The Changing World of Software Watts S. Humphrey Presentation by Cuong Nguyen

The Changing World of Software Introduction For a business to be successful it must meet “customer needs” with quality service and products. The software industry has a poor track record in this score. The software industry “must change” as plays an increasing role in everyday life.

The Changing World of Software How does the software industry measure up? Timely? –Delivery “dates are no better then guesses” Quality? –Unlike other industries (eg. Auto, appliances) the software industry tolerates defects. Efficient? –Projects are often “unplanned, over budget, and behind schedule”

The Changing World of Software How does the software industry measure up? Despite assertions to the contrary, defect free software products can be produced. –Most defects are generally found in a few modules of a large software system. –50% of defects were found in 3% of the code in one system, for example. –Logically, if 97% of the code can be error free the other 3% can be error free as well.

The Changing World of Software The new application environment Software is no longer a “peripherial” business. Software defects now can be expensive and dangerous (eg. Airlines, finance). Software is now replacing hardware in many operations (eg. Guns). Which increases the importance of creating a reliable software system.

The Changing World of Software Is this situation tolerated? Customers in the past had been lenient because software did not affect as they do now. Now that software is “at the heart” of everything they will be less tolerant. Unless the quality of the software improves jobs could be lost (outside contractor, close business).

The Changing World of Software This is not a hypothetical possibility (losing jobs) Examples of projects canceled due to software quality issues. –American Airlines –Ashton Tate Example of projects getting bonuses due good deliverables. –Hughes Electronics

The Changing World of Software What can one engineer do? Be aware that if your organization’s processes are not working your job could be exposed. Investigate software process improvement Pursue improvements aggressively when you see the need.

Will There Ever Be Software Engineering? Micheal Jackson Presentation by Cuong Nguyen

Will there ever be software engineering? Introduction Jackson is critiquing Ed Yourdon’s “The Future of Software: Best of Times, Worst of Times” essay. In particular, he is critiquing the assertion that “errors don’t matter that much, so long as it doesn’t happen often”. Yourdon’s outlook demands the development of specialized formal approaches in software engineering.

Will there ever be software engineering? Problems Computer systems are “becoming ever more interconnected and interdependent (WordPerfect). Software’s attitude is “buggy code” is better then no code. Aspirations of bug-free code and efficient development have been not come to fruition.

Will there ever be software engineering? Vision of Software Engineering David Parnes calls for a separate discipline, separate from computer science, with a “core body of knowledge”. Software Engineering will then be regulated with licensing and minimum standards like other engineering fields. Failures occur due to no standards in software development

Will there ever be software engineering? Vision unrealized Some software manufactures encourage faulty products –“rush to market” –Increase need for upgrades Developers are reluctant to change. –unconvinced “core knowledge” is essential –Assert development is an art.

Will there ever be software engineering? Vision unrealized Increasing complexity makes it difficult to implement improvements. –Knowledge for many software projects include “messy and poorly documented details” –Where in the software “continuum” is software engineering “core” requirements needed?

Will there ever be software engineering? Specialization Software products and projects are varied –Operational Environment –Economic and Technical Goals –Underlying risk factors –Product life cycles Specialization in the software industry as systems become more complex. –Compiler –Operating System –Database

Will there ever be software engineering? Specialization Software Engineering does not exist. Specialized Software engineering does or should –Compiler engineering –OS engineering –Database engineering Equivalent to physical engineering (EE, CHE)

Will there ever be software engineering? Conclusion Specialize by requirement and product Concentrate on our own branch of engineering while recognizing others. Apply relevant parts of Parnes core to specialized field. Above all, DON’T accept “buggy code”.