Introduction to Software engineering

Question 1

Two things that influence software failure

Answer 1

1) Increasing System complexity
2)Not using software engineering methods properly

Question 2

What is software?

Answer 2

Computer programs and associated documentation. Software
products may be developed for a particular customer or may be
developed for a general market.

Question 3

what are attributes of good software ?

Answer 3

Good software should deliver the required functionality and
performance to the user and should be maintainable, dependable
and usable

Question 4

What is software engineering?

Answer 4

Software engineering is an engineering discipline that is concerned
with all aspects of software production from initial conception to
operation and maintenance

Question 5

What are the fundamental software engineering activities?

Answer 5

Software specification, software development, software validation
and software evolution

Question 6

What is the difference between software engineering and computer science?

Answer 6

Computer science focuses on theory and fundamentals; software
engineering is concerned with the practicalities of developing and
delivering useful software. There is more to software engineering than just computer science

Question 7

What is the difference between software engineering and System engineering

Answer 7

System engineering is concerned with all aspects of computerbased
systems development including hardware, software and
process engineering. Software engineering is part of this more
general process.

Question 8

What are the key challenges facing software engineering?

Answer 8

Coping with increasing diversity, demands for reduced delivery
times and developing trustworthy software.

Question 9

What are the costs of software engineering?

Answer 9

Roughly 60% of software costs are development costs, 40% are
testing costs. For custom software, evolution costs often exceed
development costs.

Question 10

What are the best software engineering techniques and methods?

Answer 10

While all software projects have to be professionally managed and
developed, different techniques are appropriate for different types
of system. For example, games should always be developed using
a series of prototypes whereas safety critical control systems
require a complete and analyzable specification to be developed.
There are no methods and techniques that are good for everything.

Question 11

What difference has the internet made to software engineering?

Answer 11

Not only has the Internet led to the development of massive, highly
distributed, service-based systems, it has also supported the
creation of an “app” industry for mobile devices which has
changed the economics of software.

Question 12

Software engineers are concerned with developing software products, that is,
software that can be sold to a customer. There are two kinds of software product,What are they?

Answer 12

1. Generic products These are stand-alone systems that are produced by a
   development organization and sold on the open market to any customer who is
   able to buy them. Examples of this type of product include apps for mobile
   devices, software for PCs such as databases, word processors, drawing packages,
   and project management tools. This kind of software also includes “vertical”
   applications designed for a specific market such as library information systems,
   accounting systems, or systems for maintaining dental records.
2. Customized (or bespoke) software These are systems that are commissioned by
   and developed for a particular customer. A software contractor designs and
   implements the software especially for that customer. Examples of this type of
   software include control systems for electronic devices, systems written to
   support a particular business process, and air traffic control systems.

Question 13

what is Hardware

Answer 13

Parts of the computer that can be touched

Question 14

Why is communication very important in software egineering

Answer 14

So we can get the desired product

Question 15

How are system engineers involved

Answer 15

System engineers are involved in system specification,archtectural design, integration and deployment

Question 16

What do we study in software engineering

Answer 16

What are the product deliverables and what processes are used to produce the products(software development lie cycle

Question 17

Essential product attributes are

Answer 17

Maintainability ,dependability, efficiency, and usability

Question 18

What is Maintainability

Answer 18

Software should be written in such a way that it can evolve to
meet the changing needs of customers. This is a critical attribute
because software change is an inevitable requirement of a
changing business environment.

Question 19

What is dependability

Answer 19

Software dependability includes a range of characteristics including
reliability, security, and safety. Dependable software should not
cause physical or economic damage in the event of system failure.
Software has to be secure so that malicious users cannot access or
damage the system.

Question 20

What is Efiiciency

Answer 20

Software should not make wasteful use of system resources such
as memory and processor cycles. Efficiency therefore includes
responsiveness, processing time, resource utilization, etc.

Question 21

What is usability/Acceptability

Answer 21

Software must be acceptable to the type of users for which it is
designed. This means that it must be understandable, usable, and
compatible with other systems that they use.

Question 22

What is specification activity

Answer 22

where customers and engineers define the software that
is to be produced and the constraints on its operation.

Question 23

What is development activity

Answer 23

where the software is designed and programmed.

Question 24

What is the validation activity

Answer 24

where the software is checked to ensure that it is what the
customer requires

Question 25

What is the evolution activity

Answer 25

where the software is modified to reflect changing customer
and market requirements.

Question 26

What are CASE tools

Answer 26

are computer based products meant to help in phase of the SDLC(software development life cycle),provide automated support for software process activities
Upper-CASE:
-Tools to support the early process activities of requirments and design
lower-CaSE:
-tools to support later activities such as programming debugging and testing.

Question 27

What does CASE stand for?

Answer 27

Computer Aided Software engineering

Question 28

What is the software Crisis?

Answer 28

Why are projects cancelled,completed late,over budget
not with all features and only a few are successful?

Question 29

Problems behind the software crisis

Answer 29

-increased size and complexity of systems(over complexity)
-over budget
-design bugs after implementation
-Lack of maintainance
-Software not secure
-Software licencing(copyright)
-Internationalization(designing a website for multiple languages),software does not cater to different parts of the population (lack of consideration for diversity)
-Rapid changes(changes happen quickly miss features)
-Not using CASE tools through out the software development life cycle and only programming tools

Question 30

Ways to fight against software crisis

Answer 30

-Improve software engineering methodologies
-Use High-level languages and tools that encourgae and enforce software engineering principles

Question 31

The aim of software engineering

Answer 31

it is a discipline whose aim is the production of fault free software, delivered on time, within budget and meeting the clients needs