Software package

(1) A special method of distributing and installing software (or software upgrades) to a computer. For example, on a Macintosh computer, a package usually means "software." It's specifically a directory, presented as a single file, that contains all the information the Mac OS X Installer application needs to install your software. That includes the software itself, as well as files that are used only during the installation process. In a Windows environment it is sometimes called an installation package or update package.
(2) Multiple software programs that work together (or performs similar functions) and is bundled and sold together as a software package.

Custom software

Custom software (also known as Bespoke software) is a type of software that is developed either for a specific organization or function that differs from or is opposite of other already available software (also called off-the-shelf or COTSsoftware). It is generally not targeted to the mass market, but usually created for companies, business entities, and organizations. Custom software is also when companies or governments pay for customized software for budget or project managing.
Examples of bespoke software include commercial products such as commercial websites, business databases and software for governments. Non-commercial custom software development is common in academic and open source circles.
Complex custom software can be developed on an increasingly small scale through the rise of rapid application development frameworks. This means that smaller companies, charities or even individuals are able to benefit from complex software based on pre-built building blocks which are then customised to suit.



What is Freeware?

FreewareFreeware is software offered free of charge, downloadable off of the Internet. If the software requires the user to view ads while using the program, it is technically not freewarefreewarefreeware but adware. FreewareFreewareFreeware is also different from shareware in that shareware requires a payment if the software is to be used past a trial date.
Though freewarefreewarefreeware does not require financial compensation, it does have a user license or EULA (End User License Agreement). Each license is specific to the freewarefreewarefreeware it is bundled with, but some restrictions are common to most programs. For example, most freewarefreewarefreeware forbids the user to alter the program, repackage it, or sell it. It might allow redistribution, however, as long as the program is unchanged and the license agreement intact.
Understandably, freewarefreewarefreeware does not often come with technical support, and some programs do not have an extensive Help menu. Many freewarefreewarefreeware operators write programs in their spare time and do not have the resources to offer tech support. That said, other freewarefreewarefreeware programs not only have an extensive built-in manual, but they also have their own websites with FAQs and USENET newsgroups dedicated to users helping users. Some authors of freewarefreewarefreeware personally answer email from end users, though this can't be counted upon.
Often, a program is only available as freewarefreewarefreeware if it is for personal use, while commercial or business use requires a paid license. It is important to read any license that comes with the freewarefreewarefreeware program. The license will appear during the initial stages of the installation process. As with most software, freewarefreewarefreeware is offered "as is" and the user assumes all responsibility for its use.
FreewareFreewareFreeware has proven to be an incredible benefit to computer users since online services became popular in the late 1980s. Many talented coders report that writing handy programs is an addictive hobby. Others use freewarefreewarefreeware as a stepping-stone to garner sales for more robust editions offered at a cost. And still other freewarefreewarefreeware programs bring traffic to sites that rely on a suite of related shareware programs for income.While there are countless freewarefreewarefreeware programs, some have become staples in the online community. Others have changed status over the years from freewarefreewarefreeware to shareware or adware.
There are several sites dedicated to freewarefreewarefreeware only. Most of the popular download sites, including TuCows, ZDNet and SnapFiles, distribute both shareware and freewarefreewarefreeware. Programs that are freewarefreewarefreeware will be noted as such.


Public domain

The public domain is a range of abstract materials — commonly referred to as intellectual property — which are not owned or controlled by anyone. The term indicates that these materials are therefore "public property", and available for anyone to use for any purpose. The public domain can be defined in contrast to several forms of intellectual property; the public domain in contrast to copyrighted works is different from the public domain in contrast to trademarks or patented works. Furthermore, the laws of various countries define the scope of the public domain differently, making it necessary to specify which jurisdiction's public domain is being discussed.
The public domain is most often discussed in contrast to works whose use is restricted by copyright. Under modern law, most original works of art, literature, music, etc. are covered by copyright from the time of their creation for a limited period of time (which varies by country). When the copyright expires, the work enters the public domain. It is estimated that currently, of all the books found in the world's libraries, only about 15% are in the public domain, even though only 10% of all books are still in print; the remaining 75% are books which remain unavailable because they are still under copyright protection.[1]
The public domain can also be defined in contrast to trademarks. Names, logos, and other identifying marks used in commerce can be restricted as proprietary trademarks for a single business to use. Trademarks can be maintained indefinitely, but they can also lapse through disuse, negligence, or widespread misuse, and enter the public domain. It is possible, however, for a lapsed trademark to become proprietary again, leaving the public domain.
The public domain also contrasts with patents. New inventions can be registered and granted patents restricting others from using the inventions without permission from the inventor. Like copyrights, patents last for a limited period of time, after which the inventions covered by them enter the public domain and can be used by anyone.

Shareware

Shareware is software that is distributed free on a trial basis with the understanding that the user may need or want to pay for it later. Some software developers offer a shareware version of their program with a built-in expiration date (after 30 days, the user can no longer get access to the program). Other shareware (sometimes called liteware) is offered with certain capabilities disabled as an enticement to buy the complete version of the program.
Programming that is offered at no cost is called freeware. However, it is copyrighted so that you can't incorporate its programming into anything you may be developing. The least restrictive "no-cost" programs are uncopyrighted programs in the public domain software. These include a number of small UNIX programs. When reusing public domain software in your own programs, it's good to know the history of the program so that you can be sure it really is in the public domain.

The term shareware, popularized by Bob Wallace[1], refers to copyrighted commercial software that is distributed without payment on a trial basis and is limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a periodical such as a newspaper or magazine. The aim of shareware is to give buyers the opportunity to use the program and judge its usefulness before purchasing a licence for the full version of the software.
Shareware is usually offered as a trial version with certain features only available after the licence is purchased, or as a full version, but for a trial period. Once the trial period has passed the program will not run until a licence is purchased. Shareware is often offered without support, updates, or help menus, which only become available with the purchase of a licence. The words "free trial", "trial version" are indicative of shareware.
The term shareware is used in contrast to, retail software which refers to commercial software available only with the purchase of a licence which may not be copied for others, and public domain software which refers to software not copyright protected, and Freeware which refers to copyrighted software for which the author solicits no payment (though he may request a donation).