Lesson 1: Introduction to Modern Software Engineering Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on Lesson 1: Introduction of Modern Software Engineering, covering core definitions, historical milestones, paradigm shifts, and practical activity designs.

Software

it is a system of learning, experimentation, and complexity management.

Scientific Thinking

An approach in software engineering based on observation, experimentation, and evidence-based decisions.

Engineering Discipline

A practice characterized by structured design, reliability, safety, and continuous improvement in software development.

Treating changes as experiments

when adding a new feature, observe the effect on performance or user behavior.

Controlling variables

fix test data, hardware environment, or random seeds when benchmarking.

Fast, reliable feedback

automated testing, continuous integration, and monitoring in production.

Software Engineering (Ford, 2022)

The application of an empirical, scientific approach to finding efficient, economic solutions to practical problems in software.

Empiricism

A key aspect of software engineering that bases design and decisions on experiments and data rather than opinions.

Efficiency

A key aspect of software engineering focused on producing solutions that optimize resources and time.

Economy

A key aspect of software engineering focused on reducing unnecessary cost, effort, or complexity.

Practicality

A key aspect of software engineering focused on solving real-world problems that matter.

Build → Measure → Learn

The key principle for making real progress through experimentation using the steps: Hypothesize, Test in small increments, Measure outcomes, and Decide.

Software Crisis

A period in the 1960s when software projects were frequently late, over budget, and error-prone, prompting the birth of software engineering.

1960s

A period in which the software crisis emerged, leading to significant changes in software development practices.

Margaret Hamilton

The MIT Apollo Program lead who coined the term "software engineering" and developed fault-tolerant systems for NASA's lunar missions.

1968 NATO Conference

The conference that hosted the first formal discussion of software engineering as a discipline, marking the transition from "programming as art" to "programming as engineering."

Old Paradigm of Software Engineering

A development approach defined by big upfront design (waterfall model), rigid requirements, long delivery cycles, and late failure discovery, operating under a "predict & control" mindset.

New Paradigm of Software Engineering

An adaptive development approach defined by empirical iteration, feedback, complexity management, and continuous delivery, operating under an "experiment & learn" mindset.

ElectricityCalculator Class

A Java class designed with the attribute units (int) and methods computeBill() and checkUsage(double bill), using the formula $\text{Bill} = \text{units} \times \text{rate}$ where rate is $12.5$ pesos per unit.

GradeCalculator Class

A Java class designed with attributes prelim (double), midterm (double), and finals (double), computing final grades via $\text{FinalGrade} = (\text{prelim} \times 0.30) + (\text{midterm} \times 0.30) + (\text{finals} \times 0.40)$.