Software categories

The concept of software categories is a challenging topic, and with the continuous development of new software it is becoming increasingly difficult to categorize new software. There is no universal agreement regarding “Software Categories”. However, Microsoft TechNet and Asset Inventory Servicves (AIS) has broken down the extensive list of potential software into seven major categories, along with 40 minor categories. What is interesting is that Microsoft and TechNet have created such extensive categories yet their list fails to mention a large portion of newly developed and available software, open-source software. Although, this is a glaring omission the list created by TechNet and AIS is still quite extensive. Other lists have certainly been created. For instance, The GNU Project has created its own list of Software based upon the Linux OS. This list is less extensive than TenchNet and AIS, yet it encompasses open-source software.

Open-source Software Categories:

According to GNU there are the following categories of software: free software, open source software, public domain software, copylefted software, noncopylefted free software, lax permissive licensed software, GPL-covered software, the GNU operating system, GNU programs, GNU software, FSF-copyrighted GNU software, nonfree software, proprietary software, freeware, shareware, private software, and commercial software.

Free software

Free software is software that comes with permission for anyone to use, copy, and/or distribute, either verbatim or with modifications, either gratis or for a fee. In particular, this means that source code must be available. “If it's not source, it's not software.” If a program is free, then it can potentially be included in a free operating system such as GNU, or free versions of the GNU/Linux system. There are many different ways to make a program free—many questions of detail, which could be decided in more than one way and still make the program free. Some of the possible variations are described below. Free software is a matter of freedom, not price. But proprietary software companies typically use the term “free software” to refer to price. Sometimes they mean that you can obtain a binary copy at no charge; sometimes they mean that a copy is bundled with a computer that you are buying, and the price includes both. Either way, it has nothing to do with what is meant by free software in the GNU project. Because of this potential confusion, when a software company says its product is free software, always check the actual distribution terms to see whether users really have all the freedoms that free software implies. Sometimes it really is free software; sometimes it is not.

Open source software

The term “open source” software is used by some to mean more or less the same category as free software. It is not exactly the same class of software: they accept some licenses, and there are free software licenses they have not accepted. However, the differences in extension of the category are small: nearly all free software is open source, and nearly all open source software is free.

Public domain software Public domain software is software that is not copyrighted. If the source code is in the public domain, that is a special case of noncopylefted free software, which means that some copies or modified versions may not be free at all. In some cases, an executable program can be in the public domain but the source code is not available. This is not free software, because free software requires accessibility of source code. Meanwhile, most free software is not in the public domain; it is copyrighted, and the copyright holders have legally given permission for everyone to use it in freedom, using a free software license. Sometimes people use the term “public domain” in a loose fashion to mean “free” or “available gratis”. However, “public domain” is a legal term and means, precisely, “not copyrighted”. Under the Berne Convention, which most countries have signed, anything written down is automatically copyrighted. This includes programs. Therefore, if you want a program you have written to be in the public domain, you must take some legal steps to disclaim the copyright on it; otherwise, the program is copyrighted.

Copylefted software

Copylefted software is free software whose distribution terms ensure that all copies of all versions carry more or less the same distribution terms. This means, for instance, that copyleft licenses generally disallow others to add additional requirements to the software (though a limited set of safe added requirements can be allowed) and require making source code available. This shields the program, and its modified versions, from some of the common ways of making a program proprietary. Some copyleft licenses block other means of turning software proprietary. Copyleft is a general concept; to copyleft an actual program, you need to use a specific set of distribution terms. There are many possible ways to write copyleft distribution terms, so in principle there can be many copyleft free software licenses. Two different copyleft licenses are usually “incompatible”, which means it is illegal to merge the code using one license with the code using the other license; therefore, it is good for the community if people use a single copyleft license.

Noncopylefted free software

Noncopylefted free software comes from the author with permission to redistribute and modify, and also to add additional restrictions to it. If a program is free but not copylefted, then some copies or modified versions may not be free at all. A software company can compile the program, with or without modifications, and distribute the executable file as a proprietary software product. The X Window System illustrates this. The X Consortium releases X11 with distribution terms that make it noncopylefted free software. If you wish, you can get a copy which has those distribution terms and is free. However, there are nonfree versions as well, and there are (or at least were) popular workstations and PC graphics boards for which nonfree versions are the only ones that work. If you are using this hardware, X11 is not free software for you. The developers of X11 even made X11 nonfree for a while; they were able to do this because others had contributed their code under the same noncopyleft license.

Lax permissive licensed software

Lax permissive licenses include the X11 license and the two BSD licenses. These licenses permit almost any use of the code, including distributing proprietary binaries with or without changing the source code.

