Introduction to Software Engineering

An Introduction to Software Construction Techniques for Industrial Strength Software.

1.1 Introduction
Software engineering is an interesting subject. In order to understand this subject we will
need to look at a number of examples and case studies. And we will need to see how we
can develop good software and how it could be improved in different scenarios? Before
we move on to software engineering we need to understand what software actually is.

:::...What is Software?

When we write a program for computer we named it as software. But software is not just a program; many things other than the program are also included in software. Some of the constituted items of software are described below.

• Program: The program or code itself is definitely included in the software.
• Data: The data on which the program operates is also considered as part of the software.
• Documentation: Another very important thing that most of us forget is documentation. 
• All the documents related to the software are also considered as part of the software.

So the software is not just the code written in Cobol, Java, Fortran or C++. It also includes the data and all the documentation related to the program.

Why is it important?

Undoubtedly software is playing a vital role in all the field of life these days. We can see
many software applications being operated around us in our daily routine.

Some of the major areas in which software has played an important role are identified as
under.

• Business decision-making: Software systems have played a major role in businesses where you have to analyze your data and on the basis of that analysis you have to make business decisions. This process of data analysis and decision-making has become very accurate and easy by the use of software.
• Modern scientific investigation and engineering problem solving: Scientific investigations and engineering problem solving require an intensive amount of calculations and data analysis. The accuracy of these analyses is also very important
  in scientific applications. This process has become very easy and accurate by the use
  of software. For example software systems are becoming more involved in bioinformatics and the process of DNA decoding is only possible by the use of software systems. Similarly many astronomical observations are being recorded and analyzed by the software systems these day.
• Games: We see many computer games these days that interests people of all ages. All these games are drive through software systems.
• Embedded systems: We see many kinds of gadgets being employed in our daily used things, like small micro controllers used in our cars, televisions, microwave ovens etc. All these systems are controlled through the software.

Similarly in many other fields like education, office automation, Internet applications etc, software is being used. Due to its central importance and massive use in many fields it is contributing a lot in terms of economic activity started by the software products. Billions and trillions of dollars are being invested in this field throughout the world every year.

Engineering

Before moving on to software engineering lets first discuss something about engineering
itself. If you survey some of the dictionaries then you will find the following definition of
engineering.

“The process of productive use of scientific knowledge is called engineering.”

Next post will be 1.2 will discuss about Difference Between Computer Science and Software Engineering.