Outline of software
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.
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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
 Emotion-sensitive 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
profiler
 Integrated development environment (IDE) – single application for managing all of these functions.

Software products

By publisher
List of Adobe software
List of Microsoft software

By platform
List of Macintosh software
List of old Macintosh software
List of proprietary software for Linux
List of Linux audio software
List of Linux games

By  type
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 chess software
List of compilers
List of computer-aided design software
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 desktop publishing software
List of discrete event simulation software
List of finite element software packages
List of graphing software
List of HDL simulators
List of text editors
List of HTML editors
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 PDF software
List of PHP editors
List of proof assistants
List of quantum chemistry and solid state physics software
List of spreadsheet software
List of statistical packages
List of theorem provers
List of tools for static code analysis
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 EM simulation software
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
Comparison of deep-learning software

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  (outline) – 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.

Computer programming 

 Computer programming  (outline) –

Software engineering 

 Software engineering  (outline) –

Software distribution 

Software distribution –
 Software licenses
Beerware
Free
Free and open source software
Freely redistributable software
Open-source software
Proprietary software
Public domain software
 Revenue models
 Adware
 Donationware
 Freemium
 Freeware
 Commercial software
 Nagware
 Postcardware
 Shareware
 Delivery methods
 Digital distribution
 List of mobile software distribution platforms
 On-premises software
 Pre-installed software
 Product bundling
 Software as a service
 Software plus services
 Scams
 Scareware
 Malware
 End of software life cycle
 Abandonware

Software industry 

 Software industry

Software publications 

 Free Software Magazine
 InfoWorld
 PC Magazine
 Software Magazine
 Wired (magazine)

Persons influential in software 

 Bill Gates
 Steve Jobs
 Jonathan Sachs
 Wayne Ratliff

See also 

 Outline of information technology
 Outline of computers
 Outline of computing
 List of computer hardware terms

 Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
 Custom software
 Functional specification
 Marketing strategies for product software
 Service-Oriented Modeling Framework
 Bus factor
 Capability Maturity Model
 Software publisher
 User experience

References

External links 

Outline
Software
Software