GPL-covered software

The GNU General Public License (GPL) is one specific set of distribution terms for copylefting a program. The GNU Project uses it as the distribution terms for most GNU software. To equate free software with GPL-covered software is therefore an error. The GNU operating system

The GNU operating system is the Unix-like operating system, which is entirely free software. A Unix-like operating system consists of many programs. The GNU system includes all the GNU software, as well as many other packages such as the X Window System and TeX which are not GNU software. Since the purpose of GNU is to be free, every single component in the GNU operating system has to be free software. They do not all have to be copylefted, however; any kind of free software is legally suitable to include if it helps meet technical goals. And it is not necessary for all the components to be GNU software, individually. GNU can and does include noncopylefted free software such as the X Window System that were developed by other projects.

GNU programs

“GNU programs” is equivalent to GNU software. A program Foo is a GNU program if it is GNU software.

GNU software

GNU software is software that is released under the auspices of the GNU Project. If a program is GNU software it is a GNU program or a GNU package. The README or manual of a GNU package should say it is one; also, the Free Software Directory identifies all GNU packages. Some GNU software was written by staff of the Free Software Foundation, but most GNU software comes from many volunteers. Some of these volunteers are compensated by companies or universities, but they are volunteers to the GNU organization. Some contributed software is copyrighted by the Free Software Foundation; some is copyrighted by the contributors who wrote it.

FSF-copyrighted GNU software

The developers of GNU packages can transfer the copyright to the FSF, or they can keep it. The choice is theirs. If they have transfered the copyright to the FSF, the program is FSF-copyrighted GNU software, and the FSF can enforce its license. If they have kept the copyright, enforcing the license is their responsibility.

Nonfree software

Nonfree software is any software that is not free. Its use, redistribution or modification is prohibited, or requires you to ask for permission, or is restricted so much that you effectively can not do it freely.

Proprietary software

Proprietary software is another name for nonfree software.

Freeware

The term “freeware” has no clear accepted definition, but it is commonly used for packages which permit redistribution but not modification (and their source code is not available). These packages are not free software.

Shareware

Shareware is software which comes with permission for people to redistribute copies, but says that anyone who continues to use a copy is required to pay a license fee. Shareware is not free software, or even semifree. There are two reasons it is not: For most shareware, source code is not available; thus, you cannot modify the program at all. Shareware does not come with permission to make a copy and install it without paying a license fee, not even for individuals engaging in nonprofit activity. In practice, people often disregard the distribution terms and do this anyway, but the terms do not permit it.

Private software

Private or custom software is software developed for one user, typically an organization or company. That user keeps it and uses it, and does not release it to the public either as source code or as binaries. A private program is free software in a trivial sense if its sole user has full rights to it. Nearly all employment for programmers is in development of custom software; therefore most programming jobs are, or could be, done in a way compatible with the free software movement.

Commercial software

Commercial software is software being developed by a business which aims to make money from the use of the software. “Commercial” and “proprietary” are not the same thing. Most commercial software is proprietary, but there is commercial free software, and there is noncommercial nonfree software.

Micrsoft TechNet and AIS Software Categories:

There are seven major categories according to this classifications, and they are: platform and management, education and reference, home and entertainment, content and communication, operations and professional, product manufacturing and service delivery, and line of business. However, there are 40 minor categories that fall under these seven major categories. This system also allows for easy categorization of software inventory. What shall follow is the seven major categories as well as the 40 subcategories with the main categories that they belong to.

Platform and management Platform and management software includes desktop and network infrastructure and management software that allows users to control the computer operating environment, hardware components and peripherals, and infrastructure services and security.

• Operating System and Components

The operating system software infrastructure, including updates, themes, screensavers, and fonts.

• Frameworks and Support

Frameworks and runtime environments such as Microsoft .NET and Sun Microsystems Java.

• System Utilities

Utilities to manage the operating system, such as file compression, CD or DVD recorders, and desktop tools.

• Device Drivers, Configuration Programs, and Utilities

Device drivers, configuration programs (for example, mouse or keyboard configuration utilities), and manufacturer-supplied utilities for third-party devices.

• OEM Applications

Applications from a computer or peripheral manufacturer, such as a laptop configuration application, or a game from a printer manufacturer; typically branded by the hardware manufacturer.

• Virtualization and Virtual Environment Software

Clustering software, virtual user interface software, or virtual computer software.

• System and Network Management Applications

Applications for network management; including license management applications and internal help desk utilities.

• Networking Software

Networking connectivity for devices, client computers, and servers; desktop and server remote-control software.

• Storage, Archive, Backup, and Retrieval Applications

Applications to protect and recover data, including storage area network (SAN) software.

• Application and Collaboration Servers

E-mail, collaboration, and Web servers; middleware; and unified messaging.

• Security Applications

Applications that protect desktop or network security, including firewalls, antivirus and anti-spyware programs, pop-up blockers, parental controls, and digital media signatures.

