Software Engineering: An Overview

Prof. David Bernstein
James Madison University

Computer Science Department

bernstdh@jmu.edu

What is Software?

What is...

Software Engineering

Defined:
- The application of (scientific) theories, methods and tools to the specification, design, creation, verification/validation, deployment, operation, and maintenance of software products
Scope:
- From specification to maintenance
- Involves theories/methods from psychology, mathematics/statistics, computer science, and management (of people and resources)
- Actually consists of both science and art

Software Engineering vs. Computer Science/Engineering

Computer Engineering:
- The application of theories (often from physics) to the creation of computational devices
- Usually thought of as a subset of electrical and electronic engineering
Computer Science:
- The theories and methods that underlie computation and the use of computational devices

The Origins of Computer Science Departments

Software Processes

Definition:
- A set of activities/tasks (and corresponding inputs and outputs) that results in the specification, development, validation, and/or evolution of a software product
Common Activities:
- Project planning, product design, engineering design, implementation, deployment, support/maintenance
An Observation:
- Many of these activities involve "problem solving" and/or "design"

Generic Problem Solving/Design Activities

The Parts of the Process:
- Identification of goals, objectives and constraints
- Generation of alternatives
- Evaluation of alternatives
- Selection of an alternative
Categorizing the Parts of the Process:
- Analysis (to understand the problem)
- Resolution (to solve the problem)

"Heavyweight" vs. "Agile"/"Lean" Processes

One View:
- Different processes involve the same activities but vary dramatically in the cycle times
A Common Categorization:
- Heavyweight Processes: Long cycle times (i.e., move in one direction for a long time)
- Agile/Lean Processes: Short cycle times (i.e., develop the product incrementally)

What Do Software Engineering Students Study?

Becoming a Better Product Designer:
- Needs elicitation techniques
- Requirements generation/documentation techniques
- User interface design techniques
Becoming a Better Engineering Designer:
- Architectural styles
- Design patterns
Becoming a Better Implementer:
- Tools
- Idioms
Becoming a Better Project Planner/Manager:
- Foundations (probability, statistics, optimization, finance)
- Best practices