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.