Custom software

Custom software (also known as Bespoke

Bespoke

Bespoke is a term employed in a variety of applicationsto mean an item custom-made to the buyer's specification.While applied to many items now,from computer software to luxury car appointments,...

 software) is a type of software that is developed

Custom software development

Custom software development, also known as custom software engineering, defines omitting of predeveloped solutions and views. If a customer wants to believe that their favour is unique and putting their ideas into practice, custom software development technologies are custom approaches to solving...

 either for a specific organization or function that differs from or is opposite of other already available software (also called off-the-shelf

Off the shelf

Off the shelf may refer to:*Commercial off-the-shelf*Ready-to-wear...

 or COTS

Commercial off-the-shelf

Commercial, off-the-shelf or simply off the shelf is a term for software or hardware, generally technology or computer products, that are ready-made and available for sale, lease, or license to the general public. They are often used as alternatives to in-house developments or one-off...

software). It is generally not targeted to the mass market

Mass marketing

Mass Marketing is a market coverage strategy in which a firm decides to ignore market segment differences and go after the whole market with one offer. It is type of marketing of a product to a wide audience. The idea is to broadcast a message that will reach the largest number of people possible...

, but usually created for companies, business entities, and organizations. Custom software is also when companies or governments pay for customized software for budget or project managing.

Examples of bespoke software include commercial products such as commercial websites, business databases and software for governments.

Custom software (also known as Bespoke

Bespoke

Bespoke is a term employed in a variety of applicationsto mean an item custom-made to the buyer's specification.While applied to many items now,from computer software to luxury car appointments,...

 software) is a type of software that is developed

Custom software development

Custom software development, also known as custom software engineering, defines omitting of predeveloped solutions and views. If a customer wants to believe that their favour is unique and putting their ideas into practice, custom software development technologies are custom approaches to solving...

 either for a specific organization or function that differs from or is opposite of other already available software (also called off-the-shelf

Off the shelf

Off the shelf may refer to:*Commercial off-the-shelf*Ready-to-wear...

 or COTS

Commercial off-the-shelf

Commercial, off-the-shelf or simply off the shelf is a term for software or hardware, generally technology or computer products, that are ready-made and available for sale, lease, or license to the general public. They are often used as alternatives to in-house developments or one-off...

software). It is generally not targeted to the mass market

Mass marketing

Mass Marketing is a market coverage strategy in which a firm decides to ignore market segment differences and go after the whole market with one offer. It is type of marketing of a product to a wide audience. The idea is to broadcast a message that will reach the largest number of people possible...

, but usually created for companies, business entities, and organizations. Custom software is also when companies or governments pay for customized software for budget or project managing.

Examples of bespoke software include commercial products such as commercial websites, business databases and software for governments. Non-commercial custom software development is common in academic and open source

Open source

Open source is an approach to the design, development, and distribution of software, offering practical accessibility to a software's source code. Some consider open source as one of various possible design approaches, while others consider it a critical strategic element of their operations...

circles.

Complex custom software can be developed on an increasingly small scale through the rise of rapid application development frameworks. This means that smaller companies, charities or even individuals are able to benefit from complex software based on pre-built building blocks which are then customized to suit.

For those wishing to outsource or undertake a software project, the typical steps involved include:

1. Initial Meeting - requirements are discussed in detail.
2. Proposal - a detailed proposal is produced, based on the initial meeting.
3. Detailed Design - for most projects, there is usually more design work to clarify exactly how the system should work.
4. Agree Contract - to achieve the best balance between cost and system functionality.
5. Development - work starts on the proposed system.
6. Delivery of System - at the end of development, a “functionally complete” system is delivered, which requires end-user testing.
7. System Completed - testing is complete, and the system is ready for deployment.

According to Blueberry Consultants, the most important questions to ask of a developer before embarking on a software project include:

1. Who has copyright?
2. Will the system be built on top of any other platform or system?
3. Will the system use or depend on third-party libraries or systems?
4. Who has source code control?
5. Who collects requirements from the customer?
6. Will they assist with system deployment and firewall configuration?
7. How long have they been in business?
8. How many developers are employed?
9. What programming languages are used?
10. Will any form of logging be incorporated into the software to report bugs?