I. What is Software?

1. Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices. (The term hardware describes the physical aspects of computers and related devices.)
   
   
2. Software can be thought of as the variable part of a computer and hardware the invariable part. Software is often divided into application software (programs that do work users are directly interested in) and system software (which includes operating systems and any program that supports application software).
   
   
3. An additional and difficult-to-classify category of software is the utility, which is a small useful program with limited capability. Some utilities come with operating systems. Like applications, utilities tend to be separately installable and capable of being used independently from the rest of the operating system.
   
   
4. Applets and Scripts are small applications that can be created independently using  Java or other programming languages and may be embedded in web pages.
   
5. Software can be purchased or acquired as shareware (usually intended for sale after a trial period), liteware (shareware with some capabilities disabled), freeware (free software but with copyright restrictions), public domain software (free with no restrictions), and free software (software whose users agree not to limit its further distribution).
   
   Software is usually packaged on CD-ROM and diskettes. Today, much purchased software, shareware, and freeware is downloaded over the Internet. Some general kinds of application software include:

• Productivity software, which includes word processors, spreadsheets, and tools for use by most computer users
• Presentation software
• Graphics software for graphic designers
• CAD/CAM software
• Specialized scientific applications
• Vertical market or industry-specific software (for example, for banking, insurance, retail, and manufacturing environments)

The scope of localization and internationalization can include the full range of software types, from system software through many forms of application software.

A special case of software localization is the localization of web pages. Web pages per se are not software (in the sense of programs), but they present similar problems to localizers -- they contain code which is NOT to be localized and text or cultural material which SHOULD. They may also contain applets, scripts (javascript) -- which are programs -- or data streams (from databases links) which may need to be localized.

Creating Software