1-3 What is Software Engineering

Summary

This video script delves into the realm of software engineering, defining it as the application of scientific principles to design and build software systems. It emphasizes the importance of systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approaches in software development, drawing parallels with traditional engineering disciplines. The script highlights the intangible nature of software, the inevitability of change, and the necessity for adaptability and evolution in software products. It also distinguishes between software engineering and computer science, underscoring the practical focus of the former in solving real-world problems. The video outlines the software development lifecycle, from concept exploration to retirement, and discusses various development models, techniques, and tools that software engineers can employ to meet project requirements and constraints.

Takeaways

• 🔧 Software engineering is the application of systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approaches to the development, operation, and maintenance of software.
• 📚 The definition of software engineering from IEEE includes the application of engineering to software and the study of approaches to software development.
• 🛠️ Software can be categorized into various types such as operating systems, drivers, embedded systems, compilers, and applications, each with its own constraints and development needs.
• 🌐 Software is often classified under commercial, open source, shareware, and freeware, reflecting different user bases and sizes.
• 🤔 Engineering involves developing solutions that are effective and efficient, considering the context of the project and selecting the right approach for the situation.
• 💡 Knowledge in software engineering brings theories and solutions, but not all solutions are applicable to every project's context.
• 🔄 Software changes are inevitable, and software engineering includes the flexibility to accommodate these changes effectively and efficiently.
• 🏗️ Software engineering is based on three fundamental pillars: scientific support from computer science, a mathematical foundation from discrete math, and a problem-solving approach from data structures and algorithms.
• 🧩 The difference between software engineering and computer science lies in the focus on practical software production versus theoretical understanding of computing.
• 📈 Software engineering encompasses the entire lifecycle of software development, from concept exploration to retirement, involving various stages and activities.

Q & A

What is the definition of software engineering according to the script?

Software engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build software to achieve a goal. It involves a systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software.

How does the script define a systematic approach in software engineering?

A systematic approach in software engineering means that the process is organized and efficient, with a focus on following a structured method to achieve the desired outcome.

What does it mean for an approach in software engineering to be 'disciplined'?

A disciplined approach in software engineering refers to the controlled nature of the process, ensuring that the development follows established standards and practices.

Why is it important for software engineering approaches to be 'quantifiable'?

Quantifiable approaches in software engineering allow for the measurement and analysis of the development process, which is essential for studying and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the software development.

How does the script categorize different types of software?

The script categorizes software into operating systems, drivers, embedded systems, compilers, applications (like desktop, web, mobile, database, media, games), and further classifies them under commercial, open source, shareware, and freeware.

What is the role of knowledge in software engineering as per the script?

Knowledge in software engineering brings theories and solutions to the table, but it's also the engineer's job to develop the best solutions for the specific context of a project, which may not always be directly applicable from existing knowledge.

How does the script differentiate between software engineering and other kinds of engineering?

The script highlights that a significant difference is that software is not tangible, and changes can be made even after the software is written, unlike physical structures like bridges where changes are much more challenging.

What are the three fundamental pillars of any engineering discipline according to the script?

The three fundamental pillars of any engineering discipline are scientific support provided by science, a mathematical foundation provided by math, and a problem-solving approach.

How does the script describe the relationship between computer science and software engineering?

The script explains that computer science is concerned with the theories and methods behind computers and software, while software engineering is concerned with the practical problems of producing software. Some knowledge of computer science is essential for software engineers, but the theory is often more applicable to smaller programs.

What are the stages of the software development life cycle mentioned in the script?

The script mentions stages such as concept exploration, requirements, design, construction, testing, installation, operation, maintenance, and retirement as part of the software development life cycle.

Why is it important for software engineers to understand the context of their situation or problem?

Understanding the context of a situation or problem is crucial for software engineers to pick the right solution and apply the most appropriate techniques and tools for their specific project's needs.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Introduction to Software Engineering

This paragraph introduces the concept of software engineering, defining it as the application of scientific principles to design and build software with specific goals in mind. It emphasizes the systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable nature of the field, drawing from the IEEE definition. The paragraph discusses the various types of software, such as operating systems, drivers, embedded systems, compilers, and applications, and how they can be categorized under commercial, open source, shareware, and freeware. It also touches on the challenges software engineers face, such as the intangible nature of software and the need for effective and efficient solutions. The importance of knowledge in providing theories and solutions is highlighted, along with the need for software engineers to understand their project's context to select the appropriate solution. The paragraph concludes by discussing the flexibility in software engineering and the evolution of software over time, using Microsoft Word as an example of continuous development.

