Software engineering

COMSATS University Islamabad

 The economies of ALL developed nations are

dependent on software.
 More and more systems are software controlled
Chapter 1- Introduction
 Software engineering is concerned with theories,
methods and tools for professional software
development.
Lecture 1
 Expenditure on software represents a
significant fraction of GNP (Gross National Product) in all Dr. Mahmood Qureshi Hashmi
developed countries. Assistant Professor

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Software costs Topics covered

 Software costs often dominate computer system costs.  Professional software development
The costs of software on a PC are often greater than the ▪ What is meant by software engineering.
hardware cost.
 Software engineering ethics
 Software costs more to maintain than it does to develop. ▪ A brief introduction to ethical issues that affect software
For systems with a long life, maintenance costs may be engineering.
several times development costs.  Case studies
 Software engineering is concerned with cost-effective ▪ An introduction to an example that is used in later chapters in the
software development. book.

Chapter 1 Introduction 2
Essential attributes of good software Software products

Product characteristic Description  Generic products

Maintainability Software should be written in such a way so that it can evolve to ▪ Stand-alone systems that are marketed and sold to any
meet the changing needs of customers. This is a critical attribute customer who wishes to buy them.
because software change is an inevitable requirement of a
changing business environment. ▪ Examples – PC software such as graphics programs, project
Dependability and Software dependability includes a range of characteristics management tools; CAD software; software for specific markets
security including reliability, security and safety. Dependable software such as appointments systems for dentists.
should not cause physical or economic damage in the event of
system failure. Malicious users should not be able to access or
damage the system.
 Customized products
Efficiency Software should not make wasteful use of system resources such ▪ Software that is commissioned by a specific customer to meet
as memory and processor cycles. Efficiency therefore includes
responsiveness, processing time, memory utilisation, etc.
their own needs.
Acceptability Software must be acceptable to the type of users for which it is
▪ Examples – embedded control systems, air traffic control
designed. This means that it must be understandable, usable and software, traffic monitoring systems.
compatible with other systems that they use.

Chapter 1 Introduction 7 Chapter 1 Introduction 5

Frequently asked questions about software

Software engineering engineering (1/2)

 Software engineering is an engineering discipline that is Question Answer

What is software? Computer programs and associated documentation.
concerned with all aspects of software production from Software products may be developed for a particular
the early stages of system specification through to customer or may be developed for a general market.
What are the attributes of good software? Good software should deliver the required functionality
maintaining the system after it has gone into use. and performance to the user and should be
maintainable, dependable and usable.
 Engineering discipline What is software engineering? Software engineering is an engineering discipline that is
concerned with all aspects of software production.
▪ Using appropriate theories and methods to solve problems
What is the difference between software Computer science focuses on theory and fundamentals;
bearing in mind organizational and financial constraints. engineering and computer science? software engineering is concerned with the practicalities
of developing and delivering useful software.
 All aspects of software production What are the costs of software Roughly 60% of software costs are development costs,
engineering? 40% are testing costs. For custom software, evolution
▪ Not just technical process of development. Also project costs often exceed development costs.
management and the development of tools, methods etc. to
support software production.

Chapter 1 Introduction 8 Chapter 1 Introduction 6

Application types (1/3) Software process activities

 Stand-alone applications  Software specification, where customers and engineers

▪ These are application systems that run on a local computer, such define the software that is to be produced and the
as a PC. They include all necessary functionality and do not constraints on its operation.
need to be connected to a network.
 Software development, where the software is designed
 Interactive transaction-based applications and programmed.
▪ Applications that execute on a remote computer and are
accessed by users from their own PCs or terminals. These  Software validation, where the software is checked to
include web applications such as e-commerce applications. ensure that it is what the customer requires.
 Embedded control systems  Software evolution, where the software is modified to
▪ These are software control systems that control and manage reflect changing customer and market requirements.
hardware devices. Numerically, there are probably more
embedded systems than any other type of system.

Chapter 1 Introduction 11 Chapter 1 Introduction 9

Application types (2/3) Software engineering diversity

 Batch processing systems  There are many different types of software system and
▪ These are business systems that are designed to process data there is no universal set of software techniques that is
in large batches. They process large numbers of individual inputs applicable to all of these.
to create corresponding outputs.
 The software engineering methods and tools used
 Entertainment systems depend on the type of application being developed, the
▪ These are systems that are primarily for personal use and which requirements of the customer and the background of the
are intended to entertain the user. development team.
 Systems for modelling and simulation
▪ These are systems that are developed by scientists and
engineers to model physical processes or situations, which
include many, separate, interacting objects.

