Software Engineering PDF

The Evolving Role of Software Software can be a product: transforming, managing, and displaying information Software can be a vehicle for delivering another product, such as controlling computer (operating system), communication, or creation of other programs. Software as a Produ...

The Evolving Role of Software Software can be a product: transforming, managing, and displaying information Software can be a vehicle for delivering another product, such as controlling computer (operating system), communication, or creation of other programs. Software as a Product: Information Transformer Software refers to computer programs and applications. Software is considered a product due to design, development, and distribution for specific tasks and functions Software acts as an information transformer, performing various operations on data, including: o Producing: creating, generating or calculating data (e.g., spreadsheets generating financial reports) o Managing: organizing and manipulating data e!iciently (e.g., database management software) o Displaying: presenting information in a user-friendly format (e.g., web browsers displaying content, graphic design software visualizing graphics) Software as a Vehicle for Delivering Another Product Software functions as a platform or medium for other products and services Crucial aspects include: o Control of Computer (Operating System): An OS manages hardware and enables user interaction with software and hardware (e.g., Windows, macOS) o Communication of Information (Networks): Networking software enables device communication (e.g., protocols, drivers, applications for internet or local networks) o Creation of Other Programs: Software development tools and environments assist programmers in creating new software applications (e.g., IDEs and compilers) Types of Software-Changing Nature of Software Categorization of software types: o System software: programs for servicing other programs (e.g., compilers, operating systems, editors, drivers) o Application software: stand-alone programs for specific business needs, performing organized tasks/functions (e.g., MS O!ice, Chrome, IE) o Scientific/Engineering software: programs for number crunching and complex operations (e.g., software for astronomy, volcanology, automotive stress analysis) o Embedded software: software embedded in products for controlling functions (e.g., microwave ovens, car systems) o Product-line software (market requirement): software with specific capabilities for various customers (e.g., computer graphics, multimedia, inventory control) o Web/Mobile Applications: network-centric software encompassing browser-based apps and mobile devices (e.g., mobile banking, social networking software) o Artificial Intelligence software: utilizes non-numerical algorithms to solve complex problems (e.g., IBM Watson, IBM Deep Blue, Siri, Cortana, Alexa) Definition of Software Software combines instructions, data structures, and all documents describing functions and use of the program. Software includes instructions (computer programs) that execute to provide desired features, function, and performance. Software also includes data structures that enable programs to manipulate information e!ectively. Software comprises descriptive information (in both hard copy and virtual forms) describing program operations and use. Software Engineering It is a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software. Software Engineering as a Layered Technology/Diagram Quality Focus: Foundation for quality assurance in software development Processes: Framework for managing software development activities. Methods: Technical knowledge for e!icient and e!ective development. Tools: Automated support for software development, integration of tools for consistency and e!iciency (CASE environment) Software Process Framework for activities, actions, and tasks needed for high-quality software. Activities aim towards objectives (e.g., communication with stakeholders) Actions encompass tasks (e.g., architectural design producing models). Tasks have well-defined objectives with tangible results (e.g., unit testing). Process Framework A generic framework encompassing communication, planning, modeling, construction, and deployment activities. Communications Communication is essential before any technical work Stakeholder collaboration helps define software features & functions. E!ective communication fosters collaboration and aims for alignment on project goals, requirements, and timelines. Planning A software project is a complex journey, a "map" facilitated by a software project plan. The plan describes tasks, risks, resources, work products, and schedules. Comprehensive Project Planning Comprehensive project planning involves defining objectives, scopes, and timelines to aid in resource allocation, risk assessment, and budget management. It ensures a clear roadmap, e!ective tracking, and control throughout the project lifecycle. Modeling Modeling creates developer & customer-friendly designs that achieve the necessary software requirements. Models guide detailed plans, visualize the final product, identify issues, optimize designs, ultimately saving time and resources during construction Construction and Deployment Construction: combines code generation and testing to ensure error identification. Deployment: delivering the software (fully or partially) to the customer for evaluation & feedback, marking the transition from development to operational phase. Umbrella Activities Software Project Tracking and Control: Assess progress, manage schedule, and make necessary adjustments. Risk Management: Identify, analyze, and mitigate potential risks impacting the project or product