There are two types of software: system and application. System software is set of programs made for solving global IT issues and developing of application software.

Application software:

Application software is contained from program packages made for solving user problems. Avarage user of computer doesn't have time nor money for developing usable complex applications, like database, spreadsheet, word processor, etc... Thats why big number of users use already developed program packages made for solving specific problem(s). Most popular applcation packages are:

- word processor (Microsoft Word (Office), Corel WordPerfect, OpenOffice.org, etc..)
- spreadsheet (Speedsheet, Microsoft Excel (Office), Quatro pro, Lotus, etc..)
- database (Microsoft Acces, Paradox, Fox Pro, D-Base, Oracle, etc...)
- CAD/CAM (Custom Aided Design / Custom Aided Manufacture) (Auto CAD, Arch CAM, MAT CAD, P-CAD, Or-CAD, Catia)
- Desktop programs(programs for preparing of print) like Corel Draw, Photoshop, etc..

With help of these programs, process of preparing for printing of avarage book is shorten from 2 years to 2 months.

- Top menagment programs (Microsoft Navision) This is special class of software for mission to help menagers of big comanies for making buisness decisions, analytics of buisness.
- Multimedia packages for editing picture, sound, movie, etc... (Pinnacle Studio)

Software platforms and tools for faster development of applications

Software platforms and IDE (Integrated Developing Enviroment)

This is special category of software which by it complexy and possibilities put itself above standard programming languages. Most popular developing platforms are JAVA and ORACLE

JAVA is proprety of company Sun Microsystems and has been developed to serve astool for developing transparent applications, meaning, applications that will be able to run to any platform without changing the code. That is extraordinary proprety that enables non painfull functioning of internet where beside of PC, Machintosh are included, graphic works stations, big servers, and mainframe computers.

ORACLE is developing platform by which is done controling of big databases. These are not clasic databases but also transaction databases. Beside database there is support for protecting those transactions from unauthorized access, and they are mostly used in banking and similiar institutions. Transaction is complicated process which must be done completly, without errors. Otherwise if there is some error transaction must be done again.

Tools for rapid developing

Those are tools that have expanded its functional possibilities unlike standard Programming languages. Thats why generating of user application much faster and mostly less complicated.

Most popular ones are: Visual Basic, Delphi, Clarion and Clipper.