The software currently available for the quantum-mechanical (QM) study of the electronic properties of molecular systems satisfies some fundamental requirements: (a) the programs are reliable, their acquisition and use is easy and comparitively inexpensive; (b) the range of potential applications is huge; (c) a variety of properties of great importance can be calculated; and (d) widespread experience and general consensus exist about the practical limitations of the programs and the reliability of results. These features have encouraged a rapidly growing community of non-specialized users (experimental chemists, material scientists, etc.) to derive from this tool valuable information for their research work. The software for the QM treatment of crystalline systems is undergoing a similar process with a delay of about 15 years. This communication attempts an analysis of the present situation in this field, with reference to the points listed above. Though sufficiently general, the discussion is mainly centered on the two programs developed in Torino, Crystal and Embed, for the treatment of perfect and defective crystals, respectively. Indications are given about developments which are expected in a near future.