Bloatware: Difference between revisions

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~~There are multiple definitions of bloatware within the context of software. They include~~:

'''Bloatware''' can be defined in 2 main classes:

*[[wikipedia:Software_bloat#Bloatware|Pre-installed ~~software~~]] ~~that is~~ not required ~~for~~ a system ~~functionality~~

*[[wikipedia:Software_bloat#Bloatware|Pre-installed]] or [https://www.deceptive.design/types/sneaking bundled]: features not required by a system (physical or digital) to work properly, and/or [[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|undesirable programs]].

*Redundant or duplicate features included on a device (physical or digital)

*[[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|~~Undesirable~~ programs]] ~~that were [https://www.deceptive~~.~~design/types/sneaking not requested by the user]~~

*Software that has [[wikipedia:Software_bloat|become bloated over time]]

While the term "bloatware" is commonly ascribed to software, ''hardware'' bloat also exists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ionescu |first=Bogdan |date=2025-09-13 |title=Hosting a WebSite on a Disposable Vape |url=https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=BogdanTheGeek's Blog |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209021718/https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> See [[Internet_of_things|IoT devices]] for examples.

==How it works==

Bundled features often arise as pre-installed software and applications, because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency.

Software that gets bloated across updates typically happens because of [[wikipedia:Negligence|negligence]], but can also arise due to lack of resources (time, money, etc...) and external factors (such as [[wikipedia:Library_(computing)|libraries]] with [[wikipedia:Feature_creep|feature creep]]).

Bloat can be a symptom of a decline in quality of devices and services, colloquially referred to as [[enshittification]].

~~==How it works==~~

Bloatware often arises as pre-installed software and applications because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency.

==Why it is a problem==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-There are multiple definitions of bloatware within the context of software. They include:
+'''Bloatware''' can be defined in 2 main classes:
-*[[wikipedia:Software_bloat#Bloatware|Pre-installed software]] that is not required for a system functionality
+*[[wikipedia:Software_bloat#Bloatware|Pre-installed]] or [https://www.deceptive.design/types/sneaking bundled]: features not required by a system (physical or digital) to work properly, and/or [[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|undesirable programs]].
-*Redundant or duplicate features included on a device (physical or digital)
-*[[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|Undesirable programs]] that were [https://www.deceptive.design/types/sneaking not requested by the user]
 *Software that has [[wikipedia:Software_bloat|become bloated over time]]
 While the term "bloatware" is commonly ascribed to software, ''hardware'' bloat also exists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ionescu |first=Bogdan |date=2025-09-13 |title=Hosting a WebSite on a Disposable Vape |url=https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=BogdanTheGeek's Blog |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209021718/https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> See [[Internet_of_things|IoT devices]] for examples.
+==How it works==
+Bundled features often arise as pre-installed software and applications, because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency.
+Software that gets bloated across updates typically happens because of [[wikipedia:Negligence|negligence]], but can also arise due to lack of resources (time, money, etc...) and external factors (such as [[wikipedia:Library_(computing)|libraries]] with [[wikipedia:Feature_creep|feature creep]]).
 Bloat can be a symptom of a decline in quality of devices and services, colloquially referred to as [[enshittification]].
-==How it works==
-Bloatware often arises as pre-installed software and applications because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency.
 ==Why it is a problem==