quality. Software Quality Assurance: Defines standards and conduct activities to ensure quality and find defects. Technical Reviews: Assess work products to uncover and prevent errors before propagation. Measurement: Define measures and collect data about process, project, and product to help the team. Software Configuration Management: Manages changes/e!ects of change in the software process. Ensures reuse mechanisms and criteria for work products/components. Reusability Management: Defines criteria for reuse and work product/component reuse. Work Product Preparation and Production: Encompasses tasks for creating work products (e.g., models, documents, logs, forms, lists). Key Challenges in Software Engineering  Increasing Software Scale: The massive increase in software use has made manual software development impractical. Rapid Technological Change: Rapid advancements in hardware and new technologies like AI/code refactoring require constant adaptation. Legacy Challenges: Maintaining older software systems becomes crucial in the face of evolving needs Managing Heterogeneity: Software must adapt to various hardware and platform configurations Ensuring Trust: Software needs robust Security and Privacy features given its integration with daily life. Changing Customer Needs/Delivery Challenges: Dynamic customer needs put pressure on productivity and agility in software development. Deterioration in Software Quality: Creating quality software becomes more challenging as projects become more complex and human-centric. Shortage of Software Engineers: The increasing demand for software products and applications results in a lack of appropriately qualified software engineers Software Engineering Principles David Hooker Principles: o First: Understanding the fundamental principles and motivations behind existence is crucial in exploring our purpose and the universe's functionality. o Second: KIS (Keep it simple) o Third: Maintain the Vision o Fourth: What you produce, others will consume o Fifth: Be Open to the Future o Sixth: Plan Ahead for Reuse o Seventh: Think! Professional Responsibility of Software Engineers Confidentiality: Respect confidentiality of employer or client Competence: Recognize and avoid work beyond expertise  Intellectual Property Rights: Respect and protect intellectual property Computer Misuse: Avoid misuse of computer skills (e.g., not using them for games or spreading viruses). Software Feasibility Includes technology, finance, time, resources, legal, and operational dimensions Technology: Feasibility in current technology, defect reduction, matching needs. Finance: Project budget feasibility, cost to organization/client/market. Time: Project timeline to compete with market and competitors. Resources: Availability of needed resources. Legal: Complying with legal requirements. Operational: Project integration into current operations (training, user onboarding, etc.). Technical Feasibility Evaluation of the solution's technical feasibility Technology Stack: Choosing appropriate programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Integration: Defining how the app interacts with external services. Scalability: Ensuring the architecture can handle user growth. Security: Planning for data encryption, authentication, and vulnerability protection. Financial Feasibility  Assesses the project's financial feasibility and ability to sustain startup and operation Budget: Costs involved in development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. Revenue Model: Pricing strategies, freemium models, or in-app purchases Monetization Timelines: Project timeline to achieve profitability Operational Feasibility Evaluation of the app's integration into the startup's existing operations Internal Processes: Aligning app data flows with existing workflows and support requirements. Training and Support: User onboarding, support for future updates, and user retraining. Resource Availability: Ensuring necessary human resources, infrastructure, and time commitment from the startup. Legal and Regulatory Feasibility Ensuring that the app complies with legal and regulatory frameworks Data Privacy: Adhering to data protection regulations (GDPR, HIPAA). Financial Regulations: Compliance with financial laws and regulations (transactions, financial advice practices). Licensing and Intellectual Property: Acquiring or licensing any necessary third-party components or intellectual properties. Schedule Feasibility Evaluating if the project can be completed within the required time. Project Complexity: Complex software requires more time to develop. Available Resources: Adequate skilled personnel, equipment, and software tools. Resource shortages can lead to delays. Team Skills: Highly skilled teams lead to faster development but lack of expertise can create delays in learning curves. Potential Risks: Identifying and mitigating potential risks like technical challenges, external dependencies, unexpected obstacles.  Scope and Requirements: Project scope changes and frequent modifications can impact the timeline. Dependencies: Understanding internal and external dependencies can help identify delays in the project. Contingency planning. Bu!er Time: Adding bu!er for unforeseen issues or delays. Resource Feasibility Assessing the availability of needed resources for project success Human Resources: Skills matching, team capacity, workload management. Financial Resources: Determining the project's budget. Physical Resources: O!ice space, equipment, and infrastructure availability. Technological Resources: Available technology and software support in the project timeline. Time: Timeline adherence. Resource Allocation: E!icient and e!ective resource allocation to avoid bottlenecks and overloads