-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000853273-05-000017.txt : 20050218
<SEC-HEADER>0000853273-05-000017.hdr.sgml : 20050218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050218173343
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000853273-05-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BORLAND SOFTWARE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000853273
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				942895440
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ENTERPRISE WAY
		CITY:			SCOTTS VALLEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95066-3249
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8314311000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ENTERPRISE WAY
		CITY:			SCOTTS VALLEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95066-3249

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INPRISE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980813

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BORLAND INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BORLAND INTERNATIONAL DELAWARE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19891011

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OLSEN JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212066

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10824
		FILM NUMBER:		05628639

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		993 PIEMONTE AVE.
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95134
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000853273</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BORLAND SOFTWARE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BORL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212066</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLSEN JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BORLAND SOFTWARE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 ENTERPRISE WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTS VALLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95066</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares subject to the option shall vest according to the following schedule:  one-third of the shares subject to the option shall vest upon the completion of one year of board service (measured from the date of grant) and the remaining two-thirds of the shares subject to the option shall vest in twenty-four equal monthly installements upon completion of each successive month of continued board service thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Timothy J. Stevens, Attorney-in-Fact for John Olsen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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