It returns version info. My guess is that if you replace certain files then it is removed to signify that you no longer have a "known version."

Mine was removed when I installed parts of SDL/openGL. After that Fanoushes script that connects to my bluetooth keyboard stopped working. I found that it was calling osso-software-version to determine which version I have and therefore what to do to connect to the keyboard. I just hard-coded osver=os2008.

But are there other things that call it? I hope not!