Software in between - Part 1

The "generality" scale

Well, there are many different angles from which you can classify software.  In this article, I want to focus briefly on the aspect of "generality".  I think this will help understand the relationship between the user of the software and the developer.

Commercial

At one end of the spectrum is software that is designed and manufactured for the mass market.  It is supposed to cater to the needs of a wide potential user audience.  Everyone is familiar with this sort of software.  It is software which can be purchased from retail outlets, or increasingly via internet download.  Operating systems, web browsers, word processors, and games, would typically fall into this category.

Well produced software in this category normally has these characteristics:

• Intensively and extensively tested across a wide range of operating environments.
• Has many features and functions that any given user does not use.
• Relies heavily on Help within the software, and documentation, as the main avenue of customer support.
• More direct or specific support to individual users is difficult to access, and provided by someone you don’t know.
• Version updates of the software are infrequent, and developments do not always reflect user needs.

Bespoke

At the other end of this spectrum is bespoke, or fully customised software.  These are applications that are tailored specifically to the needs of one organisation, or very small group of organisations.  For example, I have developed software for a tour operator, and for an auction house.  Commercial software is not applicable to the needs of these companies, because they need something that is in accord with the unique aspects of their businesses.

Software in this category normally has these characteristics:

• Tends to be relatively expensive, because the development cost is not shared between users, but nevertheless the benefits justify the expense.
• The cost of extensive testing is not justified, and testing does not need to be priority – the users are the testers.
• Almost all features and functions have been included to meet specific customer requirements.
• The small number of individuals who have to learn the software, and the specificity of the software, mean that the cost of developing intricate Help systems and other documentation is not justified.
• Direct or specific support to individual users is very easy to access, and provided by someone they know well and who works closely with them.
• Version updates of the software are frequent, in response to user needs.

In between

A lot of software falls somewhere along this spectrum, between these two extremes described above.  Thinking about my own software, SportsRunner, I reckon it is about ¼ way along, between Bespoke and Commercial.  In particular, this means:

• I will need to have a fairly close on-going connection with the users of the software, as we work together...
  • to help them make the best use of the software in its present form
  • to help me enhance the software to more completely meet their needs

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