Platform-dependent

Platform-dependent describes software, hardware, or code that is designed to function specifically on a particular operating system, hardware architecture, or software environment. This characteristic implies that the item cannot be easily ported or executed on other platforms without significant modification or adaptation. Factors contributing to platform dependency include use of platform-specific APIs, hardware-specific instructions, or file formats not supported universally. The degree of dependence can range from minor inconveniences to complete incompatibility. Code designated as such often sacrifices portability for potentially enhanced performance or the use of specialized features unavailable elsewhere.

Platform-dependent meaning with examples

• The game's graphics engine was written with DirectX, making it platform-dependent on Windows operating systems. Attempts to port it to macOS or Linux would necessitate rewriting significant portions of the code to utilize their respective graphics APIs, resulting in a time-consuming and resource-intensive project. Consequently, its scope was limited due to the original architectural decision to leverage platform-specific functionality for optimal performance, prioritizing the Windows audience.
• A device driver written for a particular model of printer is inherently platform-dependent. It relies on hardware-specific communication protocols and memory addresses that vary significantly between different printer models and operating systems. Thus, any effort to reuse this driver on other systems is unlikely to succeed without extensive modification.
• The financial software utilized COM objects which is platform-dependent on the Windows operating system. Though it functioned perfectly in its targeted environment, attempting a Linux or macOS equivalent involved the complete reengineering of core data handling. Without specialized translation layers, cross-platform capabilities became nearly impossible. The design choice prioritised features that streamlined Windows processing workflows, inadvertently limiting accessibility.
• A legacy application built using a platform-dependent assembly language is almost impossible to port to a different architecture. Its machine-level instructions are tied directly to the processor's instruction set, making direct execution on another platform infeasible. Emulation may be the only option to enable any functionality beyond its original design.