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A software distribution is a bundle of a specific software (or a collection of multiple, even an entire operating system), already compiled and configured. It is generally the closest thing to a turnkey form of a usually GPL or open source source code for a software. It usually takes the form of either rpm, deb, tgz, msi, exe etc. installer and is downloadable from the Internet. These are also known as a Binary distributions. Examples range from whole operating system distributions to server and interpreter distributions (for example WAMP installers). Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Shortcut: WP:WIN Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia and, as a means to that end, also an online community. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ... // An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The GNU logo The GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or simply GPL) is a widely-used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU project. ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ... WAMP can refer to: A Microsoft Windows-based variant of a LAMP (software bundle). ...

They can be either official distributions by the makers of the software, or 3rd party distributions. Notable is the fact that one using such 3rd party distributions will have to turn to the distribution maker for support, the developers of the actual software being distributed usually do not provide support for 3rd party distributions of their software.

Vendors

Vendors of software distributions systems include:

• Altiris with Deployment Solution
• CapaSystems with CapaInstaller
• gNewSense the Completely free (as in freedom) operating system
• HP with Radia
• IBM with Tivoli Configuration Manager
• LANDesk with Management Suite
• LANrev with LANrev Client Management
• KACE with KBOX Systems Management Appliance
• Matrix42 with Empirum
• M23 software distribution system: m23 is an OpenSource and GPL'd solution for installation of Debian and Ubuntu systems.
• Paragon Deployment Manager with [1]
• Symantec with iCommand
• BMC Software with Marimba
• ManageSoft Corporation
• New Boundary Technologies Prism Deploy
• Novell ZENworks
• Microsoft SMS (Systems Management Server)
• Microsoft SLPS(Software Licensing and Protection Services)
• Microsoft SCE (System Centered Essentials)
• Vector NetworksPC-Duo Enterprise Desktop Management and Support
• Snow Software Enterprise Software Management
• SSI Operating systems and software deployment from SoftService.
• Special Operations Software Software Distribution for Windows using Group Policy.
• Computer AssociatesUnicenter® Software Delivery

Altiris Inc. ... gNewSense (originally called Gnusiance) is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Ubuntu aiming to provide a distribution consisting entirely of free software. ... HP may refer to: Handley Page Aircraft Company Harry Potter, a series of fantasy novels by British writer J. K. Rowling Hello! Project (H!P), a Japanese pop recording project Hewlett-Packard, a computer and computer peripheral company High Point, North Carolina High potency, a term used in biology, pharmacology... For other uses, see IBM (disambiguation) and Big Blue. ... LANDesk Software, Inc. ... KACE is a radio station based in Riverside, California. ... m23 is a software distribution and management system for Debian Linux. ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ... The GNU logo The GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or simply GPL) is a widely-used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU project. ... Symantec Corporation NASDAQ: SYMC, founded in 1982, is an international corporation which sells computer software, particularly in the realms of security and information management. ... BMC Software, Inc. ... Novell Inc. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... Microsoft Software Licensing and Protection Services also known as Microsoft SLPS. // Microsoft Software Licensing and Protection Services (SLPS) is a Software Licensing Suite that provides developers with the ability to protect code, license software, create license versions, and track performance of products and profitability. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ...

Open Source Distribution Tools

GNU Autotools are widely used for distributions comprised of source files written in C++ and the C programming language, but are not limited to these. The GNU build system is a suite of tools produced by the GNU project that assist in making packages portable to many UNIX-like systems. ... C++ (pronounced see plus plus, IPA: ) is a general-purpose programming language with high-level and low-level capabilities. ... C is a general-purpose, block structured, procedural, imperative computer programming language developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system. ...

The Python programming language offers a distribution utility called distutils, which requires the creation of a setup.py configuration file. Python is a high-level programming language first released by Guido van Rossum in 1991. ...

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 ad-hoc connectivity. Some tools that cater to this category of devices are: A mobile computer is any computing device intended to frequently move location while maintaining operation. ...

• Wavelink Avalanche MC (Mobility Center)
• iAnywhere Afaria

Sybase iAnywhere offices in Waterloo, Ontario iAnywhere Solutions, Inc. ...

Standard Files

Open source projects typically contain a few standard files that live in the root of the distribution extraction. These files are most commonly named: Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ...

• README - top level documentation overview
• Changelog - list of changes spanning the life of the project
• INSTALL - instructions on how to install
• LICENSE or COPYING - conditions of use and redistribution
• CREDITS or AUTHORS - attribution for project contributors

Some less frequently used names that you might also see: A readme (or read me) file contains information about other files in a directory and is very commonly distributed with computer software. ... A changelog is a log or record of changes made to a project, such as a website or software project. ...

• FAQ - frequently asked questions (and answers)
• BUGS - list of software bugs
• HACKING - development guide for new participants
• NEWS - interesting project information, sometimes used in place of the Changelog

FAQ is an abbreviation for Frequently Asked Question(s). The term refers to listed questions and answers, all supposed to be frequently asked in some context, and pertaining to a particular topic. ... A software bug is an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program that prevents it from behaving as intended (e. ... A changelog is a log or record of changes made to a project, such as a website or software project. ...

See also

• Installation program
• Installation (computer programs)

Software distribution can also refer to commercial distribution methods such as Careware and Donateware. An installation program or installer is a computer program that installs files, such as applications, drivers, or other software, onto a computer. ... // Installation (or setup) of a program (including drivers) is the act and the effect of putting the program in a computer system so that it can be executed. ... Careware (or charityware, helpware or goodware.) is software distributed in a way that benefits a charity. ... Donateware (or donationware) is a form of software distribution. ...