Chapter 1 Introduction 12 Chapter 1 Introduction 10

 Web software engineering Application types (3/3)

 Software reuse is the dominant approach for constructing  Data collection systems
web-based systems. ▪ These are systems that collect data from their environment using
 Web-based systems should be developed and delivered a set of sensors and send that data to other systems for
processing.
incrementally.
▪ It is now generally recognized that it is impractical to specify all the
 Systems of systems
requirements for such systems in advance. ▪ These are systems that are composed of a number of other
software systems.
 User interfaces are constrained by the capabilities of web
browsers.
▪ Technologies such as AJAX allow rich interfaces to be created within
a web browser but are still difficult to use. Web forms with local
scripting are more commonly used.

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Software engineering ethics Software engineering and the web

 Software engineering involves wider responsibilities than  The Web is now a platform for running application and
simply the application of technical skills. organizations are increasingly developing web-based
systems rather than local systems.
 Software engineers must behave in an honest and
ethically responsible way if they are to be respected as  Web services (discussed in Chapter 19) allow application
professionals. functionality to be accessed over the web.
 Ethical behaviour is more than simply upholding the law  Cloud computing is an approach to the provision of
but involves following a set of principles that are morally computer services where applications run remotely on
correct. the ‘cloud’.
▪ Users do not buy software buy pay according to use.

Chapter 1 Introduction 14
ACM/IEEE Code of Ethics Issues of professional responsibility

 The professional societies in the US have cooperated to  Confidentiality

produce a code of ethical practice. ▪ Engineers should normally respect the confidentiality of their
employers or clients irrespective of whether or not a formal
 Members of these organisations sign up to the code of confidentiality agreement has been signed.
practice when they join.
 Competence
 The Code contains eight Principles related to the
▪ Engineers should not misrepresent their level of competence.
behaviour of and decisions made by professional They should not knowingly accept work which is outwith their
software engineers, including practitioners, educators, competence.
managers, supervisors and policy makers, as well as
trainees and students of the profession.

The ACM/IEEE Code of Ethics

Ethical principles Issues of professional responsibility

1. PUBLIC - Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.  Intellectual property rights
2. CLIENT AND EMPLOYER - Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best ▪ Engineers should be aware of local laws governing the use of
interests of their client and employer consistent with the public interest. intellectual property such as patents, copyright, etc. They should
3. PRODUCT - Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related be careful to ensure that the intellectual property of employers
modifications meet the highest professional standards possible.
and clients is protected.
4. JUDGMENT - Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their
professional judgment.  Computer misuse
5. MANAGEMENT - Software engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and
promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and
▪ Software engineers should not use their technical skills to
maintenance. misuse other people’s computers. Computer misuse ranges from
6. PROFESSION - Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the relatively trivial (game playing on an employer’s machine, say) to
profession consistent with the public interest. extremely serious (dissemination of viruses).
7. COLLEAGUES - Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.
8. SELF - Software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of
their profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession.

Chapter 1 Introduction 20
Insulin pump control system Ethical dilemmas

 Collects data from a blood sugar sensor and calculates  Disagreement in principle with the policies of senior
the amount of insulin required to be injected. management.
 Calculation based on the rate of change of blood sugar  Your employer acts in an unethical way and releases a
levels. safety-critical system without finishing the testing of the
system.
 Sends signals to a micro-pump to deliver the correct
dose of insulin.  Participation in the development of military weapons
systems or nuclear systems.
 Safety-critical system as low blood sugars can lead to
brain malfunctioning, coma and death; high-blood sugar
levels have long-term consequences such as eye and
kidney damage.

Chapter 1 Introduction 23

Insulin pump hardware architecture Case studies

 A personal insulin pump

▪ An embedded system in an insulin pump used by diabetics to
maintain blood glucose control.

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Activity model of the insulin pump

Chapter 1 Introduction 25

Essential high-level requirements

 The system shall be available to deliver insulin when

required.
 The system shall perform reliably and deliver the correct
amount of insulin to counteract the current level of blood
sugar.
 The system must therefore be designed and
implemented to ensure that the system always meets
these requirements.

Chapter 1 Introduction 26