Software Engineering Fundamentals

Application of scientific and practical knowledge to invent, design, build, and improve software systems.

Collection of integrated programs and related documentation (requirements, design, manuals).

Needed due to large software, scalability, cost management, and the ever-changing software nature, and quality of software.

Software engineering helps in managing large and complex software projects.

Software engineering helps adapt and expand systems to accommodate increasing demands or data.

Software engineering helps in controlling the costs associated with software development.

Software constantly adapts to change and new requirements so engineering provides a pathway for these changes.

Software engineering improves software quality by refining the development process.

In software engineering, small problems are addressed independently, meaning they are solved without affecting other parts of the system.

Software engineering minimizes development costs by efficiently utilizing manpower and resources. It eliminates unnecessary features and streamlines the development process.

Using software engineering methods significantly reduces development time compared to traditional approaches.

Software engineering provides a structured approach to handle complex and lengthy software projects, ensuring efficient planning, testing, and maintenance over time.

Software built using engineering principles prioritizes security and stability. It ensures the software functions as intended and includes built-in bug-fixing processes for long-term reliability.

Following established software engineering standards and best practices leads to more effective software that meets industry requirements and ensures a high level of quality.

Software professionals are obligated to act in the best interest of the public when developing and maintaining software.

Software engineers must balance the interests of their clients and employers while adhering to ethical principles and public interest.

A software development model where functionality is added incrementally in iterations. Each increment builds upon the previous one, delivering a working version of the software incrementally.

The first phase of the Incremental Model focuses on understanding the user's needs and defining the system's functional requirements.

The phase where the system's functionality is designed and implemented, adding new capabilities to the existing software with each iteration.

Testing in the Incremental Model checks the functionality of each new increment, ensuring it works smoothly with existing features.

The final coding phase where the design is translated into working software, enhancing the existing functionality with each iteration.

This model is suitable when requirements are evolving, the project has a long development schedule, or the customer needs a quick release of core functionalities.

Benefits include easier error detection and debugging, increased flexibility, easier risk management, and delivering essential functionalities early to the customer.

Drawbacks include the need for careful planning, potential for higher overall costs, and the requirement for well-defined module interfaces.

Breaking down system design into modules with specific functionalities, defining data transfer and communication between modules and the external world.

Detailed design of individual modules within the system architecture, also known as Low-Level Design (LLD).

Testing individual modules in isolation to find and fix bugs at the code level.

Testing how different modules work together after unit testing. This is done after the architectural design phase.

Testing the entire application, verifying functionality, interdependency, and communication based on requirements.

Testing the system in a user environment similar to production to ensure it meets user needs.

A disciplined model with clear phases. Best for projects with defined requirements. Easy to understand and use. Focuses on verification and validation early, improving quality.

High risk and uncertainty, not suitable for complex projects or changing requirements. Doesn't support iteration or concurrent work.

A software development approach where the project is broken down into smaller cycles or iterations. Each iteration involves planning, design, implementation, testing, and deployment of a working version of the software. The process repeats iteratively until the final product is achieved.

The initial phase in the iterative model where the team gathers and analyzes the needs and expectations of the users or stakeholders. This involves understanding the problem, defining the scope of the software, and documenting the required functionalities.

This phase involves creating the blueprint for the software. Teams use diagrams like flowcharts, activity diagrams, and class diagrams to visualize the system's architecture, data flow, and interactions between different components.

The coding phase where developers write code based on the design specifications. This involves translating the design into a functional software using programming languages.

This phase aims to identify and fix bugs or errors in the software. Different testing methods like white box, black box, and gray box testing are used to ensure the software meets the requirements and performs as expected.

The phase where the software is finally released into the production environment and made available to users. This involves setting up the infrastructure, configuring the software, and ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.

After deployment, the software is continuously monitored and evaluated to check its performance, address any issues, and gather feedback for improvement. This phase helps ensure the software is meeting its goals and user satisfaction.

The ongoing phase where the software is updated, patched, and enhanced. This includes fixing bugs, addressing security vulnerabilities, adding new features, and adapting to changes in the environment or user needs.

The RAD model adapts easily to changes in requirements.

RAD focuses on delivering high-priority features quickly, reducing the overall development time.

The first phase in each spiral cycle where the goals, alternatives, and constraints of that cycle are clearly defined.

Analyzing potential risks associated with each alternative and developing strategies to mitigate them.

Spiral models are best suited for complex, large, and high-budget projects that need frequent delivery and risk management.

The initial phase where users are asked about their expectations and desires for the system.

Creating a basic design to showcase a quick overview of the system's features and functionalities.

Prototype models rely heavily on user feedback to refine the design and functionality based on their input.