Computing platform

A computing platform is, in the most general sense, whatever a pre-existing piece of computer software or code object is designed to run within, obeying its constraints, and making use of its facilities.

The term computing platform can refer to different abstraction levels, including a certain hardware architecture, an operating system (OS), and runtime libraries.[1] In total it can be said to be the stage on which computer programs can run.

Binary executables have to be compiled for a specific hardware platform, since different central processor units have different machine codes. In addition, operating systems and runtime libraries allow re-use of code and provide abstraction layers which allow the same high-level source code to run on differently configured hardware. For example, there are many kinds of data storage device, and any individual computer can have a different configuration of storage devices; but the application is able to call a generic save or write function provided by the OS and runtime libraries, which then handle the details themselves. A platform can be seen both as a constraint on the application development process the application is written for such-and-such a platform and an assistance to the development process, in that they provide low-level functionality ready-made.

Components

Platforms may also include:

Some architectures have multiple layers, with each layer acting as a platform to 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 for 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

For more details on this topic, see List of operating systems.

Mobile

Android, a popular mobile operating system

Software frameworks

For more details on this topic, see Software framework.

Hardware examples

For more details on this topic, see Lists of computers.

Ordered roughly, from more common types to less common types:


Hardware examples

[9]

1 Windows 7 20.04%

2 iOS 9 19.47%

3 Android Lolipop 14.05%

4 Android 4.0 12.59%

5 Windows 10 8.52%

6 Windows 8.1 5.02%

7 Mac OS X 4.19%

8 iOS 8 3.76%

9 Windows XP 2.36%

10 Linux 1.76%

First party software

Software is considered first party if it is originated by the platform vendor. Software from other vendors is considered Third party.

See also

References

External links

Wikidata has a property, P400, for platform (see uses)
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