Changing Nature of Software

Ms. Sunidhi Shrivastava

Assistant Professor
CSA Dept.
ITM University Gwalior
 Characteristic of software:
There is some characteristic of software which is given
below:
• Functionality
• Reliability
• Usability
• Efficiency
• Maintainability
• Portability
Changing Nature of Software:

Nowadays, seven broad categories of computer software

present continuing challenges for software engineers which
is given below:
 System Software:

System software is a collection of programs which are written to service

other programs. Some system software processes complex but
determinate, information structures. Other system application process
largely indeterminate data. Sometimes when, the system software area is
characterized by the heavy interaction with computer hardware that
requires scheduling, resource sharing, and sophisticated process
management.
 Examples
Windows XP
Windows 7
Windows 8
Mac oS
Linux
Unix
Android
Anti virus
Disk formatting
Computer language translators
 Application Software:
Application software is defined as programs that solve a
specific business need. Application in this area process
business or technical data in a way that facilitates business
operation or management technical decision making. In
addition to convention data processing application,
application software is used to control business function in
real time.
 Examples
Microsoft Office
Adobe photoshop
Audacity
Inkscape
Visual studio
VLC media player
Jet audio
Picasa
Google chrome
Tally
Engineering and Scientific Software:
This software is used to facilitate the engineering function
and task. however modern application within the
engineering and scientific area are moving away from the
conventional numerical algorithms. Computer-aided design,
system simulation, and other interactive applications have
begun to take a real-time and even system software
characteristic.
 Examples
• MATLAB
• AUTOCAD
• PSPICE
• ORCAD, etc.
 Embedded Software:
Embedded software resides within the system or product and
is used to implement and control feature and function for the
end-user and for the system itself. Embedded software can
perform the limited and esoteric function or provided
significant function and control capability.
 Examples
• Anti-lock braking systems found in automobiles
• Image processing systems found in medical imaging
equipment
• Fly-by-wire control systems found in aircraft
• Motion detection systems in security cameras
• Traffic control systems found in traffic lights
• Timing and automation systems found in smart home
devices
 Product-line Software:
Designed to provide a specific capability for
use by many different customers, product
line software can focus on the limited and
esoteric marketplace or address the mass
consumer market.
 Examples
The company's product lines include footwear, clothing, and
equipment. PepsiCo (PEP) owns, among many
other lines globally, Frito Lay, Gatorade, Quaker Oats, and
Tropicana. The various product lines for Starbucks
Corporation (SBUX) include coffee, ice cream, and
drinkware.
 Web Application:
It is a client-server computer program which the client runs on the web
browser. In their simplest form, Web apps can be little more than a set of
linked hypertext files that present information using text and limited
graphics. However, as e-commerce and B2B application grow in
importance. Web apps are evolving into a sophisticate computing
environment that not only provides a standalone feature, computing
function, and content to the end user.
 Examples
Web applications include online forms, shopping carts, word
processors, spreadsheets, video and photo editing, file
conversion, file scanning, and email programs such as Gmail,
Yahoo and AOL. Popular applications include Google
Apps and Microsoft 365.
 Benefits of a web application
• Web applications run on multiple platforms regardless of OS or
device as long as the browser is compatible
• All users access the same version, eliminating any compatibility
issues
• They are not installed on the hard drive, thus eliminating space
limitations
• They reduce software piracy in subscription-based web applications
(i.e. SaaS)
• They reduce costs for both the business and end user as there is
less support and maintenance required by the business and lower
requirements for the end user’s computer
Artificial Intelligence Software:
Artificial intelligence software makes use of a nonnumerical
algorithm to solve a complex problem that is not amenable to
computation or straightforward analysis. Application within
this area includes robotics, expert system, pattern recognition,
artificial neural network, theorem proving and game playing.
 Examples
• Manufacturing robots
• Smart assistants
• Proactive healthcare management
• Disease mapping
• Automated financial investing
• Virtual travel booking agent
• Social media monitoring
• Inter-team chat tool
• Conversational marketing bot
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools
 Software Evolution

The process of developing a software product using software

engineering principles and methods is referred to as software
evolution. This includes the initial development of software and
its maintenance and updates, till desired software product is
developed, which satisfies the expected requirements.
 Examples
Evolution starts from the requirement gathering process. After which
developers create a prototype of the intended software and show it to
the users to get their feedback at the early stage of software product
development. The users suggest changes, on which several consecutive
updates and maintenance keep on changing too. This process changes
to the original software, till the desired software is accomplished.
Even after the user has desired software in hand, the advancing
technology and the changing requirements force the software product
to change accordingly. Re-creating software from scratch and to go
one-on-one with requirement is not feasible. The only feasible and
economical solution is to update the existing software so that it
matches the latest requirements.
 Exercise
Q.What is computer software?
A. Computer software is a complete package, which includes software program, its
documentation and user guide on how to use the software.
Q.Can you differentiate computer software and computer program?
A. A computer program is piece of programming code which performs a well defined
task where as software includes programming code, its documentation and user
guide.
Q.What is software engineering?
A. Software engineering is an engineering branch associated with software system
development.
Q. What is software scope?

A. Software scope is a well-defined boundary, which encompasses all the activities that
are done to develop and deliver the software product.
The software scope clearly defines all functionalities and artifacts to be delivered as a part
of the software. The scope identifies what the product will do and what it will not do,
what the end product will contain and what it will not contain.
Q.When you know programming, what is the need to learn software
engineering concepts?
A. A person who knows how to build a wall may not be good at building
an entire house. Likewise, a person who can write programs may not
have knowledge of other concepts of Software Engineering. The
software engineering concepts guide programmers on how to assess
requirements of end user, design the algorithms before actual coding
starts, create programs by coding, testing the code and its documentation.
Q.What is software process or Software Development Life Cycle
(SDLC)?
A.Software Development Life Cycle, or software process is the
systematic development of software by following every stage in the
development process namely, Requirement Gathering, System Analysis,
Design, Coding, Testing, Maintenance and Documentation in that order.