Software engine
Encyclopedia
In computer science, a software engine refers to the core of a computer program
. Software engines drive the functionality of the program, and are distinct from peripheral aspects of the program, such as look and feel
.
, to denote an encapsulated block of functionality.
The term most frequently shows up in marketing material that need to describe software internals, as well as in product names.
(see http://www.ableton.com/live-7-whats-new,
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/streamingengine,
http://embird.com/sw/embird/fonteng.htm)
Distinct definitions have however become established in certain fields, such as 3D rendering engine or game engine. Many of these have that in common, that they describe an input/output system where the output is of a different order than the input, such as the conversion of HTML to a rendered page, as opposed something like a spell checking component where the input and output are of the same order, only slightly different.
But it is not a rule, just a tendency.
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
. Software engines drive the functionality of the program, and are distinct from peripheral aspects of the program, such as look and feel
Look and feel
In software design, look and feel is a term used in respect of a graphical user interface and comprises aspects of its design, including elements such as colors, shapes, layout, and typefaces , as well as the behavior of dynamic elements such as buttons, boxes, and menus...
.
Elucidation
The term Engine when used to describe a piece of software is frequently used by developers when speaking to a wider, layman audience, to describe what they would otherwise refer to as library, platform, SDK or objectObject (computer science)
In computer science, an object is any entity that can be manipulated by the commands of a programming language, such as a value, variable, function, or data structure...
, to denote an encapsulated block of functionality.
The term most frequently shows up in marketing material that need to describe software internals, as well as in product names.
(see http://www.ableton.com/live-7-whats-new,
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/streamingengine,
http://embird.com/sw/embird/fonteng.htm)
Distinct definitions have however become established in certain fields, such as 3D rendering engine or game engine. Many of these have that in common, that they describe an input/output system where the output is of a different order than the input, such as the conversion of HTML to a rendered page, as opposed something like a spell checking component where the input and output are of the same order, only slightly different.
But it is not a rule, just a tendency.