Software Engineering - Old Questions

1. What is software? Discuss generic products and bespoke products with example. Discuss functional and non-functional system properties with example.

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.

Generic products and Bespoke products

Generic Products: These are stand-alone systems that are produced by a development organization and sold on the open market to any customer who is able to buy them. (i.e. developed to be sold to a range of different customers). e.g. Databases, Office packages, Drawing Packages etc.

Bespoke (custom) Products: These are the systems which are commissioned by a particular customer. A software contractor develops the software especially for that customer. (i.e. developed for a single customer according to their specification). e.g.: Control system for electronic device, software to support particular business process.

Functional and Non-functional system properties

Functional Property: These appear when all the parts of a system work together to achieve some objective. For example, a bicycle has the functional property of being a transportation device once it has been assembled from its components.

Non-functional Property: These relate to the behaviour of the system in its operational environment. They are often critical for computer-based systems as failure to achieve some minimal defined level in these properties may make the system unusable. Examples are reliability, performance, safety, and security.