Introduction to Software Engineering (Lecture 1)

Question 1

Define software engineering

Answer 1

Software engineering is an engineering discipline focusing on the cost-effective development of software systems. It’s concerned with all aspects of software production

Question 2

Why is software engineering important?

Answer 2

• software is difficult to manage
• software is everywhere (or ubiquitous) and essential to daily life
• software systems are abstract and intangible
• software systems can quickly become extremely complex, difficult to understand, and expensive to change

Question 3

Outline 2 reasons why software projects fail

Answer 3

1. increasing system complexity
   - constant changes in demand and failure to keep up
2. failure to use software engineering methods
   - consequently, the software is often more expensive and less reliable than it should be

Question 4

What are the attributes of good software?

Answer 4

Good software should deliver the required functionality and performance. It should be maintainable, dependable, usable, efficient, and acceptable to the users it is designed for

Question 5

What is the difference between software engineering and computer science?

Answer 5

Software engineering focuses on the practicalities and delivering useful software; Computer science focuses on the theory and fundamentals

Question 6

What is the difference between software engineering and system engineering

Answer 6

System engineering is concerned with all aspects of computer-based systems (e.g. hardware). Software engineering is a part of this more general process

Question 7

What are the key challenges facing software engineering?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are the costs of software engineering?

Answer 8

60% are development costs, 40% are testing costs

Question 9

What are the two fundamental types of software products?

Answer 9

Generic products and custom products

Question 10

Generic Products

Answer 10

Stand-alone systems marketed and sold to any customer who wants to buy it

Question 11

Customized Products

Answer 11

Software commissioned by a specific customer to meet their own needs

Question 12

Four general issues that affect software

Answer 12

Heterogeneity; business and social change; security and trust; and scale

Question 13

Four examples of professional responsibility (related to ethics)

Answer 13

1. Confidentiality
2. Competence
3. Intellectual property rights
4. Computer misuse

Question 14

What is the ACM/IEEE Code of Ethics

Answer 14

These ethics aim to provide rules, standards and protection for software developers and their clients. The Code of Ethics has eight principles