database software
• Documentation
  • Automation of documents
  • Text processor
  • Auto-edit software
  • Diagraming software
  • Presentation software
  • E-mail
  • Software blog
• Enterprise resource planning
• Financial software
  • Banking software
  • Compensation systems
  • Arithmetic Software
• Field Service Management
  • Manpower management software
• Project management software
  • Calendar software
  • Employee Programming
  • Workflow software
• Reserve systems

Entertainment Software

• Screen protectors
• Video games
  • Arcade
  • Console games
  • Video game for mobile
  • Personal computer games

Educational Software

• Classroom management
• Reference software
• 'Software'' sales preparation
• Survey management
• Encyclopedia

Enterprise Infrastructure Software

• Software business workflow
• Database Management System (DBMS)
• Digital Asset Management Software (DAM)
• Document management software
• Geographical Information System (GIS)

Simulation software

• Computer Simulators
• Scientific simulators
• Social simulators
• Battlefield simulators
• Emergency simulators
• Vehicle simulators
  • Flight simulators
  • Driving simulators
• Simulation video game
  • Vehicle simulation video game

Media Development Software

• Software computer graphics in 3D
• Software animation
• Software of graphic arts
  • Rasterized graphics editor
  • Vector graphics editor
• Image organizer
• Video editing software
• Audio editing software
  • Digital Audio Work Station
• Music sequencer
  • Editor of scores
• HTML Editor
• Game Development Tool
• animation and graphics software

Product Engineering Software

• Hardware engineering
  • Computer assisted engineering
  • Computer assisted design (CAD)
  • Computer assisted manufacturing (CAM)
  • Analysis of finite elements
• Software engineering
  • Compilation software
  • Integrated development environment
    • Compiler
    • Linker
    • Version control
    • Game Development Tool
    • Debugger
    • License manager