Chapter 3: Types of Applications

Computer programs, or applications as we sometimes call them, come in many types. Each type solves a special kind of problem. Some applications, such as a solitaire game or a word processor, just run on a local computer, and others need to communicate with other computers or networks to work, such as web browsers or email clients.

In this chapter, we will look at some special types of applications and discuss what considerations we need to take when creating them.

It would be impossible for us to cover all types of applications as there are way too many of them. Instead, we will look at some common types that we will encounter when writing our applications.

We create programs to solve problems, and in the process of designing our application and deciding what it needs to do, we will often look at solutions others have found for similar problems. The goal of this chapter is to familiarize you with some of these solutions so you can recognize the problem they solve when, in the future, you need to create your own solutions.

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to do the following:

• Understand what is typical for the different types of applications that the chapter covers
• Understand how the application type affects how we structure our applications
• Understand the importance of connected applications
• Understand the benefits of using cloud-based solutions
• Understand the problems the different kinds of applications we talk about can solve