Software, Software Engineering and Software Processes

Part 1

Software (To the hardware)

A collection of instructions to be executed by a computer/processor.

Software (To the developer)

A collection of human-readable statements (in a language) that can be converted to a collection of instructions to be executed by a computer/processor.

Program

A piece of software that can run on its own (utilities, tools, scripts, apps, etc...).

Sub-Program

A collection of instructions/statements that implement an algorithm to accomplish specific tasks

Library

A group of related sub-programs for accomplishing a specific collection of (usually related) tasks.

Software product

One or more programs, sub-programs, or libraries, along with the data and supporting materials and services, that a client can use to solve problems or achieve goals.

Bespoke software products

Products that are developed for a specific client (usually under contract)

Generic software product

Products that are developed (usually speculatively) and then sold to market clients of either a mass market or niche market

Computer Engineering

Application of theories to the creation of computational devices (usually thought of as a subset of other electrical and electronic engineering)

Computer Science

The theories and methods that underlie computation and use of computational devices

System

A set of entities, their attributes, and the relationships between them

Entities

The components of the system that are known/observed

Attributes

The properties of the entities (external manifestations of the way the objects are known or observed)

Relationships

The bonds that link objects and attributes

Abstract (verb)

To extract what is important

Environment

The set of all other systems (also known as the context and the domain)

Subsystems

Parts of the whole which display a richness of interrelationships

Elements/atoms

The smallest parts of the system

System State

An unvarying description or summary of that system

Model

A description of a system (that is created to help understand the system)

Static/Structural model

Models of the aspects of the system that do not change

Dynamic/Behavioral model

Models of how the system changes over time