Software

Packaged Software or Commercial Software

This software is literally packaged in a container of some sort, usually a box or folder, and is sold in stores or through catalogs or Web sites. Some commercial software is available for downloading (for a fee, of course) on the Internet. Packaged software for personal computers often comes in a box that is as colorful as that of a board game.

Custom Software or Bespoke Software

It is a software that is specially tailored to the customer needs. This software created by computer programmers and usually it is for large organization or business for calculating budget or project managing.

Freeware

Freeware is a software that is provided free (with no cost) to all users. However, freeware is copyrighted - that is, the author retains legal ownership and may place restrictions on its use.

Public Domain Software

Public domain software is a software that is uncopyrighted but may be used, or even altered, without restriction. Software developed by universities and research institutions using government grants is usually in the public domain.

Open-Source Software

Open-source software is a variation of freeware. A freeware program is normally distributed in a machine-readable format that is unreadable by humans. You can use it, but even if you know how to write programs, you can't make changes to it. The developers of open-source software, however, make the source code available, which means that programmers can understand how it works and modify it.

Shareware

Shareware is a category of software that is often confused with freeware. Like freeware, it is freely distributed, but only for a trial period. The understanding is that if you like it enough to continue using it, you will pay a nominal fee to register it with the author. The aim of shareware is to give users the opportunity to use the program and judge its usefulness before purchasing the license for the full version of the software.

References

1. Computers Tools for an Information Age Edition 7 by H.L. Capron and J.A. Johnson.
2. SourceForge.Net http://sourceforge.net/
3. MySQL http://www.mysql.com/
4. Free and Open Source Software http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/index.jsp
5. What is Public Domain Software http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-public-domain-software.htm
6. Freeware Home http://www.freewarehome.com/
7. PC Shareware, Inc. http://www.pcshareware.com/whatissh.htm