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CS 501: Software Engineering Fall 2000

This lecture discusses the Y2K problem and how it highlighted issues with software engineering. It also argues that software engineering should be considered a true engineering discipline like other fields. The key points are: 1) The Y2K bug occurred because dates stored with only two digits became ambiguous after 1999, risking widespread computer failures on January 1, 2000 if unaddressed. Fixing the problem was difficult due to the vast amount of existing code and lack of documentation. 2) The Y2K problem demonstrated issues with how complex, interdependent software systems were developed and validated without sufficient understanding of interactions. 3) For software engineering to be a true engineering field, it requires establishing best practices, rigorous and

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86 views22 pages

CS 501: Software Engineering Fall 2000

This lecture discusses the Y2K problem and how it highlighted issues with software engineering. It also argues that software engineering should be considered a true engineering discipline like other fields. The key points are: 1) The Y2K bug occurred because dates stored with only two digits became ambiguous after 1999, risking widespread computer failures on January 1, 2000 if unaddressed. Fixing the problem was difficult due to the vast amount of existing code and lack of documentation. 2) The Y2K problem demonstrated issues with how complex, interdependent software systems were developed and validated without sufficient understanding of interactions. 3) For software engineering to be a true engineering field, it requires establishing best practices, rigorous and

Uploaded by

iamumpidi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CS 501: Software Engineering Fall 2000

Lecture 27
Software Engineering as Engineering

Administration

Early examination: send email to: [email protected]

The Y2K Problem: Saving Memory

In 1967 memory cost $1 per byte The Air Force used single digit dates If 2-digit dates saved 1% of memory... savings over 20 years $16 to $24 million per gigabyte

The Y2K Problem: Saving Memory


By 1980s, memory was much cheaper, but 2-digit dates were standard. Why incur the cost of changing standards? 1970 The mortgage industry 1990 The Social Security Industry moved towards 4-digit dates On January 1, 2000 2-digit dates stopped working!

Where's the Problem?


A simple bug: dates of the form 19xx have been encoded xx A simple fix: find every occurrence of the bug modify the code recompile Where's the problem?

Find Every Occurrence ...


What computers do we use? data processing control embedded systems personal devices
What programs do they run? in-house development packages and libraries firmware, microcode, hardware Who wrote this program? Where is the source code?

Where's the Problem?

Computers fail everyday. What's special about this bug? What if they all fail at the same time?

What if we lose telephone, electricity, radio, etc.?


Traffic signals, elevators, The greatest worry was uncertainty.

Social Consequences
Worry creates its own problems: Wal-Mart forecast lower profits in Q1 2000 Legislation to limit law suits Opportunities for computer fraud and sabotage Trading partners

Organizational Procedures
Ostrich => do nothing => buy insurance

Bureaucratic => fill in forms that programs are compliant


Subcontract => hire Y2K specialists Do it yourself => in-house computing department

Y2K Validation
Request from Library of Congress to confirm that our code is Y2K compliant: Our code is fine .... but it depends on ... which depends on ... Yes. Our code is fine. Request from DARPA to confirm that our code is Y2K compliant: It's been validated by another part of the US government Thank you!

Technical Strategies
Replace noncompliant applications with compliant ones (e.g., new versions of packages) Repair noncompliant applications (e.g., in-house applications) Terminate noncompliant programs on an as-needed basis

Mask the data exchange between applications


Object code interception

New Bugs

If it's not broke don't fix it. 10 billion lines of code checked (often automatically)

10 million new bugs introduced accidentally


?? security holes, errors, etc. introduced accidentally or deliberately

Is all the Money Going to Y2K?


Y2K as a great excuse to have the computing budget increased: Upgrade the operating system

Replace the old package


Sell something to your customers What boss will turn turn a request for Y2K funds? What systems administrators will not install Y2K upgrades?

Profiteering

Buy gold, wood stoves, bottled water

Y2K specialists Pundits, consultants, writers Religious cranks

Final Thoughts on Y2K

We create computer systems that are more complex than our understanding of them: We over estimate our ability to validate systems

We under estimate our ability to adapt and respond


Software engineering usually thinks of systems as independent.

Will the long-term benefit of the Y2K problem be a greater understanding of how software systems interact with each other and with our social systems?

The Need for Software Engineering

Software as a product: => Awkward to use => Full of errors => No chance to try it out => No guarantees

Not much of a product

What is Engineering?

What is Engineering?

The profession of: ... creating cost-effective solutions ... ... to practical problems ... ... by applying scientific knowledge ... ... and established practices ... ... building things ... and taking responsibility for them!

Crafts, Science, Engineering

Science

Production
Commercial Craft

Professional Engineering

From: Shaw and Garlan

Crafts, Science, Engineering


algorithms data structures
Science Production compiler construction

software development methodologies Commercial

Professional Engineering

Craft

From: Shaw and Garlan

Software Engineering as Engineering?

Part craft -- part engineering Embryonic scientific basis Evolving body of knowledge

Too much flux for the apparatus of a profession (e.g., accreditation) Example: Texas and the ACM

The End

Good process leads to good software: the limits of heroic efforts

Minimize risks:
visible process function v. time v. cost

The importance of people


Requirements, requirements, requirements!

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