Computer application streaming is a form of on-demand software distribution.

The basic concept of application streaming has its foundation in the way modern computer programming languages and operating systems produce and run application code. Only specific parts of a computer program need to be available at any instance for the end user to perform a particular function. This means that a program need not be fully installed on a client computer, but parts of it can be delivered over the network as and when they are required.

Application streaming is usually combined with application virtualization

Application Virtualization

Application virtualization is an umbrella term that describes software technologies that improve portability, manageability and compatibility of applications by encapsulating them from the underlying operating system on which they are executed. A fully virtualized application is not installed in...

, so that applications are not installed in the traditional sense.

Stream server

An application is Packaged and stored on a streaming server. Packaging or sequencing produces an image of the application in a way that either orders delivery and/or predictively optimizes delivery to the client.

Launch & Streaming of Application

The initial launch of an application would be important for the end user and the Packaging process might be optimized to achieve this. Once launched, common functions would be followed. As these functions are requested by the end user, these may be Streamed in a similar manner. In this case the client is pulling the application from the stream server. Otherwise, the full application might be delivered from the server to the client in background. In this case, the server pushes the application to the client.

Advantages

• Given the complexity of modern applications, many functions are never or seldom used, and pulling the application on demand is more efficient in terms of server, client and network usage

• Simplified operating system
  Operating system
  An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
  
   migrations

• Accelerated application deployment

• Centralised application management, with local execution

• Ability to continue to use applications when off-line (in contrast to pure web-applications)

• Delivers fully featured desktop applications (in contrast to browser-driven web-applications)

• Software license optimisation by controlling simultaneous users of software

Vendor-specific implementations

• Microsoft Application Virtualization
• Symantec Workspace Streaming
• Citrix Application Streaming: XenApp Offline Plugin
• Novell ZENworks Application Virtualization
• Endeavors Technologies Application Jukebox

See also

• Application virtualization
  Application Virtualization
  Application virtualization is an umbrella term that describes software technologies that improve portability, manageability and compatibility of applications by encapsulating them from the underlying operating system on which they are executed. A fully virtualized application is not installed in...
  
  
• Portable application creators
  Portable application creators
  Portable application creators allow the creation of portable applications . They usually use application virtualization.- Creators of independent portable applications :...
  
  
• Software as a service
  Software as a Service
  Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...
  
  
• Communication as a service
• RUNZ