05:02

🛠️ The Software Development Lifecycle

Paragraph 2 delves into the software development lifecycle, detailing the various stages from concept exploration to retirement. It explains that software engineering is applied throughout the entire lifecycle, not just during development. The paragraph outlines the key stages: requirements, design, construction, testing, installation, operation, maintenance, and retirement. It also discusses the different software development models and the various techniques and tools available for each stage. The importance of choosing the right mix of models, techniques, and tools based on the project's context, circumstances, and constraints is emphasized. The paragraph concludes by stating that software engineering encompasses everything needed to produce successful software that can evolve to meet changing customer needs.

Keywords

💡Software Engineering

Software Engineering refers to the application of systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approaches to the development, operation, and maintenance of software. It is the field that bridges the gap between theoretical computer science and the practical aspects of developing software. In the video, it is emphasized that software engineering is not just about writing code but also about understanding the context of problems and applying the right solutions effectively and efficiently.

💡Systematic

Systematic in the context of the video means organized and efficient. It is a key characteristic of software engineering approaches, implying that the processes are structured and follow a logical sequence to achieve the desired outcome. The video mentions that each approach to building software should be systematic to ensure that it is both organized and efficient.

💡Disciplined

Disciplined approaches in software engineering are controlled and follow established practices and standards. The video script highlights the importance of discipline in the development process, ensuring that the software is built according to predefined rules and guidelines, which helps in maintaining quality and consistency.

💡Quantifiable

Quantifiable approaches in software engineering are those that can be measured. The video discusses the need for quantifiable methods to study and compare different software development approaches, allowing for the assessment of their effectiveness and applicability to specific situations.

💡Commercial Software

Commercial software refers to software that is developed for sale, typically with proprietary licenses. The video categorizes software into different types, including commercial, which implies that it is developed with a business model in mind, targeting a user base that is willing to pay for the software's features and functionality.

💡Open Source

Open source software is software whose source code is made available to the public, allowing anyone to view, modify, and distribute the software. The video mentions open source as one of the categories of software, highlighting its collaborative nature and the community-driven development process.

💡Maintainability

Maintainability in software engineering is the ease with which a software system can be modified, either to correct faults, improve performance, or adapt to new requirements. The video emphasizes the importance of building desirable characteristics like maintainability into software products to ensure their longevity and usability over time.

💡Reliability

Reliability in the context of software engineering refers to the ability of software to perform its required functions under specified conditions for a specified period. The video script includes reliability as one of the desirable characteristics that software engineering aims to build into products, ensuring that they consistently meet user expectations.

💡Computer Science

Computer science is the scientific and practical approach to computation and its applications. It provides the theoretical foundation for software engineering. The video distinguishes between computer science and software engineering, noting that while computer science is concerned with the underlying theories and methods, software engineering is more focused on the practical application of these theories to solve real-world problems.

💡Software Development Models

Software development models are frameworks that outline the stages of development and the processes to be followed. The video discusses how software engineering is applied throughout various stages of software development, from concept exploration to retirement, and how different models can be used to structure these processes.

💡Retirement

In the context of the video, retirement refers to the phase where a software product is phased out and replaced with a newer version. It is part of the software lifecycle and is mentioned in the video as one of the stages where software engineering principles are applied, ensuring a smooth transition from an older product to a newer one.

Highlights

Software engineering is defined as the application of systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approaches to the development, operation, and maintenance of software.

Software engineering aims to design and build software to achieve specific goals using scientific principles.

The IEEE definition of software engineering emphasizes the application of engineering to software and the study of approaches to software development.

Approaches to building software should be systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable to ensure organization, efficiency, and measurability.

Software can be categorized into various types such as operating systems, drivers, embedded systems, compilers, and applications.

Software can be classified under commercial, open source, shareware, and freeware, each with its constraints, user base, and size.

Engineering involves developing the best solutions for a given context, being both effective and efficient.

Software engineers must understand the context of their situation or problem to pick the right solution.

Software engineering provides techniques for completing everyday tasks and predicting project costs and schedules.

Software engineering includes the challenge of managing intangible work and customer expectations for changes.

Software is built to evolve, and successful applications often continue to evolve long after the initial release.

Software engineering is based on three fundamental pillars: scientific support, mathematical foundation, and problem-solving approach.

