Software, especially videogames, created many years ago, no more available in the stores, no longer supported or offered to the public by the original author or company, and often made for computers which aren't sold anymore as well (such as old 8bit computers or consoles). Such games are still requested by many people ("retrogamers"), mainly for historical or nostalgic reasons.
Neverthless, so called "abandonware" is still protected by copyright and it can't be spreaded, a very few coders and software houses agreed to release the rights of software they produced over ten year before, yet more often piracy is the only way to get such programs.
Adware or Bannerware
A shareware program you can use indefinitely without registering, but ad banners will be shown during its usage. An example of it is GetRight. Many Adware are also Spyware.
Annoyware *1
A type of shareware that frequently disrupts normal program operation to display requests for payment to the author in return for the ability to disable the request messages. The requests generally require user action to acknowledge the message before normal operation is resumed and are often tied to the most frequently used features of the software.
Backdoor Trojan Horse (also Wormhole, less common)
A specific kind of trojan horses, which became popular on the Internet. A malicious executable file disguised into another file is sent to the victim that will likely execute it in his system, installing a backdoor accessible by the malicious person who sent that file. The "infected" executable is nothing but a server controlled by a client application installed into the malicious person's computer, that can requests information stored into the remote computer.
The first one was "Back Orifice" created by "the Cult of the Dead Cow".
Beerware
The author expects a beer from you if you liked his software, in case you'll ever meet him. This is the original beer-ware license statement by Poul-Hanning Kamp:
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* "THE BEER-WARE LICENSE" (Revision 42)
*
* can do whatever you want with this stuff. If we meet some day, and you think
* this stuff is worth it, you can buy me a beer in return. Poul-Hanning Kamp
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bloatware *1
Software that provides minimal functionality while requiring a disproportionate amount of diskspace and memory. Especially used for application and OS upgrades. This term is very common in the Windows/NT world. So is its cause.
Brochureware *1
Planned but non-existent product like vaporware, but with the added implication that marketing is actively selling and promoting it (they've printed brochures). Brochureware is often deployed as a strategic weapon; the idea is to con customers into not committing to an existing product of the competition's. It is a safe bet that when a brochureware product finally becomes real, it will be more expensive than and inferior to the alternatives that had been available for years.
MicroSoft's game console Xbox is a good example.
Cardware (also called Postcardware) *1
A kind of shareware that borders on freeware, in that the author requests only that satisfied users send a postcard of their home town or something. (This practice, silly as it might seem, serves to remind users that they are otherwise getting something for nothing, and may also be psychologically related to real estate "sales" in which $1 changes hands just to keep the transaction from being a gift).
Careware (also called Charityware or Donationware) *1
A variety of shareware for which either the author suggests that some payment be made to a nominated charity or a levy directed to charity is included on top of the distribution charge.
CDWare *2
This is software that is included on CDs that come with magazines.
Censorware
A software mechanism for sorting content into categories for the purpose of decreasing accessibility of certain types of content, often designed to work hand-in-hand with local, national or global self-labeling or 3rd-party rating schemes.
Related links: http://www.eff.org/Censorship/Censorware/ , http://censorware.net
Copyleft *1
The copyright notice ("General Public License" or GPL) carried by GNU, EMACS, and other Free Software Foundation software, granting reuse and reproduction rights to all comers. By extension, any copyright notice intended to achieve similar aims. However, the GNU Public License is also called "General Public Virus" since requires that any tools incorporating copylefted code must be source distributed on the same anti-proprietary terms as GNU software. Thus it is alleged that the copyleft infects software generated with GNU tools, which may in turn infect ogher software that reuses any of its code. The Free Software Foundation's official position as of January 1991 is that copyright law limits the scope of the GPL to "programs textually incorporating significant amounts of GNU code", and that the "infection" is not passed on to third parties unless actual GNU source is transmitted. Nevertheless, widespread suspicion that the copyleft language is "boobytrapped" has caused many developers to avoid using GNU tools and the GPL. Changes in the language of the version 2.0 GPL did not eliminate this problem.
Crippleware
See the above definition of "Crippled version".
Crudware *1
Pejorative term for the hundreds of megabytes of low-quality freeware circulated by user's groups and BBS systems in the micro-hobbyist world. "Yet another set of disk catalog utilities for MS-DOS? What crudware!"
Emailware
Similar to Cardware, but you have to send an e-mail to the author.
FRS (Free Distributable Software) or FDS (Free Distributable Sofware)
The term FRS was invented in 1995 after year of confusion about how to call software written to be passed around and shared. However, its use is not very common.
If a package of software is called "Free Distributable" then anyone is allowed to copy and spread this piece of creative work as long as he follows some rules. Most programmers want to make sure that no other persons make any profit from their work. Some want something in return for their efforts.
