Talk:Software

Distinction between Software and Computer Program?

I feel that the current definition of Software ("a collection of instructions that tell a computer how to work") is a little too similar to that of a Mobile program ("a sequence/set of instructions"). There does seem to be a bit of similarity between the two terms. I've looked at dictionary definitions and the ambiguity left by the definitions I've looked at makes it unclear how either of the terms can be distinguished from each other. Can something be done about this?

The best definition I could find is this: http://www.openprojects.org/software-definition.htm . After reading that, to me it seems like software is used to refer to programs in a much broader sense.

What I take away from this is that, I could classify my browser Firefox as a piece of software, in a broad sense. Specifically, my browser Firefox is located in /usr/lib/firefox/firefox, that is the location of the program. Firefox spawns a bunch of instances of this program that run in parallel, each called a process. I suppose in this case, the software does not refer to just /usr/lib/firefox/firefox, it refers to all the programs that come with it (other executables invoked internally like the crashreporter, as well as other shared object (aka DLL) files).

If what I just said is in fact correct, I don't think the current definition does a good enough job in communicating what software actually is.

Am I onto something?

ZaidhaanH (talk) 14:07, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

Software are Computer Programs are the same thing. The word "Software" just has fewer syllables. Timhowardriley (talk) 18:01, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

Mostly the same thing. Software is more inclusive. A single piece of 'software' might consist of multiple programs and possibly data as well. But a single program is also software. MrOllie (talk) 18:17, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

To be semantic, I would say software is the plural of computer program, but with fewer syllables. Timhowardriley (talk) 18:55, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

To say software includes data is forcing a distinction. Timhowardriley (talk) 19:02, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

Yeah, I think I agree with you and MrOllie, Software = Programs + Data. I don't intend to get ahead of myself and try to emphasize this more in the article. But I do think it's interesting how both the software and computer program articles (particularly the lead section) are so similar. Maybe this ambiguity is just something we'll have to deal with. It's not too bad though, I do recognize that the computer program article mentions some of the more nitty gritty details of a singular program (ie. languages, cohesion/coupling, even code examples), whereas the software article mentions much broader things (ie. quality, reliability, patents). However, quite annoyingly there is a bit of overlap too (sw: types#application software <-> prog: functional categories#application software). Oh well! My programmer brain is telling me some decoupling needs to be done but maybe things are okay just the way they are. ZaidhaanH (talk) 19:24, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

If I can find a decent reference that mentions this then I might scratch that itch of mine and clarify the ambiguity somewhere in this article. ZaidhaanH (talk) 19:34, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

@ZaidhaanH: I've added citations to IEEE, ISO/IEC supporting your interpretation. fgnievinski (talk) 00:10, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

I added the quote defining software from the ISO source into the citation. It's probably semantically correct to define software as more than just the code. But the ISO definition doesn't say software includes data. Well, if you're going to include other intangible elements, you'd might as well include the data. I removed the IEEE citation because it's probably behind a paywall. If the IEEE citation says software includes data, then please add back that citation and include the quote from the source. Nonetheless, saying documentation and data are also software might be semantic, but it's not colloquial. Timhowardriley (talk) 06:56, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

The distinction between software and computer program is the same distinction between car and automobile. Timhowardriley (talk) 10:21, 21 January 2022 (UTC)

At first I was going to advocate for the distinction between a piece of software and a computer program, but as I typed I realized they are semantically identical. It seems that the saving grace is that software is bundled with data and documentation (which you can argue that programs are as well), but saying that programs (and apps/applications) are bundled with them makes just as much sense. I don't think there is a gap in the understanding.

