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Information about User Software

User-written software is software written by users. Typically, "user-written software" refers to add-ons to a software package written by its users, often customers of the company that sells the package. User-written software is part of a larger phenomenon of widespread non-professional software development. Usually free to download online. Known as free-ware.

Common examples of user-written software include the following:
  • Scripts, macros, etc.: Advanced word processors, spreadsheets, and other large packages, often include built-in programming languages. These allow end users to build on the package and expand its capabilities to meet specific needs.
  • Small programs: Businessmen, engineers, and scientists write simulations to demonstrate or test specific theories. In recent years, Microsoft's Visual Basic has been commonly used in this way.
  • Animation scripts: Graphic artists write scripts that describe characters and envirnoments and how the characters move to produce the intended animation.
  • Configuration files: Configuration files blur the line between programs and data, but many configuration files can be interpreted as programs. For example, email filters are sequenced lists of criteria and actions to take.
  • Game modifications: Users modify computer games, introducing their own characters, environments, etc. Many recent games are distributed with modification in mind. In the gaming community, these modifications are knows as mods.
In recent years, the rise of open source development models has blurred the distinction between user-written software and other software. In many open-source projects, users of a software package may contribute their own code for inclusion in the package. In some cases, they can also join as full-fledged developers.

See also: software engineering
Computer software is a general term used to describe a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that perform some task on a computer system. [1]
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User in a computing context refers to one who uses a computer system. Users may need to identify themselves for the purposes of accounting, security, logging and resource management.
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A word processor (more formally known as document preparation system) is a computer application used for the production (including composition, editing, formatting, and possibly printing) of any sort of printable material.
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spreadsheet is a rectangular table (or grid) of information, often financial information. The word came from "spread" in its sense of a newspaper or magazine item (text and/or graphics) that covers two facing pages, extending across the center fold and treating the two pages as one
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Microsoft Corporation

Public (NASDAQ:  MSFT )
Founded Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA (April 4 1975)[1]
Headquarters Redmond, Washington, United States

Key people Bill Gates, Co-founder and Executive Chairman ;
Paul Allen, Co-founder ;
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Visual Basic

Paradigm: Event-driven
Developer: Microsoft
Typing discipline: Static, strong
Influenced by: QuickBASIC
Influenced: Visual Basic .NET
OS: Microsoft Windows

Visual Basic (VB
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configuration files, or config files, are used to configure the initial settings for some computer programs. They are used for user applications, server processes and operating system settings.
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Mod or modification is a term generally applied to computer games, especially first-person shooters, RPGs and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public or a developer, and can be entirely new games in themselves.
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Open source is a set of principles and practices that promote access to the design and production of goods and knowledge. The term is most commonly applied to the source code of software that is available to the general public with relaxed or non-existent intellectual property
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Software engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software.[1] The term software engineering
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