Glossary · Automation software engineering and architecture
Software platform
Also known as: Platform
German: Softwareplattform
In software engineering, a software platform is a base of software, such as an operating system, runtime, framework or cloud service, on which applications are developed and run and which offers them common services through defined interfaces.
- Software engineering
In one sentence
A software platform is a software base, such as an OS, runtime or cloud service, on which applications are built and run.
Example
The machine builder develops all new machines on one common software platform with a shared runtime, HMI framework and connectivity services.
How it applies
- Engineering: A common platform reduces variant effort: machines share services and differ only in applications. Platform updates, however, affect every product built on it.
- Product management: Platform versions are released and supported like products, with roadmaps and end-of-life dates.
- Documentation: Platform documentation can be written once and reused across product manuals. Documentation teams benefit from a platform documentation set plus product-specific supplements, with clear version mapping between them.
Platform vs. framework
A Software framework provides structure for writing an application. A platform is broader: it is the environment on which applications run, possibly including frameworks, runtimes and services.