There is too much in common between the two, and one should redirect to the other, unless there is a source of absolute authority that merits two articles for the same thing. Fuser55 (talk) 04:33, 25 February 2023 (UTC)

pp — Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.100.162.137 (talk) 23:13, 16 September 2023 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Research Process and Methodology - FA22 - Sect 201 - Thu

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 21 September 2022 and 8 December 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Kathyljy (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Kathyljy (talk) 08:19, 10 November 2022 (UTC)

Encompassing learned algorithms

Is there a term that refers to a union of programming languages and artificial neural networks? Wesxdz (talk) 22:38, 24 August 2023 (UTC)

Request to add citations

I propose to add two citations to the section:

Desktop applications such as web browsers and Microsoft Office and LibreOffice and WordPerfect, as well as smartphone and tablet applications (called "apps").^{[citation needed]}

https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/desktop-application

https://www.computerlanguage.com/results.php?definition=desktop+application Mcscroogeduck (talk) 16:20, 27 March 2024 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: College Composition II

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 16 January 2024 and 11 May 2024. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Konstantinos Sazos (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Lindseybean28 (talk) 21:24, 9 May 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 8 April 2024

2409:4085:4EBB:89F:0:0:8F8B:FB0F (talk) 14:12, 8 April 2024 (UTC)

software downloader provide daily software update https://Softwaredownloader7.blogspot.com

•  Not done Spam is not permitted on Wikipedia. 331dot (talk) 14:13, 8 April 2024 (UTC)

Edit request

During the recent AfD, problems with the article's sourcing and content were brought up. I have resolved them with a new draft of the article and am pinging participants User:Praxidicae, User:EucalyptusTreeHugger, User:TartarTorte, and User:Aoidh in case any of you would be willing to implement the edit request.

User:Buidhe paid/Software should be copied into this article, above the categories. My version of the article also makes a clear differentiation between this article and computer program. It adds information about software development, software maintenance, quality and security, how software is executed on hardware, and the impact of software in the world.

Thanks! Buidhe paid (talk) 04:41, 12 May 2024 (UTC)

First/definition sentence

WRT the current first line: Software is a collection of programs and data that tell a computer how to perform specific tasks. Software often includes associated software documentation. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work.

Why say collection? A single program is software. Software does cover all programs so maybe that's why they use 'collection'. But, it's the collection of all programs. But that's awkward phrasing.

Why 'specific' task? Software tells how to do any task; even general ones.

Ordering of sentences causes the hardware part to seem to be in contrast to documentation when it should contrast software.

How about: Software is data, in particular machine instructions, that can control a computer via its machine instruction interface. Software implies many related artifacts such as any source code used to drive execution and any documentation written as part of the development process. Stevebroshar (talk) 00:16, 13 May 2024 (UTC)

Stevebroshar my edit request above actually addresses your concern. You can implement it if you want. Buidhe paid (talk) 05:43, 13 May 2024 (UTC)

I did see that notice/topic on this talk page the other day, but couldn't figure out how to see your draft ... until rn.

I do not like to be critical, but rather than beat around the bush I'll say that I think your draft is less than good. TBO it's less than good throughout, but I'll only critique the start.

The start: Software "is the set of programs, concepts, tools, and methods used to produce a running system on computing devices" is off the mark IMO. It's quoted and cited so that is valid for WP, but I do not think it's a good definition. Software is not a set of programs even though a program is software. Software encompasses concepts, but doesn't everything encompass concepts? Tools are used to build software, but tools are used to build anything. Methods applies to almost anything too. So, I can summarize: Software is something used to produce a running system on a computing device. But, system and computing device can be replaced with more precise terms computer program and computer, and I assume you mean runnable. So: Software is something used to produce a runnable computer program. That's describing software development tools and/or processes; not the core concept of software.

I do think that defining software is hard. I think that everyone knows what software is, but would struggle to say what it means in a concise and accurate way.

Maybe there is good content in your draft. There are so many changes from the current version that it's hard to review all the changes, but I will say that the current version is not great and would benefit from enhancement. I would like to encourage your input and feel bad that my feedback may be discouraging. Maybe a good way to move forward is to consider smaller and more focused changes. What are the issues you have with the current content? What changes would have the biggest impact? Can we start there?

I'm curious: what is your conflict of interest? Why do you not make these changes yourself? Are you wanting a review and that there is no conflict of interest? More context of your motivation would be considerate. Stevebroshar (talk) 11:36, 13 May 2024 (UTC)