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A computing platform or digital platform[1] or software platform is an environment in which a piece of software is executed. It may be the hardware or the operating system (OS), even a web browser and associated application programming interfaces, or other underlying software, as long as the program code is executed with it. Computing platforms have different abstraction levels, including a computer architecture, an OS, or runtime libraries.[2] A computing platform is the stage on which computer programs can run.

A platform can be seen both as a constraint on the software development process, in that different platforms provide different functionality and restrictions; and as an assistant to the development process, in that they provide low-level functionality ready-made. For example, an OS may be a platform that abstracts the underlying differences in hardware and provides a generic command for saving files or accessing the network.

Components

Platforms may also include:

Some architectures have multiple layers, with each layer acting as a platform for the one above it. In general, a component only has to be adapted to the layer immediately beneath it. For instance, a Java program has to be written to use the Java virtual machine (JVM) and associated libraries as a platform but does not have to be adapted to run on the Windows, Linux or Macintosh OS platforms. However, the JVM, the layer beneath the application, does have to be built separately for each OS.[8]

Operating system examples

Further information: List of operating systems

Desktop, laptop, server

Mobile

Android, a popular mobile operating system

Software examples

Hardware examples

Further information: Lists of computers

See also

References

  1. ^ "What I Talk About When I Talk About Platforms". martinfowler.com. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  2. ^ "platform". Free On-line Dictionary of Computing
  3. ^ Andrew Binstock (July 2, 2012). "Google's Redefinition of the Browser As Platform". Dr. Dobbs.
  4. ^ Chip Wilson; Alan Josephson. "Microsoft Office as a Platform for Software + Services". Microsoft Developer Network.
  5. ^ "What Is PAAS?". Interoute. Archived from the original on 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  6. ^ "Twitter Development Platform - Twitter Developers".
  7. ^ "Facebook Development Platform Launches..." Facebook. August 15, 2006.
  8. ^ "Platform independence in Java's Byte Code". Stack Overflow.
  9. ^ "The Future of Developing Firefox Add-ons". Mozilla Add-ons Blog. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  10. ^ "Upcoming Changes in Compatibility Features". Mozilla Add-ons Blog. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  11. ^ "How to enable legacy extensions in Firefox 57 - gHacks Tech News". www.ghacks.net. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
  12. ^ "Porting a Google Chrome extension". Mozilla. Retrieved 30 December 2018.