generic and off the shelf software

[nath.booth]

Does any body know the difference between generic and off the shelf software???

[DsW]

Does any body know the difference between generic and off the shelf software???

Depends on the context, but...

generic = works for everything e.g. supports all cdrw drives
off the shelf = you can buy it in a shop

Off the shelf software can be generic, but need not be (and vice versa).

[directhex]

off the shelf doesn't mean it's available in a shop, it means it's a "packaged" product, rather than custom-designed.

something like SCO UNixware isn;'t available in the shops, but it's an off-the-shelf application

[DsW]

off the shelf doesn't mean it's available in a shop, it means it's a "packaged" product, rather than custom-designed.

something like SCO UNixware isn;'t available in the shops, but it's an off-the-shelf application

Ok, there are a few exceptions but "off the shelf" generally does mean that you can buy it in a shop (bricks and mortar shops having shelves).

The implication here being that someone has not written it especially for you, so you are right in making the distinction that "off the shelf" is not "custom-designed".

[Nomadd]

I agree with both Wilkied and directhex, although I did find the question kinda strange.

Off-the-shelf software? Yes. But then the opposite of that is 'bespoke' software. When seeing the word 'generic', my thoughts were towards shareware/freeware/open-source. Either that, or software that is available on multiple platforms - i.e. both Windows and UNIX. The word 'generic' is open to many interpretations! :-)

Nomadd

[streetster]

as nomadd (kinda) reckons, i think the comparison should be between 'of the shelf' software packages (ie microsoft office) and bespoke software which is tailor made for a company/specific situation - ie you can get 'generic' off the shelf payroll or accounts software which may do the job to a resonable level, but have stuff you dont need (ie you are paying for extra 'filler'), or you can get a software team to create a piece of software which does exactly what you need it to do (but at a premium price)...

mm and i thought id forgotten all that crap i learnt in computing alevel last year