Software Engineering
What is Software Engineering?
- Software engineering is a branch of computer science that entails the systematic design, development, operation and maintenance of software systems.
- Software engineering is key to devising efficient, reliable solutions for the ever-evolving computing challenges in the world today.
- With a focal point on software quality, software engineering incorporates several sub-disciplines such as requirements engineering, software design, software construction, software testing, and software maintenance.
- Crucial concepts in software engineering include modularity, reusability, maintainability, reliability, and efficiency.
Software Development
- Software development is the process of designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components.
- It requires the application of engineering principles and systematic approaches to develop software that is robust, efficient and bug-free.
- Various methodologies can be used in software development, including Waterfall, Agile, Spiral, and Scrum.
Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
- The Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is a series of stages that software goes through, from its initial concept to maintenance after deployment.
- SDLC encompasses the stages of planning, analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
- Each stage of the SDLC is crucial to the successful development of high-quality software.
Software Testing
- Software testing is the process of evaluating a software product to detect differences between given input and expected output.
- It is a crucial step in the SDLC as it helps to identify bugs, errors or missing requirements that contradict the actual requirements.
- Software testing methods broadly divide into white box (structure-based), black box (behavioral), and grey box (combination of white box and black box).
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a computer programming model that uses objects and classes to create programs.
- In OOP, an object is an instance of a class, and a class is a template from which objects are created.
- The four main principles of OOP are encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.
Software Maintenance
- Software maintenance involves modifying and updating software applications after delivery to enhance performance, correct defects, and adapt to changes in the environment or requirements.
- It is an important aspect of software engineering because it ensures that the software continues to meet user needs and operate effectively over time.
- Types of software maintenance include corrective, adaptive, perfective, and preventive maintenance.