Platform

something on which you build other things :)

Good luck distinguishing amongst Market Network Community Platform Ecosystem.

some software which is treated like a (Shrink Wrap) program is really a Platform on which to build applications. (CMS)

some applications really need to be platforms (OSAF)

A good platform is "loose" enough to encourage the Emergence of an EcoSystem.

A good platform leverages other EcoSystem-s. (API)

Unfortunately, most players take the short-term path of fighting Platform War-s.