From: Trans <transfire@...>
Date: 2006-09-24T10:10:12+09:00
Subject: Re: Please define these terms


Logan Capaldo wrote:
> On Sat, Sep 23, 2006 at 08:39:15AM +0900, Trans wrote:
> > (And add any you think might be missing from the set)
> >
> >   Application
> A process or system of processes

That seems a little to scant, although perhap acurate. It weight heavy
on what you mean by process though. I guess I see an Application as
Program for an end-user, in contrast to a Library.

> >   Library
> Collection of reusable code tied together by some common theme. Other
> code calls out to this code.
>
> >   Toolkit
> Collection of libraries

Okay. That's interesting. I was thinking of library being bigger then
that. And a Toolkit for instance being a type of Library --a Library of
many disperate modules. But you have an interesting perspective b/c
indeed any one of the disperate modules can be called a library in
itself. Hmm... so would Facets be a toolkit and not a library then? Not
sure. I guess I rather say there are two overall types of software:
Application and Library. I think with you definition it would have to
be: Application and Toolkit. Then again given your definition of
Application maybe you seem that there is only Application?

> >   Framework
> Reusable themed code that calls out to other application specific code in order to create an application.

Not sure what is "other application specific code". But we agree it is
a type of Library. Guess I see a framework as a library that address
how one structures codes rather then simple addtional compenents to
code with.

> >   Package
> Container

This is an intersting one. B/c on one hand I see it as a "release" --a
self contained distribution of a library or application. BUt then I
look at UML's defintion and that seems more like a Library or Toolkit.

> >   Project
> Set of goals

Okay, that's at least part of it. But in the context of CS -- I think a
Project is a Program from the perspective of the developer, i.e. it
include lots of supporting files/code not neccessarily distributed in
the "Package".

> >   Program
> Application

Ah, guess that confirms the point about there being but one type. I see
Program as the one type, ie.. Progam == Software, but not Applicaiton.

Intersting.

Btw, the reason I've asked about this is becuase I have a naming issue
in my current project. I have project/library/application metadata in
one class, and both a Project class (tools to act on a project) and a
Library class (manages require) that use it. So this metadata thing is
something that encompasses the two and I'm not sure what best to label
it.

T.