Chapter 01
Chapter 01
Chapter 01
Overview
1
What is Software?
Software is:
1) Set of instructions (computer programs)
that when executed provide desired
features, function, and performance
2) data structures that enable the programs to
adequately manipulate information
3) documentation that describes the operation
and use of the programs.
2
What is Software?
Software is developed or engineered, it is not
manufactured in the classical sense.
Although the industry is moving toward
component-based construction, most software
continues to be custom-built.
Types
System Software
• Ex: Operating System, Compiler, Device Drivers, …
Application Software
• Ex: Microsoft Office Package, CAD Software, …
3
Essential attributes of good
software
Product characteristic Description
4
History of Software Engineering
5
History: Software Engineering
The notion of ‘software engineering’ was first proposed in
1968 at a conference held to discuss what was then called
the ‘software crisis’ .
It became clear that individual approaches to program
development did not scale up to large and complex
software systems. These were unreliable, cost more than
expected, and were delivered late.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, a variety of new
software engineering techniques and methods were
developed, such as structured programming, information
hiding and object-oriented development. Tools and
standard notations were developed and are now
extensively used. 6
Definition: Software Engineering
Software engineering is an engineering discipline that is
concerned with all aspects of software production from
the early stages of system specification through to
maintaining the system after it has gone into use.
In this definition, there are two key phrases:
Engineering discipline
7
Definition: Software Engineering
1. Engineering discipline :Engineers make things work.
They apply theories, methods, and tools where
these are appropriate. However, they use them
selectively and always try to discover solutions to
problems.
Engineers also recognize that they must work to
organizational and financial constraints so they
look for solutions within these constraints.
8
Definition: Software Engineering
2. All aspects of software production:
Software engineering is not just concerned with the
technical processes of software development.
It also includes activities such as software project
management and the development of tools, methods,
and theories to support software production
9
Frequently asked questions
about software engineering
Question Answer
10
Frequently asked questions
about software engineering
Question Answer
What are the key challenges facing Coping with increasing diversity, demands for reduced
software engineering? delivery times and developing trustworthy software.
What are the costs of software Roughly 60% of software costs are development costs,
engineering? 40% are testing costs. For custom software, evolution
costs often exceed development costs.
What are the best software engineering While all software projects have to be professionally
techniques and methods? managed and developed, different techniques are
appropriate for different types of system. For example,
games should always be developed using a series of
prototypes whereas safety critical control systems require
a complete and analyzable specification to be developed.
You can’t, therefore, say that one method is better than
another.
What differences has the web made to The web has led to the availability of software services
software engineering? and the possibility of developing highly distributed
service-based systems. Web-based systems
development has led to important advances in
programming languages and software reuse.
11
Need of Software Engineering
Software engineering is important for two reasons
1. Individuals and society rely on advanced software systems.
We need to be able to produce reliable and trustworthy
systems economically and quickly.
12
Phases of Software Engineering
1. Software specification, where customers and
engineers define the software that is to be produced
and the constraints on its operation.
2. Software development, where the software is
designed and programmed.
3. Software validation, where the software is checked
to ensure that it is what the customer requires.
4. Software evolution, where the software is modified
to reflect changing customer and market
requirements
13
Software Products
Software engineers are concerned with developing
software products (software which can be sold to a
customer).
1. Generic products These are stand-alone systems that are
produced by a development organization and sold on the open
market to any customer who is able to buy them . E.g.
databases, word processors, drawing packages, and project-
management tools.
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Software Products
An important difference between these types of
software is that, in generic products, the organization
that develops the software controls the software
specification. For custom products, the specification is
usually developed and controlled by the organization
that is buying the software.
15
Challenges
Software systems are abstract and intangible
They are not constrained by the properties of materials,
governed by physical laws, or by manufacturing
processes
because of the lack of physical constraints, software
systems can quickly become extremely complex,
difficult to understand, and expensive to change
16
Software Engineering Diversity
There are many different types of software systems,
from simple embedded systems to complex
It is pointless to look for universal notations, methods,
or techniques for software engineering because different
types of software require different approaches.
Developing an organizational information system is
completely different from developing a controller for a
scientific instrument
The software engineering methods and tools used
depend on the type of application being developed, the
requirements of the customer and the background of the
development team.
17
Software Engineering Failures
1. Increasing demands
• As new software engineering techniques help us to build
larger, more complex systems, the demands change. Systems
have to be built and delivered more quickly
18
Software Engineering Failures
2. Low expectations
• It is relatively easy to write computer programs without
using software engineering methods and techniques.
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