Date First Published: 10th September 2023
Topic: Computer Systems
Subtopic: Computer Software
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 5/10
Learn about what abandonware is in this article.
Abandonware is a type of software that is no longer maintained by its owner. Since it is no longer maintained, no official support is available and updates or security patches are discontinued, which could leave users vulnerable to risks that could affect productivity and security. Usually, abandonware applies to open-source software, but it can also apply to proprietary software, shareware, and freeware.
Abandonware can still be purchased, downloaded, and installed from third-party sites and possibly the official owner's website. It is no longer maintained or updated by the creator. Older operating systems, like Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP are examples of abandonware because updates and support are no longer available from Microsoft.
Abandoned proprietary software still remains the property of the creator, even though it has been ignored by them. This means that proprietary abandonware is still not made freely available to modify and distribute to others.
Software can be intentionally ignored and no longer maintained by its developer if they decide to stop offering the software or go out of business. However, it is not always intentional. Sometimes, developers may forget about a software program due to focusing on developing other software.
There are two main issues with abandonware, including a lack of updates and support. Since development has been abandoned by the owner, abandonware leaves users with an outdated version of the software that can leave users vulnerable to bugs and vulnerabilities, which could make it unsafe for everyday use. In the next few years, it could become incompatible with more modern operating systems released later on due to the lack of updates.
Users cannot get any official support from the creator for abandonware. The documentation resources on the creator's website may not be strong, so users may need to rely on the community to answer their questions, who may not be experts and the responses may not always be fast.
A common misconception of abandonware is that it is the same thing as discontinued software. Abandonware does not refer to discontinued software as the developer has not officially released a statement saying that the software has been discontinued. It has been ignored by its owner for a good amount of time, usually over a year, but that does not mean that it has been officially discontinued. If the developer starts maintaining it again, it will no longer be abandoned.
Older operating systems, like Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP are examples of abandonware because updates and support are no longer available from Microsoft. They are also discontinued as Microsoft released an official statement saying that they will stop supporting those operating systems to help focus on releasing updates for newer and more modern operating systems.
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