Can an adjective change the use of zero versus definite article?

I have a little issue with the use of zero versus definite article, since I tend to abuse the former one.

Consider the following sentences:

• The issue described above influences the quality of software.
• This general issue affects the speed of applications.
• This affects the reliability of hardware.

The use of software, applications and hardware seems to me 'general', so according to what I know about english grammar, zero article should be used.

Suppose to add an adjective to 'specialize' such nouns, but still staying relatively general (i.e., not referring to specific applications).

• The issue described above influences the quality of the? produced software.
• This general issue affects the speed of the? deployed applications.
• This affects the reliability of the? produced hardware.

In these last cases, is it mandatory to use the definite article or is zero article still acceptable? Is there grammar reference that justifies the answer?

Solution 1:

The article serves a clarifying purpose. It's not necessary, but consider these contextual sentences:

• Exiting the application does not automatically save the form. This issue affects the quality of the software.

In this example, the article on "the software" tells the reader that the sentence is referring to a specific example of software, i.e. the software to which the bug report is relevant. If the second sentence were to omit the article, it would read as, "This issue affects the quality of software," which is a blatant falsehoods; a bug in your software does not affect the quality of any other kind of software.

The same is likely true for the third of your examples. Omitting the article would create a statement suggesting that the issue affects the reliability of the production of hardware in general, which may or may not be what you mean to say. It's hard to tell without more context. If your intent is to state that "this" affects the reliability of an explicitly referenced kind of produced hardware, you need the article.