CIS 375 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

CIS 375 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

University Of Michigan-Dearborn

Dr. Bruce Maxim, Instructor

Software Engineering Is:

Structured Methodology.

Object Oriented Analysis / Object Oriented Design.

User Interface Design.

(Up to 80% of code may be for the user interface alone).

Why Is Software Engineering Important?

To avoid costly errors caused by software (such as):

The lost Voyager Spacecraft.

One incorrect line of code caused it to fly off into space uncontrollably.

3 Mile Island.

Poor user interface design (green = close; red = open), caused operator confusion.

Several people killed by a radiation machine.

Due to a poor user interface.

Commercial aircraft accidentally shot down.

Due to poor user interface.

Historical System Implementation Costs:

Why Has Structured Design Become So Important?

Characteristics Of Software Designers:

They tend to suffer from "not invented here syndrome"

(If they didn’t create the problem they cannot fix it).

80% of their errors can be discovered through simple "peer review".

Software Characteristics:

Software is developed or engineered, not manufactured.

Software doesn’t "wear-out".

Most software is custom built, not assembled from components.