computer science

Software distribution

Software distribution is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Software distribution rather than just read about it. In short: Software distribution is the process of delivering software and it is the asset that contains the data used in the process. Free software distribution tools GNU Autotools are widely used for which consist of source files written in C++ and the C programming language, but are not limited to these.

Key takeaways

Software distribution belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Software distribution to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Software distribution from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Software distribution is the process of delivering software and it is the asset that contains the data used in the process.

Free software distribution tools GNU Autotools are widely used for which consist of source files written in C++ and the C programming language, but are not limited to these.

Commercial software distribution tools LANDesk Management Suite provides software distribution for Windows, OS X, and Linux. Dell KACE provides remote administration, software distribution, and software installation to any Windows, Mac, or Linux desktop or server.

Distribution tools for mobile devices Distribution of software to small mobile devices such as phones, PDAs and other hand-held terminals is a particular challenge due to their inconsistent connection to the Internet. Some tools that cater to this category of devices are:

Sybase iAnywhere Afaria

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Software distribution

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Software distribution claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Software distribution before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Software distribution ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Software distribution

In research: Software distribution appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Software distribution in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Software distribution is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Software delivery methods, Software distribution, Software stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Software distribution outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Software distribution in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Software distribution means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Software distribution out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Software distribution in simple terms?

Software distribution is the process of delivering software and it is the asset that contains the data used in the process. Free software distribution tools GNU Autotools are widely used for which consist of source files written in C++ and the C programming language, but are not limited to these.

Why does Software distribution matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Software distribution?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Software distribution.