kitchen table software

noun

A set of computer programs developed by an entrepreneurial advanced amateur or self-employed professional computer programmer in their own home; software developed by a small business using the services of such programmers.

Meanings

nounkitchen table software (uncountable)

alternative kitchen-table software

  1. datedidiomaticuncountablecomputingA set of computer programs developed by an entrepreneurial advanced amateur or self-employed professional computer programmer in their own home; software developed by a small business using the services of such programmers.

    So much for kitchen-table software being small potatoes.

    1986, Personal computer, Software Communications, page 91
    2 more examples

    However, the need to evaluate software before buying is no less important than in the days of the kitchen-table software developer.

    1987, Jimmy D. Lindsey, Computers and exceptional individuals, →ISBN, page 54

    More and more vendors, from IBM to "kitchen table" software authors, seem to be heading in this direction.

    2003 January 8, Robin Miller, “The business of making Linux easier to use”, in linux.com, retrieved 08 May 2009
Cite this entry
APA

kitchen table software. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kitchen%20table%20software

MLA

“kitchen table software.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kitchen%20table%20software. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kitchen table software,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kitchen%20table%20software.

Source: kitchen table software on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.