Depending on the particular use this term could well be software development to describe the creation of software. Although it is written, it isn't published as such.

In the UK software publishing is rarely used if ever.

I work for a software development company (tester/QA analyst)

Perhaps you could provide us with the context you are trying to translate .

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Note added at 37 mins (2006-03-31 15:12:07 GMT)
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In my experience (8 years and counting) of the software development industry in the UK, the term software publishing is not used. Websites/pages can be published, but not software. It is standard practice to use the term software development for the whole software lifecycle from user requirement to software release and support.

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Note added at 1 hr (2006-03-31 15:59:49 GMT)
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In response to Susan's comments above I can only repeat that in my professional experience the term software publishing is not used in preference to development except for web related releases. Google searches show this up quite clearly. I'll leave it at that. Good Luck Muriel.

If the client says it covers both, it needs both names. To me, development and publishing are distinct activities. In the ref, dev and pub are named separately.