Shelfware

2 definitions found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  shelfware /shelf'weir/ n. Software purchased on a whim (by an
     individual user) or in accordance with policy (by a corporation or
     government agency), but not actually required for any particular use.
     Therefore, it often ends up on some shelf.
  
  



From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  shelfware
       
           /shelfweir/ {Software} which is never used and so
          ends up on the shelf.  Shelfware may be purchased on a whim by
          an individual, or in accordance with corporate policy, but not
          actually required for any particular use.  Alternatively, it
          may be software that has been developed (unlike {vaporware}),
          but is never released as a product -- a common occurrence at
          {DEC}.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1997-07-20)