Application Programming
Application programming is the process of producing software that provides the services to user. Application software are the software written in high-level languages to perform a specific task or process, such as accounting, payroll, mailing list, result preparation and so on. Application software provide graphical user interface to make them very user friendly. Application software is written to perform a specific task or process, such as accounting, payroll, mailing list, result preparation and so on. The majority of application software is written in high-level languages. Application software sits on top of systems software because it is unable to run without the operating system and system utilities. Examples of application software are word processor, database processing, spreadsheet calculations, mail-merge, presentations, communications (email) etc. Application software consists of the following alternative sources:
Write it yourself: The program written by the user can be the most satisfactory solution. It will be an exact match to the needs of the business. The program can grow with the business.
General purpose application packages: Application packages refer to a set of computer programs, which have been written to perform specific, commonly required tasks. Each program is written in such a way that it is applicable to a large number of users. The main advantage is that it is relatively cheap as cost of the package is spread over a number of customers. The major disadvantage of application package is that it is not likely to fulfill all the requirements of the prospective users.
Customer software: It refers to computer programs specially written to match the exact needs of the user. It is precisely the same as getting one's clothes stitched from a tailor to fit exactly rather than buying a ready-made dress. The most important advantage is that such software fulfils all the needs of the customer. The major disadvantage is that customer software costs much more than general purpose application software, because the package is specially made for one particular customer.
Sub categories of Application software are:
Business: Administrative, Business simulation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise application integration, Message-oriented middleware, Financial, Accounting, Investment Club, Office, Content management systems (CMS), Blog, Collaborative, Document Management, Presentation, Spreadsheets, Typing, Word processors(Linux, Mac, Windows, ...), Project Management.
Communication: Amateur Radio, Bluetooth, Bulletin Board, E-mail, Instant Messaging Clients, Mailing Lists, Online help, Web Browsers, Word processors(Linux, Mac, Windows).
Education: Edu-Ware educational, Educational operating systems, Educational Programming Languages, Interactive geometry, Learning Management, Video Games, Gambling, Draughts, Computer Chess, Go, Poker, Role-playing Games, Sports.
Computer Graphics: 3D Graphics, Animation, 2D Animation, Card Creator, Data visualization, Diagramming, Image organizers, Image VIewers, Digital Photography, Panorama, Photo stitching, Raster Graphics, Raster to Vector Conversion, Screencasting (capture), Vector Graphics editors.
Health: Dental, Disability, Screen readers, Speech synthesis, Healthcare, Neuroimaging
Industry: Production and manufacturing, CNC, CAD, and CAM, Building Information Modeling, Computer-aided design, Computer-aided engineering, Geotechnical engineering, Optical.
Music: Audio trackers, Guitar, Scorewriters, Synthesizers, Drum machines
Personal information managers: Calendaring, Personal digital assistant