Computing platform
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In computing, a platform describes some sort of hardware architecture or software framework (including application frameworks), that allows software to run. Typical platforms include a computer's architecture, operating system, programming languages and related runtime libraries or graphical user interface.
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[edit] Role in software
A platform is a crucial element in software development. A platform might be simply defined as 'a place to launch software'. It is an agreement that the platform provider gave to the software developer that logic code will interpret consistently as long as the platform is running on top of other platforms. Logic code includes byte code, source code, and machine code.
[edit] .NET
Microsoft .NET is an umbrella term that applies to a wide collection of products and technologies from Microsoft. Most have in common a dependence on the Microsoft .NET Framework.
[edit] Java
Java programs are a typical example of the latter point. Java source code is "compiled" to an intermediate-language bytecode which is then interpreted by an interpreter, the JVM, which then interfaces that program with the Java software libraries. In phones, PDAs and other wireless mobile devices, these libraries are the Java ME. Some phones, even without a full fledged OS, enable Java programs such as games to operate. Java and the bytecode are said to be platform independent. But this is because Java is the platform as well as a programming language. Software really cannot operate without a platform or be platform independent. The programming language is referred to here, meaning the programmer need not be concerned about the hardware or operating system platform, nor will the language change with a different platform.
[edit] Operating system platform examples
- AmigaOS
- BSD line, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD
- Linux
- Mac OS backward compatibility via Rosetta
- Microsoft Windows
- WINE platform to behave like Microsoft Windows
- Solaris
- PlayStation Portable
- Google Chrome OS
[edit] Software platform examples
- Java - JDK and JRE
- .NET Framework
- Mozilla Prism Xul and XUL Runner
- uniPaaS
- Adobe AIR
- Mono
- Vexi
[edit] Hardware examples
- Supercomputer architectures.
- RISC processor based machines running UNIX variants:
- Macintosh, custom Apple Computer hardware and Mac OS operating system (now migrated on x86).
- Commodity computer platforms, such as:
- Gumstix full function miniature computers with Linux.
- A mainframe computer with its custom operating system, say an IBM z/OS.
- A midrange computer with its custom operating system, say an IBM OS/400.
- ARM architecture found in mobile devices.
- Any variety of video game console.