Firmware *1
Embedded software contained in EPROM or flash memory. It isn't quite hardware, but at least doesn't have to be loaded from a disk like regular software. Hacker usage differs from straight techspeak in that hackers don't normally apply it to stuff that you can't possibly get at, such as the program that runs a pocket calculator. Instead, it implies that the firmware could be changed, even if doing so would mean opening a box and plugging in a new chip. A computer's BIOS is the classic example, although nowadays there is firmware in disk controllers, modems, video cards and even CD-ROM drives.
Freeware
Free software, often written by enthusiasts and distributed by users' groups, or via electronic mail, local bulletin boards, Usenet, or other electronic media. At one time, "freeware" was a trademark of Andrew Fluegelman, the author of the well-known MS-DOS comm program PC-TALK III. It wasn't enforced after his mysterious disappearance and presumed death in 1984.
In the modern use of this term, you are allowed to use this software free (without giving anything to the author), but still the author keeps the copyright (so it's different from Public Domain Software), that means you are not allowed to change the program in any way, especially remove the authors' name or the copyright note.
Fritterware *1
An excess of capability that serves no productive end. The canonical example is font-diddling software on the Mac (or animated menus on Windows); the term describes anything that eats huge amounts of time for quite marginal gains in function but seduces people into using it anyway.
Giftware
You have to make a gift to the author. Such gift can be untold (and in this case could be anything) or specified in the user's licence or elsewhere.
Guiltware *1
A piece of freeware decorated with a message telling one how long and hard the author worked on it and intimating that one is a no-good freeloader if one does not immediately send the poor suffering martyr gobs of money.
Hardware
The physical part of a computer. Everything you can "touch", such as keyboard, modem, monitor, and so on...
Liveware (also called meatware) *1
[Cambridge] Vermin. "Waiter, there's some liveware in my salad..."
Logic Bomb *1
Code surreptitiously inserted into an application or OS that causes it to perform some destructive or security-compromising activity whenever specified conditions are met.
Mailware
Could be Emailware if you have to send an e-mail to the author, or Cardware, if you have to send him a snail mail postcard or letter.
Mockingbird *1
Software that intercepts communications (especially login transactions) between users and hosts and provides system-like responses to the users while saving their responses (especially account IDs and passwords).
Nagware *1
The variety of shareware that displays a large screen at the beginning or end reminding you to register, typically requiring some sort of keystroke to continue so that you can't use the software in batch mode. If such reminders keep appearing also during normal program operation, then it's called Annoyware.
Open Source
The author besides of the compiled binary executable files also releases the source code of his software, allowing the user to study it, and to modify or update it (restrictions may apply).
This term was invented in March 1998 following the Mozilla (Netscape) release to describe software distributed in source guaranteeing anybody rights to freely use, modify, and redistribute, the code.
Payware
Commercial software, sold in shops.
Phage *1
A program that modifies other programs or databases in unauthorized ways, especially one that propagates a virus or Trojan horse. The analogy, of course, is with phage viruses in biology.
Pricelessware
The Pricelessware List is the compilation of the favorite Freeware programs of the readers of alt.comp.freeware . The brainchild of one of acf's regulars, Son of Spy , the list was intended to be a quick reference point for frequently requested Freeware programs. Initially dubbed "The Big List", it included programs old and new, well-known and obscure. The only requirement was that the program be the best Freeware program one could think of for each particular category.
The original Pricelessware List contained only the program names and download links. The individual pages including detailed program descriptions and Home Page links were developed by Genna Reeney.
The term "Pricelessware" was coined by another regular at the time of creation, Tiger® .
The Pricelessware List reflects the programs favored by members of alt.comp.freeware; it is not an exhaustive list of the best available Freeware. Most of the listings are well-known programs, but there are some hard-to-find goodies to be discovered. Although most categories will list only 1 or 2 selections, a few will list 3-4 programs.
Some of the detailed information for each program includes special notations. These indicate a specific issue with the program. It could be that the program is a LIGHT version, that the program requires registration before download or that the program suggested is the last Freeware version available.
The list is reviewed regularly for updated versions. New programs are sometimes added during the year. The list as a whole is reviewed once a year.
Finally, there are NO Adware/Spyware programs included in the Pricelessware List.
(http://home.att.net/~willowbrookemill/pricelesswarealphabetized.html).
Psychedelicware *1
A program (also called display hack) with the same approximate purpose as a kaleidoscope: to make pretty pictures. Famous display hacks include munching squares, smoking clover, the BSD Unix rain(6) program, worms(6) on miscellaneous Unixes, and the X kaleid(1) program. Display hacks can also be implemented by creating text files containing numerous escape sequences for interpretation by a video terminal; one notable example displayed, on any VT100, a Christmas tree with twinkling lights and a toy train circling its base. The hack value of a display hack is proportional to the esthetic value of the images times the cleverness of the algorithm divided by the size of the code.
