Software Acquisition, Classification, and Quality

Ways to Acquire Software

• Purchase: Buying software from a vendor or retailer
• Download: Downloading software from the internet
• Subscription: Paying a recurring fee for software use
• Open-source: Using freely available software with open-source licenses
• Custom development: Creating software tailored to specific needs

Software Classification

• System software: Operating systems, device drivers
• Application software: Productivity software, games
• Programming software: Compilers, development tools
• Utility software: Disk formatting, virus scanning

Qualities of Good Software

• Reliability: Software performs consistently and accurately
• Efficiency: Software uses system resources efficiently
• Usability: Software is easy to use and understand
• Maintainability: Software is easy to modify and update
• Scalability: Software can handle increased, complex workloads
• Security: Software protects against unauthorized access and data breaches

Characteristics of Poor Software

• Crashes or freezes frequently
• Difficult to use or understand
• Slow performance
• Security vulnerabilities
• Lack of support or updates