What is off-the-shelf software?
It is a ready-made software where you can found at most of the computer shop.
What is custom written software?
It is a software that build by programmer to perform specific task.
Differences:
1. Off-the-shelf software is much cheaper than custom written software because off-the-shelf software are ready-made but custom written software need to hire a programmer to do so. Therefore it is expensive.
2. When you buy an off-the-shelf software you can save time for customizing your own software. As custom written software needs time to program it.
3. Off-the-shelf software is easy to use as many people already know how to use it. Custom written software is unique so not all people know how to use and training is needed.
4. As custom written software can meet all the needs of the user because it was designed to meet user’s specification and the software can be edit if problem arise. Off-the-shelf software cannot be change so sometimes it cannot do the specific task that user want.
5. Off-the-shelf software usually contains help or online help to guide user through some problem. Custom written software may not have this kind of service.
6. Off-the-shelf software is more reliable than custom written software because off-the-shelf software is well tested before it been sold (zero error). Custom written software is not tested and problem had to be discovered by user when using it.
