Platform

a thing 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. (generative)

A good platform leverages other EcoSystems. (API)

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