Software Engineering - Old Questions

1. Differentiate between software and software engineering. What are the characteristics and components of software? Explain.

Software is an organized collection of computer programs and associated documentation. A software system consist of a number of several programs, configuration files which are used to set of these programs and system documentations which describe the structure of system and user documentation which explain how to use the software.

Software engineering is an engineering discipline that is concerned with all aspects of software production. Software engineering focus on cost effective development of high-quality software system. The result of software engineering is an effective and reliable software product.

Characteristics of software:

• Functionality: Refers to the degree of performance of the software against its intended purpose.

• Reliability: Refers to the ability of the software to provide desired functionality under the given conditions.

• Usability: Refers to the extent to which the software can be used with ease.

• Efficiency: Refers to the ability of the software to use system resources in the most effective and efficient manner.

• Maintainability: Refers to the ease with which the modifications can be made in a software system to extend its functionality, improve its performance, or correct errors.

• Portability: Refers to the ease with which software developers can transfer software from one platform to another, without (or with minimum) changes.

Components of Software:

There are three components of the software:

1. Program:
   A computer program is a list of instructions that tell a computer what to do.
2. Documentation:
   Source information about the product contained in design documents, detailed code comments, etc.
3. Operating Procedures:
   Set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations.