comp 6005 an introduction to computing session two: computer software acquiring software

COMP 6005 An Introduction To ComputingSession Two: Computer SoftwareAcquiring Software

COMP 6005 An Introduction To Computing - Session Two: Computer Software - Acquiring Software 2

Proprietary Software

• Proprietary software has restrictions on its use and copying

• Prevention of use, modification and copying restricted by:– Technical means

• withholding source code• releasing machine-readable binaries only

– Legal means• Software licensing• Copyright• Patent


Proprietary Software

• Can be sold for money as commercial software or at no price as freeware

• Examples: Microsoft Windows, Adobe Photoshop, Mac OS, WinZip


Open Source

• Any program whose source code is made available for modification or use

• Usually developed as a public collaboration and made freely available

• Examples: Linux, Apache, Mozilla Firefox


Types of Software

• Freeware

• Shareware

• Liteware

• Public domain

• Free software

• Postcardware


Freeware

• Copyrighted but given away at no cost

• Cannot do anything with the software unless expressly allowed by author

• Can be used but not sold

• Not to be confused with free software


Shareware

• Most delivered free of charge

• Author requests small fee is program is liked and used regularly

• Can be copied and sent to others, but also requires they pay fee

• Inexpensive; produced by one programmer, offered directly to customers – no packaging or advertising expense


Liteware

• Software that is distributed freely in a version having less capability than the full for-sale version

• Usually entices persons to purchase full package


Public Domain

• Free software that is not copyrighted

• Used incorrectly to refer to freeware

• Can be used without restrictions as components of other programs

• UNIX community has developed several types of these programs


Free Software

• Can be used freely, modified and distributed

• Restriction: any redistributed version of the software must be distributed with the original terms of free use, modification, and distribution (known as copyleft)

• Free software may be packaged and distributed for a fee – the “free” refers to the freedom of modification and distribution

• Linux is an example


Postcardware

• Freeware that requires only that the user send the software provider a postcard as a form of payment

• Idea is:– To “humanize” the transaction– To remind the user that someone else

shared something freely– To remind the provider that someone is

actually using the creation


Discussion

• Find an example online of each of the various types of software

• Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of each of the following types of software – freeware, shareware, liteware, public domain, free software

• Compare and contrast proprietary and open source software


Ways Of Acquiring Software

• Off-the-shelf

• Build to order

• Modifiable off-the-shelf – customization


Off-the-shelf

• Software that is ready-made and available for sale to the general public

• Designed to be implemented easily into existing systems without the need for customization

• Typically cheaper, easily available

• Product is used “as is”

• Example: Microsoft Office


Modifiable Off-the-shelf

• Off-the-shelf software whose source code can be modified

• May be customized to meet the requirements of the customer by:– the purchaser– the vendor– another party


Build To Order

• Software that has been designed and developed specific to the customer’s outlined requirements

• Tailored specifically to an organisation or individual


Assignment

• Discuss the circumstances which would be best suitable for each strategy of acquiring software


Obtaining Software

• In-store purchase

• Online download or purchase

• Catalog or package inclusion


Discussion

• What are the benefits to each of the methods listed previously for obtaining software?

• What are the disadvantages?

• Are there specific software applications best suited for each method?


Software Licenses

• Legal contract between a software application author or publisher and the user of that application

• Similar to a rental agreement

• User agrees to pay for the privilege of using the software, and promises the software author or publisher to comply with all restrictions stated in the license


Software Licenses

• Users indicates their acceptance by:– Opening the shrink wrap on the

application package– Breaking the seal on the CD case– Sending a card back to the software

publisher– Installing the application– Executing a downloadable file– Simply using the application


Software Licenses

• Users can refuse to enter into the agreement by:– Returning the software product for a

refund– Clicking "I do not accept" during

installation


GNU General Public License

• Used to protect GNU software (UNIX-like operating system that comes with code that can be modified, copied and redistributed)

• First term: programmers may freely copy and distribute verbatim copies of a software program's source code, under the condition that each copy displays a copyright notice, disclaimer of warranty, intact GPL notices, and a copy of the GPL

• Second term: requires the same conditions as the first, along with notification of any changes made to the software and deals with modification and redistribution of software


Volume License

• Allows installation by more than one user, or on more than one computer, for a single copy of the application


No. Of Clients Versus No. Of Users

• A license that specifies the number of computers allows:– Application to be installed on given number

of computers– Multiple users can use the application for a

given machine

• A license that specifies the number of users:– Limits the amount of installations to the

given number of users– Means that application can be installed on

less computers if more than one user per computer


Discussion

• Consider volume licensing. In a large organisation, which type of end user licensing agreement would you choose – number of users or number of clients?

• Do you think this would be different for a small organisation? Why?


Links

• Reference– http://www.whatis.com– http://www.webopedia.com– http://www.wikipedia.org

http://www.whatis.com/

http://www.webopedia.com/

http://www.wikipedia.org/

comp 6005 an introduction to computing session two: computer software acquiring software

Documents

computer software

free software slide

software provider

commercial software

copyleft free software

software10 free software

computing session

computing session