• Security Threats

Applications that threaten desktop and network security, including adult content dialers, keyloggers, browser hijackers, and malicious software.

Education and reference

Education and reference includes educational software that does not contain resources, such as training or help files for a specific application.

• Education

Exam preparation, language learning, and other programs that can, but do not necessarily, support an academic subject or program.

• Reference

Dictionaries, encyclopedias, phone books, or maps, in either text or multimedia formats.

• Data

Computer-readable information for a specific application type, such as geographic information system (GIS) data or music samples, that can be either in a proprietary format or based on open-source code.

Home and entertainment

Applications designed primarily for use in or for the home, or for entertainment.

• Personal

Applications that focus on individual self-improvement, lifestyle, and health, such as exercise routine planning, smoking cessation, or diabetes monitoring.

• Home and Home Improvement

Applications intended for home use; can be used by the resident or by contractors.

• Game or Entertainment

An application intended purely for amusement or used primarily for its recreational value.

Content and communications

Content and communications applications include common applications for productivity, content creation, and communications. These typically include office productivity suites, multimedia players, file viewers, Web browsers, and collaboration tools.

• Office Suites and Productivity

Applications in common use for producing general business documents, such as word processors, spreadsheets, and desktop databases packaged with office productivity suites.

• Multimedia and File Viewers

Desktop and client-computing applications for accessing multimedia files, such as audio or video players, electronic photo albums, and music or video collection organizers with limited editing capabilities.

• Browsers

Internet browsers and plug-ins; RSS feeders, news and podcast readers, and aggregators.

• Document Publishing and Authoring

Applications to create and edit text-based documents, including layout and formatting applications, such as those used for screenwriting.

• Multimedia Publishing and Authoring

Applications to create and edit images, sounds, music, or video.

• Web Design and Development

Applications to design, develop, and build Web pages and sites; including Web site copiers.

• Content Management

Applications for the storage, retrieval, and organization of documents or other digital works; rights management applications.

• Translation and Globalization

Applications that automate or assist in language translation and other globalization tasks.

• E-mail and Collaboration

Client e-mail and collaboration applications and add-ons; personal information and contact managers.

• Instant Messaging and Conferencing

Instant messaging and video-conferencing or voice-conferencing applications.

• Team Collaborative Applications

Applications that provide shared virtual workspaces.

• Telephony Applications

Applications that use or replace telephony, such as fax or VOIP software.

• Internet Utilities and Applications

Internet-based communications, such as communications using FTP, telnet, and P2P applications.

• Internet Services

ISP connection software, ISP-specific applications, and Internet and mobile services.

Operations and Professional

Used for specific job titles; contains applications designed for business uses such as enterprise resource management, customer relations management, supply chain and manufacturing tasks, application development, information management and access, and tasks performed by both business and technical equipment.

• Management

Applications used by project or line managers for tasks such as project management and business process analysis.

• Finance and Accounting

Financial applications for tasks such as accounting, tax preparation, and asset management.

• Legal

Legal and contracts software.

• Human Resources and Administration

Human resources software, including recruiting and workforce management applications, and administrative applications such as for postal and light shipping work.

• Purchasing

Procurement and order-management software.

• Facilities and Security

Building and grounds facilities, maintenance, and security software.

• Records Management

Software that manages employee or other related business records and files.

• Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing, account and lead management, advertising, and marketing research applications.

• Customer Service

Customer service applications, including contact center applications.

• Supply Chain Management

Applications that support business processes for bringing a product to market, including logistics, production planning, and inventory management.

• Services and Manufacturing Management

Applications that support business processes for managing services delivery and manufacturing.

• Information and Data Management

Databases, database design and management tools, and data center applications.

• Information Access and Delivery

Query and reporting tools, and database analysis tools.

• Development Tools

Development environment applications, code and text editors, compilers, debuggers, configuration management applications, and quality analysis applications.

• Development Resources

Resources for the developer, such as software development kits (SDKs) and libraries.

• Technical and Science Software

Computer-aided design and engineering (CAD or CAE) applications, and applications for GIS management, mathematical and statistical analysis, laboratory equipment control and analysis applications.

• Technical Equipment

Applications that manage scientific and engineering equipment, such as microscopes and laboratory equipment.

• Business Equipment

Label makers, postage meters, bar-code readers, and other business-related equipment.

Product manufacturing and service delivery

Product manufacturing and service delivery applications help users create products or deliver services in specific industries. Categories in this section are used by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103277).

• Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
• Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
• Utilities
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Wholesale Trade
• Retail Trade
• Transportation and Warehousing
• Information
• Finance and Insurance
• Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Management of Companies and Enterprises
• Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
• Educational Services
• Health Care and Social Assistance
• Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
• Accommodation and Food Services
• Public Administration
• Other Services (except Public Administration)

Line of business

• Line of Business

• Internal and proprietary line-of-business applications.