Software Engineering - Quality Focus, Process, Method and Tools

A computer software includes a set of programs that executes within a computer of any size and architecture, and data that are being processed by theprograms and presented to users as hard or soft copies.
- Software Engineering is a discipline that applies principles of engineering to the development of quality software in a timely and cost-effective manner.
- Software Engineering is viewed differently by different practitioners. It makes use of measurement and metrics to assess quality, not only of the software but also the software process.
- In layered technology, the foundation is total focus on quality.
- The process integrates the other layers together. It defines a framework that consists of key process areas that define and enable rational and timely delivery of the computer software.
- Methods define a systematic and orderly procedures of building software. Methodology is the science of systematic thinking using the methods orprocedures used in a particular discipline.
Structured methodology includes Information Engineering, Software Development Life Cycle/Project Life Cycle, Rapid Application Development Methodology, Joint Application Development Methodology, CASE Method.
Object-oriented Methodologies include Booch Method, Coad and Yourdan Method, Jacobson Method, Rumbaugh Method and Wirfs-Brock Method.
- Tools provide support to the process and methods. They may be automated or semi-automated. Most tools are used to develop models. Models are patterns of something to made or they are simplification of things. There are two models that are generally developed by system model is an inexpensive representation of a complex system that one needs to study while a software model is a blueprint of the software that needs to be built.
Structured Approach Modeling Tools include Entity-relationship Diagrams, Data Flow Diagrams, Structured English or Pseudo-codes, Flow Charts.
Object-oriented Approach Modeling Tools include Unified Modeling Language (UML).