Chapter 14 Flashcards
compliance
Ensuring that an organization’s systems operate within required legal constraints, and industry and organizational obligations.
Java
A programming language, initially developed by Sun Microsystems, designed to provide true platform independence (“write once, run anywhere”) for application developers. In most cases, Java apps are developed to be executed by a Java Virtual Machine—an interpreting layer that translates code as it executes, into the format required by the operating system and microprocessor. Without Java, application developers have to write and compile software to execute natively by a specific operating system/microprocessor combination (e.g., Windows/Intel, Linux PowerPC, Mac/Intel, Linux/Intel).
agile development
Developing work continually and iteratively, with a goal of more frequent product rollouts and constant improvement across smaller components of the larger project.
capability maturity model integration (CMMI)
A process-improvement approach (useful for but not limited to software engineering projects) that can assist in assessing the maturity, quality, and development of certain organizational business processes, and suggest steps for their improvement.
database management system (DBMS)
Sometimes referred to as database software; software for creating, maintaining, and manipulating data.
business intelligence (BI) systems
Systems that use data created by other systems to provide reporting and analysis for organizational decision-making.
interpreted
Languages where each line of written code is converted (by a software program, called an “interpreter”) for execution at run-time. Most scripting languages are interpreted languages. Many programmers also write Java applications to be interpreted by the Java Virtual Machine.
platforms
Products and services that allow for the development and integration of software products and other complementary goods. Windows, the iPhone, the Wii, and the standards that allow users to create Facebook apps are all platforms.
enterprise software
Applications that address the needs of multiple users throughout an organization or work group.
Web services
Small pieces of code that are accessed via the application server, and permit interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network.
total cost of ownership
An economic measure of the full cost of owning a product (typically computing hardware and/or software). TCO includes direct costs such as purchase price, plus indirect costs such as training, support, and maintenance.
customer relationship management (CRM)
Systems used to support customer-related sales and marketing activities.
application server
Software that houses and serves business logic for use (and reuse) by multiple applications.
supply chain management (SCM)
Systems that can help a firm manage aspects of its value chain, from the flow of raw materials into the firm, through delivery of finished products and services at the point-of-consumption.
feature creep
An expansion of the scope of a project.
APIs
Programming hooks, or guidelines, published by firms that tell other programs how to get a service to perform a task such as send or receive data. For example, Amazon.com provides APIs to let developers write their own applications and websites that can send the firm orders.
enterprise resource planning (ERP)
A software package that integrates the many functions (accounting, finance, inventory management, human resources, etc.) of a business.
firmware
Software stored on nonvolatile memory chips (as opposed to being stored on devices such as hard drives or removable discs). Despite the seemingly permanent nature of firmware, many products allow for firmware to be upgraded online or by connecting to another device.
user interface (UI)
The mechanism through which users interact with a computing device. The UI includes elements of the graphical user interface (or GUI, pronounced “
gooey”), such as windows, scroll bars, buttons, menus, and dialogue boxes; and can also include other forms of interaction, such as touch screens, motion sensing controllers, or tactile devices used by the visually impaired.
JSON
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)—a popular data interchange format, JSON is a technology standard often used to format data when being sent or received via APIs.
integrated development environment (IDE)
An application that includes an editor (a sort of programmer’s word processor), debugger, and compiler, among other tools.
computer hardware
The physical components of information technology, which can include the computer itself plus peripherals such as storage devices, input devices like the mouse and keyboard, output devices like monitors and printers, networking equipment, and so on.
waterfall method
A relatively linear sequential approach to software development (and other projects). Benefits include surfacing requirements up front and creating a blueprint to follow throughout a project. Often criticized for being too rigid, slow, and demanding project forethought that’s tough to completely identify early on.
programming language
Provides the standards, syntax, statements, and instructions for writing computer software.