The difference between software engineering and computer science lies in the focus on practical software production versus theoretical computer concepts.

Software engineering encompasses all steps from a vague idea to a powerful and intuitive solution that meets changing customer needs.

The stages of software development include concept exploration, requirements, design, construction, testing, installation, operation, maintenance, and retirement.

Software engineering is applied throughout the software's lifecycle, not just during development.

Different software development models exist, each with its techniques and tools, providing various possibilities for software development.

Transcripts

what is software

engineering hello everyone and Welcome

to our software engineering

series the definition of engineering is

the use of scientific principles to

design and build machines structures and

other items to achieve a goal therefore

software engineering uses scientific

principles to design and build software

to achieve a goal the software

engineering definition from i e is

software engineering one the application

of a systematic disciplined quantifiable

approach to the development operation

and maintenance of software that is the

application of engineering to

software two the study of approaches as

in one i e

6110.1 12-9

so there are many approaches to build

software each of them should be

systematic which means organized and

efficient disciplined which means

controlled quantifiable which means

measurable as we have to study each of

those approaches to know which approach

to apply to our specific situation there

are many ways to categorize software

operating systems drivers embedded

systems compilers applications like

desktop web mobile database media games

and more all these can be classified

under commercial open source shareware

and freeware each type of software has

its constraints user base and size

that's why it needs a particular way of

development knowledge brings theories

and solutions to the table however in

engineering not all solutions are

necessarily available or applicable to

your Project's context this is why

engineering's job to develop the best

solutions to the situation while being

effective and efficient and your job as

a software engineer is to understand the

context of your situation or problem and

pick the right solution

accordingly again don't limit yourself

to the current problems you face with

your company there will be a time when

you face different problems and you need

to be equipped with the right weapons to

attack those

problems software engineering exists to

help the software engineer

too use powerful and well accepted

techniques for completing everyday tasks

among

projects accurately predict cost and

schedule to complete our projects build

desirable characteristics in our

products like maintainability

reliability Etc one of the significant

differences between software engineering

and most other kinds of engineering is

that software is not tangible your

customer will not see the efforts done

during designing coding and testing the

software you might work for weeks

building the software's foundation that

the customer can't visually experience

that is why it seems to everyone that

it's easy to make changes to any

software part even after it is entirely

written you will hear me say many times

that software changes are inevitable in

software on the other side if you wait

until a bridge is finished and then ask

your structural engineer to add to extra

Lanes there's a good chance that

somebody will jump from that

bridge software engineering includes

more flexibility than many other fields

of engineering which increases

challenges software is built to evolve

actually successful applications often

continue to evolve long after the

initial release Microsoft Word for

example has been evolving for roughly 30

years we want such evolvement to be as

effective and efficient as possible Ive

means we want to achieve our goal and

efficient means we want it to happen

smoothly with the minimum effort minimum

cost and time any engineering discipline

is based on three fundamental

pillars one scientific support provided

by science two a mathematical Foundation

provided by math and three a problem

solving approach in software engineering

the scientific background comes from

computer science the math found

foundations come from discrete math and

the problem solving approach comes from

data structures algorithms Etc many of

you may ask about the difference between

software engineering and computer

science here's my answer to this eternal

question computer science is concered

with the theories and methods behind

computers hardware and software software

engineering is concerned with the

Practical problems of producing software

some knowledge of computer science is

essential for software Engineers

computer science theory however is often

more applicable to relatively small

programs computer science is rarely

relevant to large complex problems that

require a software solution software

engineering is everything you need to do

to produce successful software it

includes the steps that start with a

vague idea and turn it into a powerful

and intuitive solution that can be

enhanced to meet changing customer needs

for years to come stay pages of software

development could be concept exploration

an area where one would like to position

the product requirements design and

construction part of the standard

development phase testing installation

and checkout part of the system

validation process operation and

maintenance involve deploying the

product at customer sites and entering

the maintenance process by handling

customer issues and Performing

enhancement and fixes when needed

retirement phasing out the product and

introducing a newer one in its place

software engineering is applied not only

during software development but also

until the software's

retirement such stages are linked

together in many different ways

resulting in different software

development models within each stage the

software engineer performs different

activities again there are many

different ways to perform such tasks

resulting in different techniques each

activity can be done using different

tools the different models techniques

and tools provide us with many

possibilities to develop the software

our job here is to learn all our chances

to choose the right mix according to our

project context circumstances and

constraints