Date First Published: 1st April 2024
Topic: Computer Systems
Subtopic: Computer Software
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 6/10
Learn about what shovelware is in this article.
Shovelware describes unwanted software that is bundled with other software. It is known more for the quantity of what is included, not the quality or usefulness. The bundled programs may be demos, ad-filled, or real usable software, but they are often unrelated to each other and unwanted to users. It may also be a form of bloatware because the additional, unused programs use up available memory and disk space.
Software programs may not say that users are agreeing to download bundled programs they may not want, so they are not warned about it. Downloading software from reputable sources reduces the chances that users will find bundles of unwanted and even malicious programs that will be installed without the user's permission or knowledge. The prevalence of shovelware has decreased due to the practice of downloading individual programs from a well-known app store becoming the most common method of software distribution.
Video game and software companies would put in extra games or applications that the user hadn't asked for in an attempt to fill up the entire disc. It was claimed that the developers didn't care about actual quality, only shoving a bunch of programs into a single large package to take up storage. Shovelware does not only exist on CDs but can also be found on phones, tablets, and computers as they may also include completely unrelated software programs or games instead of having the default applications necessary for the operating system to run.
In 1990, the storage capacity of a CD-ROM was 450–700 times larger than a floppy disk. This outsized capacity meant that very few users would install the entire contents of the disc, encouraging producers to fill them up by including as much existing content as possible, often without considering the quality of the material. Advertising the number of titles on the disc was often prioritised over the quality of the content. Software reviewers, unsatisfied with huge collections of inconsistent quality, called this practice "shovelware" in the early 1990s.
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