What is Software Engineering?

            What is Software?

• Software is not just the programs, but also associated documentation and configuration data (to operate the program) needed to make the programs operate correctly.

• A Software system consists of
  1. Number of separate programs
  2. Configuration files used to setup the programs
  3. System documentation – describes the structure of the system
  4. User documentation – explains how to use the system
  
  
• Software Products may be
  1. Generic Developed to be sold to a range of different customers
  E.g. Operating Systems(Microsoft Windows) Database Management Systems(Oracle) Banking Software
  2. Bespoke Developed for a single customer according to their specification

            Programs Vs Software Products 

            Program 

•  Small
•  Single developer
•  Small in size 
•  Limited Functionality
•  Single user (author)
•  Simple user interface
•  Sparse documentation
•  No user manual
•  Ad hoc development 

            Software Product

•  Large
•  Team of developers
•  Multiple users (customer)
•  Complex user interfaces
•  Detailed documentation
•  User manual
•  Systematic development

          What is Software Engineering?

• Software engineering is an engineering discipline, concerned with all aspects of software production from early stages of system specification through maintaining the system.

1. Engineering discipline – make things work by applying theories, methods and tools where appropriate and also try to find solutions to problems when there’s no suitable theories/methods.
2.  All aspects of software production – not just technical, but project management and development of tools, methods and theories to support S/W production.
   
   

• Software engineers should adopt a systematic and organized approach to their work and use appropriate tools and techniques depending on the problem to be solved, the development constraints and the resources available.
  
  
• IEEE Definition of Software Engineering:
  The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software; that is, the application of engineering to software.
  IEEE Standard 610.12-1990, 1993.

        Developing a Program

1. Analyze the problem
2. Develop a solution
3. Code the solution
4. Test and Debug
   

        What about a Real Software?

• There will be a real user (Customer) who would need to use the software.

1. You have to find out what the customer wants (Requirements Gathering)
2. Analyze the problem
3. Develop a solution (Design)
4. Code the solution
5. Test and Debug
6. Maintenance
   Note : In addition in the beginning there can be a Feasibility Study.

        Characteristics of Software Engineering

• Software Engineering deals with team-based production of large software systems: 

1.  No single person has complete knowledge of all the details of a software engineering project. 
   
   

• Software Engineering borrows from: 

1. Computer Science & Information Technology 
2. Electrical & Computer Engineering  Mathematics & Physics 
3. Business & Management 
4. Psychology & Sociology
   
   

• Modern engineering is based on the systematic collection of past experience:

1. methodologies; techniques; guidelines.
   
   

•  It involves trade offs between alternatives:

1. A pragmatic approach to cost-effectiveness;
2. A rigorous approach to quality and safety!
   
   

• It uses a variety of quantitative techniques

1. with a sound theoretical basis:
2. Yet many SE techniques are just rules of thumb.

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