There is a difference between application software and system software.

1. gcc is a system softwareJava is a higher up system software.
2. The system software is still higher up despite the creation of the JDK by some random people.
3. Some people write more java class than other people.They're called software libraries.
4. Some random people are writing applications using the random libraries, like axis bank website and it's back end services.Application software is what that is.

There is a spectrum.firefox is an application software.Quora is an application software that is used for firefox.