Lecture 1: Review of the Software Engineering process

An engineering discipline whose focus is the cost-effective development of high-quality software systems

Software Engineering

An engineering discipline concerned with all aspects of software production from the early stages of system specification to maintaining the system after it has gone into use

Software Engineering

The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software

Software Engineering (per IEEE)

The first SDLC step where the user initiates a request, contacts a service provider, negotiates terms, and submits a written request

Communication

The phase where the software development team holds discussions with stakeholders to bring out and segregate as much information as possible on their requirements

Requirement Gathering

The step that analyzes if a project is financially, practically, and technologically feasible for the organization to take up

Feasibility Study

The step where developers decide a roadmap, choose a software model, and understand the software's limitations and impact on existing systems

System Analysis

The SDLC phase whose inputs are the requirements and whose outputs are the logical/system design and the physical/object design

Software Design

Also known as the programming phase, where developers write program code in a suitable language to create error-free executable programs

Coding

The phase where testing experts (not just developers) conduct module testing, program testing, product testing, in-house testing, and user-end testing

Testing

The stage involved in integrating software with libraries, databases, and programs from other software development teams

Integration

The phase where the software is installed on user machines, configured, and tested for portability and adaptability

Implementation

The phase that confirms software efficiency, involves user training via documentation, and includes timely updates and maintenance

Operation and Maintenance

The final SDLC phase involving archiving data, closing down the system, planning disposition activities, and terminating the system

Disposition

These serve as a guide for a systematic approach to software development

Software Process Models

Examples of these include the Waterfall model, Incremental model, Spiral model, RUP, the V model, and the Agile model

Software Process Models

A technical document describing a project's functionality, features, design, limitations, and goals, containing a use case suite and feature set

Software Requirements Specification (SRS)

In an SRS, these outline what the system must do

Functional Requirements

In an SRS, these outline how well the system performs its functions

Non-Functional Requirements

This forms the foundation of all software engineering layers, representing the organizational commitment

Quality

The "glue" that holds the technology layers together and enables rational and timely development; it forms the basis for project control

The Software Engineering Process

These provide the technical "how-to's," encompassing tasks like communication, requirements analysis, design modeling, program construction, testing, and support

Software Engineering Methods

These provide automated or semi-automated support for the process and methods; their integration creates a CASE system

Software Engineering Tools

The slide hints that in the first software engineering course, the primary focus was not on Tools, but on these two layers

Process and Methods

A collection of activities, actions, and tasks performed when some work product is to be created

A Process

Strives to achieve a broad objective (e.g., communication with stakeholders)

An Activity

Encompasses a set of tasks that produce a major work product (e.g., architectural design)

An Action

Focuses on a small, well-defined objective that produces a tangible outcome (e.g., conducting a unit test)

A Task

Establishes the foundation for a complete software engineering process by identifying framework activities applicable to all projects

The Software Engineering Process Framework

The framework activity whose intent is to understand stakeholder objectives and gather requirements before any technical work

Communication

The framework activity that creates a "map" describing technical tasks, risks, resources, work products, and a schedule

Planning

The framework activity where a software engineer creates a "sketch" or model to understand the big picture, architecture, and how parts fit together

Modeling

The framework activity that combines code generation and the testing required to uncover errors in the code

Construction

The framework activity where the software is delivered to the customer for evaluation and feedback

Deployment

Umbrella activities are applied throughout a software project to help manage and control these four things

Progress, Quality, Change, Risk

The umbrella activity that allows the team to assess progress against the project plan and take action to maintain the schedule

Software Project Tracking and Control

The umbrella activity that assesses risks that may affect the project outcome or product quality

Risk Management

The umbrella activity that defines and conducts activities required to ensure software quality

Software Quality Assurance

The umbrella activity that assesses work products to uncover and remove errors before they are propagated to the next activity

Technical Reviews

The umbrella activity that defines and collects process, project, and product measures. (Slide 38 lists 10 examples)

Measurement

From the list on Slide 38, this is an example of a measurement metric: "_________ Metrics" like those from Quality Assurance

QA Metrics

The umbrella activity that manages the effects of change throughout the software process

Software Configuration Management

The umbrella activity that defines criteria for work product reuse and establishes mechanisms to achieve reusable components

Reusability Management

The umbrella activity encompassing the creation of work products such as models, documents, logs, forms, and lists

Work Product Preparation and Production

The software engineering process should be agile and adaptable to these four factors

The problem, the project, the team, the organizational culture

Among the differences in adopted processes is the "Degree to which the _______ and other stakeholders are involved with the project"

Customer

The slide states that SEN02 will be about the process framework, quality focus, and the ________ control of software projects

management

One of the listed future discussion topics is "Process _________" which aims to enhance the software engineering process over time

Improvement

The module provides only one definitive, universal definition of software engineering

False

In the Communication phase, the request from the user can be verbal; a written request is optional

False

Requirement Gathering is performed solely by business analysts without developer involvement

False

The Feasibility Study assesses financial, practical, and technological feasibility

True

System Analysis only deals with the new system's features and ignores the existing systems

False

The two forms of output from the Software Design phase are "High-Level Design" and "Low-Level Design"

False

Coding and Testing are two distinct phases, and the same individuals typically perform both

False

Integration is only necessary for software that interacts with hardware components

False

Post-installation configuration is never required during the Implementation phase

False

The Disposition phase occurs when the software is first being designed and planned

False

The TCQ Triad is explicitly defined and explained in detail within this module

False

A well-written SRS has no bearing on the ultimate success or failure of a project

False

In the Software Engineering Layers model, "Tools" are depicted as the most important foundational layer

False

The software engineering process framework is a rigid, one-size-fits-all prescription

False

Umbrella activities, like Software Quality Assurance, are only performed at the end of a project

False

Measurement, as an umbrella activity, can include collecting metrics on customer satisfaction

True

The main reason given for needing to manage software projects is "because our teacher says so"

False

The module references specific textbooks by authors like Pressman and Tsui et al

True

Early discovery of program errors and applying their __________________ is key to reliable software

remedies

A Software Requirements Specification contains a use case suite and __________________ set

feature

Software engineering methods include modeling activities and other __________________

techniques

When tools are integrated so information flows between them, it establishes a system called ___________-aided software engineering

Computer

An action encompasses a set of __________________ that produce a major work product

tasks

The software project plan defines the software engineering work by describing the technical tasks, risks, resources, work products, and a work __________________

schedule

From the Measurement metrics list: "___________-Oriented Measurements" is item #5

Size

From the Measurement metrics list: "Defect ___________" is item #7

Metrics

From the Measurement metrics list: "___________ Request" is item #8

Pull

One difference in process adoption is the "Degree to which the ____________ organization and roles are prescribed"

team's

One question posed is: "How must people, process, and ____________ be managed during a software project?"

problem

A question asks: "How does a software team generate reliable estimates of effort, cost, and project ____________?"

duration

Another question asks about the importance of maintenance and ____________ for managers and practitioners

reengineering

One of the listed future topics is "Project ____________ and Scheduling"

Estimation

One of the listed future topics is "Maintenance and ____________"

Reengineering

The recap states that the process framework tries to establish its foundation with a number of main and ____________ activities

umbrella

One of the referenced textbooks is "Essentials of Software Engineering" by Tsui, Karam, and ____________

Bernal