Software Products © Ian Sommerville 2018 Overview

Software Products

• Software products are generic software systems that provide functionality to a range of customers.
• Examples of software products include large-scale business systems (e.g. MS Excel), personal products (e.g. Evernote), and simple mobile phone apps and games (e.g. Sudoku).

Project-based Software Engineering

• The starting point for software development is a set of software requirements owned by an external client.
• The software is developed by a software company (the contractor) to meet the client's requirements.
• The software development process involves designing and implementing a system that delivers functionality to meet the requirements.

iLearn Software Product

• iLearn is a virtual learning environment that focuses on the learning process rather than the administration and management of materials, assessments, and coursework.
• The product enables teachers to create subject and age-specific environments for their students using any web-based resources.
• The target customers are schools and universities, and the product aims to improve the learning experience of students at a relatively low cost.
• The product collects and processes learner analytics, reducing the costs of progress tracking and reporting.

Software Product Management

• Software product management is a business activity that focuses on the software products developed and sold by a business.
• Product managers (PMs) take overall responsibility for the product and are involved in planning, development, and product marketing.
• PMs are the interface between the organization, its customers, and the software development team.
• PMs must look outward to customers and potential customers, understanding their needs and expectations.

Product Management Concerns

• Business needs: PMs ensure that the software meets the business goals of the software development company.
• Technology constraints: PMs must consider technology issues that are important to customers.
• Customer experience: PMs should be in regular contact with customers and potential customers to understand their needs and expectations.

Technical Interactions of Product Managers

• Product vision management: PMs develop and manage the product vision.
• Product backlog management: PMs prioritize and manage the product backlog.
• User stories and scenarios: PMs develop and refine user stories and scenarios.
• Acceptance testing: PMs ensure that the product meets the customer's requirements.
• Customer testing: PMs involve customers in testing the product.
• User interface design: PMs ensure that the user interface is intuitive and meets the customer's needs.

Software Execution Models

• Stand-alone execution: The product is installed and executed on the user's computer.
• Hybrid execution: The product is executed partially on the user's computer and partially on the vendor's servers.
• Software as a service: The product is executed on the vendor's servers, and the user interacts with the product through a user interface.

Comparable Software Development

• Student projects: Individuals or student groups develop software as part of their course.
• Research software: Researchers develop software to support their research.
• Internal tool development: Software developers develop tools to support their work.

The Product Vision

• The product vision is a simple statement that defines the essence of the product to be developed.
• The product vision is the starting point for software product development.

Product Prototyping

• Product prototyping is the process of developing an early version of a product to test ideas and convince stakeholders of the product's potential.
• The aim of prototyping is to have a working version of the software that demonstrates its key features.
• Prototyping helps identify fundamental software components or services and tests technology.
• The prototype should be thrown away after development, and the software should be re-implemented, taking account of issues such as security and reliability.