software

nonstandard plural softwares

1. uncountableusuallycomputingEncoded computer instructions, usually modifiable (unless stored in some form of unalterable memory such as ROM).

   Some software will only run on a particular platform.

   3 more examples

   The "software" comprising the carefully planned interpretive routines, compilers, and other aspects of automative programming are at least as important to the modern electronic calculator as its "hardware" of tubes, transistors, wires, tapes and the like.

   1958, John W. Tukey, "The Teaching of Concrete Mathematics" in The American Mathematical Monthly, vol. 65, no. 1 (Jan. 1958), pp 1-9

   As originally conceived, the word "software" was merely an obvious way to distinguish a program from the computer itself. A program comprised sequences of changeable instructions each having the power to command the behavior of the permanently crafted machinery, the "hardware."

   1995, Paul Niquette, Softword: Provenance for the Word ‘Software’

   Cris “Space Rogue” Thomas, another ex-L0pht member who testified alongside Zatko that day, said that L0pht would do everything it could to get companies to collaboratively fix software issues the hacker group found.

   2022 October 17, Sean Lyngaas and Clare Duffy, “How a 51-year-old celebrity hacker upended one of the world’s most influential social networks”, in CNN Business

2. uncountableusuallygovernmentThe human beings involved in warfare, as opposed to hardware such as weapons and vehicles.

   […] preview of horrific images to come, as the hardware stage of the war yields to the software — or human — stage.

   1991, New York Magazine, volume 24, number 5, page 33

   1 more example

   The Americans have devoted their attention to the hardware of disarmament: Europeans can make a special contribution to the 'software' or human content of detente.

   1989, Christopher Layton, A Step Beyond Fear: Building a European Security Community

3. dateduncountableusuallymusic industryRecorded music content, as opposed to the hardware necessary for reproducing it.

   […] an extremely long playing time is achieved, which might be unnecessary from a software point of view

   1979 December 6, Toshi T. Doi, Takashi Itoh, Hiroshi Ogawa, “A Long-Play Digital Audio Disk System”, in Journal of the AES, volume 27, number 12, pages 975–981

   5 more examples

   There seems to be a growing trend towards endorsement of the C-DAD system by equipment manufacturers and "software" (recorded material) producers around the world.

   1982 March, Len Feldman, “Digital Audio Disc”, in Radio-Electronics, volume 53, number 3, New York: Gernsback Publications, →ISSN, archived from the original on 09 Mar 2021, page 41

   Software availability will probably be a significant problem for at least the first few months of the system's commercial life. At present there are only two CD pressing plants in operation, CBS/Sony's in Japan and PolyGram's in Germany.

   1982 December, David Ranada, “Digital Debut: First impressions of the Compact Disc System”, in Stereo Review, volume 47, number 12, →ISSN, archived from the original on 09 Mar 2021, page 69

   PLENTIFUL SOFTWARE Compact Disc already has support from the recording studios. Many familiar labels appear on these shining silver discs, so that a wide choice of music from the world's leading artistes is available.

   1984, CD202 Slimline CD Player (Philips advertising brochure), archived from the original on 31 Dec 2025

   It should be noted that there are industry observers who feel that the whole concept of individually owned music software could become obsolete, and that in the future no digital consumer medium will exist. Instead, the listener will pay for a cable service whereby he can call up musical selections from a vast central electronic memory—a sort of library of music.

   1986, Daniel Sweeney, Demystifying Compact Discs: A Guide to Digital Audio, 1st edition, Blue Ridge Summit: TAB Books, →ISBN, page 161

   Anders als bei Videorecordern […] war mit Blick auf die völlige Abhängigkeit von vorgefertigter Musik-Software die Einführung gleich mehrerer neuer Tonträgersysteme nicht zu erwarten.

   Unlike video recorders […] the introduction of several new recording systems was not to be expected in view of the complete dependence on prefabricated music software.

   1996, Jürgen K. Lang, Das Compact Disc Digital Audio System, →ISBN, page 37

4. archaicuncountableusuallySoft goods, such as textiles.

   In fact, under the heads of hardware, software, and agriculture, the leading interests of the colony might be said to be grouped.

   1889, Parliamentary Debates, volume 61, Victoria. Parliament, page 1404

   2 more examples

   Drop into the first emporium you pass, whether of hardware or software, of dry goods or wet goods, and note how comparatively few of the articles displayed represent really original ideas

   1914, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, volume 3, page 167

   We have wheat "kings" and cotton "kings" and coal "kings"; railroad "kings", stationary engine "kings", and Mr Ford; "kings" in the realms of hardware, software, sectional bookcases, crime, and canned tomatoes.

   1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries