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Why is Software Engineering important?

Complex systems need a disciplined approach for designing,

developing and managing them.
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Attributes of good software

 Functional attributes (performance; what the system does).

 Non-functional attributes (quality; how the system does it).

Product Characteristic Description

Maintainability Evolution qualities such as Testability, extensibility.
Dependability Reliability, security, safety.
Efficiency Response time, processing time, memory utilization.
Usability Easy to learn how to use the system by target users.
Efficient to use the system by users to accomplish a task.
Satisfying to use by intended users.
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Challenges facing software engineering

Challenge Why? Software needs to ..

Different computers, different

Heterogeneity platforms, different support systems.
Cope with this variability.

Businesses are more responsive

Be delivered in shorter time
Delivery  supporting software needs to
without compromising quality.
evolve as rapidly.

Software is a part of many aspects of

Demonstrate that it can be
Trust our lives (work, study, leisure).
trusted by users.
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 Configuration management
• New versions of software systems are created as they change:
– For different machines/OS;
– Offering different functionality;
– Tailored for particular user requirements.
• Configuration management is concerned with managing
evolving software systems:
– System change is a team activity;
– CM aims to control the costs and effort involved in making changes to
the software system and associated documentation.
 Configuration management
• Involves the development and application of
procedures and standards to manage an
evolving software product.
• CM may be part of a more general quality
management process.
• When released to CM, software systems are
sometimes called baselines as they are a
starting point for further development.
Software Metrics

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 Classification of Metrics

Examples of Metrics; Kilo lines of Code, Function

Point Analysis

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