Chapter 1

Introduction to Software
Engineering

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 Recommended Text Book
► Roger S. Pressman, Software Engineering
A Practitioner’s Approach , Seventh
edition, McGraw-Hill, 2005
 Reference Books
 Craig Larman, Applying UML and Patterns : An
Introduction to Object Oriented Analysis and
Design and the Unified Process, Second
Edition, Prentice Hall,
 Ian Sommerville, Software Engineering, Fifth
Edition, Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers
Inc, 1995
 Software’s Dual Role
► Software is a product
 Delivers computing potential
 Is an Information transformer that produces,
manages, acquires, modifies, displays, or transmits
information
► Software is a vehicle for delivering a product
 Controls other programs (e.g., an operating system)
 Effects communications (e.g., networking software)
 Helps build other software (e.g., software tools)

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 What is
Software?
Software is a set of items or objects
that form a “configuration” that
includes
• Computer programs
• Data structures
• Documents

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 What is
Software?
► software is engineered
► software doesn’t wear out
► software is complex

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 Hardware vs. Software
► Manufactured ► Developed/
► Wears out engineered
► Built using ► Deteriorates
components ► Custom built
► Relatively simple ► Complex

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Manufacturing vs. Development
► Once a hardware product has been
manufactured, it is difficult or impossible to
modify. In contrast, software products are
routinely modified and upgraded.
► In hardware, hiring more people allows you to
accomplish more work, but the same does not
necessarily hold true in software engineering.
► Unlike hardware, software costs are
concentrated in design rather than production.

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Wear vs. Deterioration
Hardware wears out over time

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Wear vs. Deterioration
Software deteriorates over time

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 Software
Applications
► System software
 is a collection of programs written to service other
programs e.g., compilers, editors etc.
► Application software
 Consists of standalone programs that solve a specific
business need e.g. ms word, adobe acrobat, notepad etc
► Engineering/scientific software
 Applications range from astronomy to volcanology, from
automotive stress analysis to space shuttle orbital
dynamics, and from molecular biology to automated
manufacturing.

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 Software Applications
► Embedded software
 Embedded software resides in read-only memory and is used to control
products and systems for the consumer and industrial markets. It can
perform very limited functions (e.g., keypad control for a microwave
oven) or provide significant function and control capability (e.g., digital
functions in an automobile such as fuel control, dashboard displays)
► Product-line software
 Designed to provide a specific capability for use by many customers
e.g. inventory control products, spreadsheets, computer graphics,
database management etc.
► WebApps (Web applications)
 a web application or WebApps is an application that is accessed via a
web browser over a network such as the Internet e.g. webmails, online
retail sales etc.
► Artificial intelligence (AI) software
 makes use of algorithms to solve complex problems that cannot be
solved through straightforward analysis e.g. pattern recognition (image
and voice) etc.
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 Legacy Software
Why must it change?
►Software must be adapted to meet the
needs of new computing environments or
technology.
►Software must be enhanced to implement
new business requirements.
►Software must be extended to make it
interoperable with other more modern
systems or databases.
►Software must be re-architected to make
it workable within a network environment.
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 Software Myths
► Beliefs about software and the process used to build it.
► Affect managers, customers (and other non-technical
stakeholders) and practitioners
► Are believable because they often have elements of
truth,
but …
► Invariably lead to bad decisions,
therefore …
► Insist on reality as you navigate your way through
software engineering

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 Management Myths
► “We already have a book of standards and
procedures for building software. It does provide
my people with everything they need to know …”
► “If my project is behind the schedule, I always can
add more programmers to it and catch up …”
(a.k.a. “The Mongolian Horde concept”)
► “IfI decide to outsource the software project to a
third party, I can just relax: Let them build it, and I
will just pocket my profits …”

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 Customer Myths

► “A general statement of objectives is

► “Projectrequirements continually change but

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Customer Myths

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 Practitioner’s
Myths
► “Let’s start coding ASAP, because once we write
the program and get it to work, our job is done …”

► “Until I get the program running, I have no way of

► “The only deliverable work product for a

► “Software engineering is nonsense. It makes us