Chapter 1Software and SoftwareEngineering.ppt

Chapter 1Software and SoftwareEngineering Dual role of software Software questions havent changed A definition of software Differences between hardware and software Changing nature of software Dealing with legacy software Software myths Dual Role of Software Both a product and a vehicle for delivering a product Product Delivers computing potential Produces, manages, acquires, modifies, display, or transmits information Vehicle Supports or directly provides system functionality Controls other programs (e.g., operating systems) Effects communications (e.g., networking software) Helps build other software (e.g., software tools) Questions About Software Havent Changed Over the Decades Why does it take so long to get software finished? Why are development costs so high? Why cant we find all errors before we give the software to our customers? Why do we spend so much time and effort maintaining existing programs? Why do we continue to have difficulty in measuring progress as software is being developed and maintained? A Definition of Software (all inclusive) Instructions (computer programs) that when executed provide desired features, function, and performance Data structures that enable the programs to adequately manipulate information Documents that describe the operation and use of the programs Differences between Software and Hardware Software is developed or engineered; it is not manufactured in the classical sense Impacts the management of software projects Software doesnt wear out Hardware bathtub curve compared to the software ascending spiked curve Although the industry is moving toward component-based construction, most software continues to be custom built (it is still complex to build) Software Failure Curve Changing Nature of Software System software Application software Engineering/scientific software Embedded software Product-line software (e.g., inventory control, word processing, multimedia) Web applications Artificial intelligence soft