Util. Vs App. Vs Prog.

[Linde]

It seems more and more these names are being thrown around with out any clear division in the other camps. Not so much in Amigaland mind you, but it is still enough to make it confusing.
 
For instance, is a game a program or can it also be an App.?
 
I used to think Utils. were strait forward, but now that title is being used for things I wouldn't think as Utils. OR Apps.
 
So I thought I'd ask you all, what do you consider a Util., an App. and a Prog.?  And if you can, give examples.

A computer program is any instruction sequence for the computer to automatically perform. It's a generic term including full executables, scripts, bytecode, whole applications or just sub routines etc.

Application software is a bit different in that it has a specific application. It solves a set of problems or fulfills a set of needs related to eachother. This includes games, word processors, music players and most of the software you use consciously and actively.

Utility software can be thought of narrow-focused meta applications. They generally aid and enhance the computer system itself by performing very specific tasks. Examples include most of the stuff you get in the /bin folder in your favorite freshly installed Linux distribution.

I could just have sent you the wikipedia links, but I trimmed it down for you

[Linde]

This thread is too long. If we can't agree with the dictionary definition, nothing good can come out of it.

[Linde]

Erm... and why exactly is this thread too long... :confused:

Very small information/posts ratio,

and why should everyone have to agree with a dictionary definition !!!

I never said that you have to. I said that if you don't agree with it, there is not much to discuss. You are just stating your opinion based on some anecdotal experiences.

after all the words in there had to be made up by someone to start with and who's to say that "someone" was right in the first place...

I don't think that the words are loosely defined enough to warrant the sort of discussion we've seen in this thread. Most differences in interpretation are based on misconceptions.

Good can always come from a nice healthy debate or argument, you just have to open your mind a wee bit to see it...

Let's discuss eggs. In my opinion, eggs include boxes, elephants and socks. What are eggs for you?

The most interesting post here is the one asking what goes into "tools" and what goes into "utilities" . That's an interesting overlap. But asking what is an application and what is a utility? That's a straight question for one looking to inform herself, not food for thought or material for debate.