Public Domain Software (PD)
When the author puts the work in the "public domain", he gives up all copyrights and releases his work to be used and spreaded without any limitations. Most archives contain also the source-code of the programs ("open source" software) as examples of how to program in a certain language or how to solve a certain programming problem.
This kind of software was very common in the early '90s in the Amiga scene.
Recipeware
The author wants to receive a recipe.
Revengeware
A shareware/nagware software that takes a revenge on the user if a stolen password is entered when trying to register the software. Examples of revengeware are Nero Burning that asks the user to click several times on a request box and GetRight that doesn't allow the user to register anymore.
Registerware *2
The cost is that you must provide personal information via registration. Some people falsify the information which is requested. However, since the author has asked the price, falsifying what they are asking for is not ethical.
Shareware *1
A kind of freeware (sense 1) for which the author requests some payment, usually in the accompanying documentation files or in an announcement made by the software itself. Such payment may or may not buy additional support or functionality.
Shelfware *1
Software purchased on a whim (by an individual user) or in accordance with policy (by a corporation or government agency), but not actually required for any particular use. Therefore, it often ends up on some shelf.
Shovelware *1
1. Extra software dumped onto a CD-ROM or tape to fill up the remaining space on the medium after the software distribution (as the "bonus tracks" on audio CDs) it's intended to carry, but not integrated with the distribution. 2. A slipshod compilation of software dumped onto a CD-ROM without much care for organization or even usability.
Software
Very generic term: any kind of data you can feed the computer with.
Spyware *2
Any software that installs components on your computer which allow companies and/or individuals to access your hard drive or spy on your surfing habits. The cost you pay is your privacy and/or security. You can learn more about adware at: http://www.spychecker.com/spyware.html. Often, after you remove the software, the files that do the spying remain on your hard drive. An excellent freeware utility for removing such garbage is AdAware.
Theftware (also called Scumware. It may be referred as "smart tags", "supernodes", "top text")
Technology which defaces and alters the content of websites as they appear on the user's browsers for financial gain. These procedures do not obtain webmasters' prior written consent, do not notify them of these actions, and do not share any of their revenue with them. In some cases they insert "Adult and or Gambling" links in "PG" site which the author would never permit. These actions compromises website's visitor relationship and their reputation.
Related pages: What is theftware?, ScurmWare.com, Thief-ware, the eZula Virus, TopText, Gator and others.
Treeware *1
Printouts, books, and other information media made from pulped dead trees.
Trialware
See the above definition of "Trial version".
Trojan Horse *1
Coined by MIT-hacker-turned-NSA-spook Dan Edwards. A malicious security-breaking program that is disguised as something benign, such as a directory lister, archiver, game, or (in one notorious 1990 case on the Mac) a program to find and destroy viruses!
Vaporware *1
Products announced far in advance of any release (which may or may not actually take place). See also brochureware.
Vegeware
A special kind of recipeware: the author wants to receive vegetarian recepes (example: the game "Swarm" for Amiga).
Virus (pluralized as virii or viruses) *1
[from the obvious analogy with biological viruses, via SF] A cracker program that searches out other programs and "infects" them by embedding a copy of itself in them, so that they become Trojan horses. When these programs are executed, the embedded virus is executed too, thus propagating the `infection'. This normally happens invisibly to the user. Unlike a worm, a virus cannot infect other computers without assistance. It is propagated by vectors such as humans trading programs with their friends ("sex"). The virus may do nothing but propagate itself and then allow the program to run normally. Usually, however, after propagating silently for a while, it starts doing things like writing cute messages on the terminal or playing strange tricks with the display (some viruses include nice display hacks). Many nasty viruses, written by particularly perversely minded crackers, do irreversible damage, like nuking all the user's files.
Wetware *1
[wetware, prob. from the novels of Rudy Rucker] 1. The human nervous system, as opposed to computer hardware or software. "Wetware has 7 plus or minus 2 temporary registers." 2. Human beings (programmers, operators, administrators) attached to a computer system, as opposed to the system's hardware or software.
Warez *1
Widely used in cracker subcultures to denote cracked version of commercial software, that is versions from which copy-protection has been stripped. Hackers recognize this term but don't use it themselves. Worm *1
[from "tapeworm" in John Brunner's novel "The Shockwave Rider", via XEROX PARC] A program that propagates itself over a network, reproducing itself as it goes. A virus that spreads itself over a network, or the Internet (especially e-mail virii).
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