Shovelware - Definition and Overview

The derogatory computer jargon term shovelware refers to software noted more for the quantity of what is included than for the quality or usefulness.

This is commonly used to describe software on CD-ROMs, whose large capacity inspires producers to fill them with useless clutter without regard to integration issues or usability so they can advertise the comprehensiveness of the product.

The term is coined with semantic analogy to "freeware", "shareware", etc. Rather than hand-picking software and carefully placing it in the collection, the analogy goes, the publisher has indiscriminately "shoveled" the software on to the CD. Hence, shovelware.