There are several different types of computing platforms, both software-based and hardware-based. The term platform refers to any software framework or hardware architecture from which a software application can be launched. Computing platforms can include graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and operating systems (OSs), such as Windows or Macintosh OS and OSX, programming languages, or the actual computer hardware architecture itself.
Woman doing handstand with a computer
In software development, the platform can be used as a means of ensuring consistent performance of a product when the platform is running. This can result in a software application that can run independently of the operating system installed on the hardware. Examples of these types of software applications include Java-based packages and QuickTime. Some Internet-based software companies use these platforms to allow online gaming without the restriction of the installed operating system that affects the operation of the software. By using a computing platform to emulate an older operating system, these services allow games to be played on modern hardware that would normally be incompatible with software.
Some software companies have used integrated software platforms to allow their software to support two operating systems from one storage medium. An example of this would be a software application or game that the user can install on a personal computer (PC) running the Microsoft Windows operating system and on an Apple Macintosh computer. This is known as a cross-platform app.
The level of compatibility demonstrated by a cross-platform application is achieved by the programming language that also acts as the platform. Using this embedded computing platform, software applications can be programmed to run on hardware without a running operating system. This is used to provide a graphical user interface when installing operating systems to a blank drive. As an example of platform independence, the Java programming language acts as both a programming language and a computing platform. Applications written in this language will run successfully on any operating system or hardware.
Types of software-based computing platforms are common and include computer-based and mobile operating systems such as Linux and Unix-based systems, Google Chrome, Android, and Palm OS. Hardware-based platforms include large mainframe systems and supercomputers for home video game consoles. Forms of hardware-based computing platform also incorporate an advanced reduced instruction set computing machine (Advanced RISC Machine or ARM) for mobile system architectures, Unix systems, and Intel x86-based systems.
