Questions and answers for introduction in Software Engineering module (semester 4).

1. Software Engineering
1 - Introduction

2. Name the fundamental software engineering
activities?
• Specification
• Development
• Validation
• Evolution

3. What is the difference between Software
engineering and Computer science?
• Computer science – focuses on theories and fundamentals
• Software engineering – focuses on practicalities in developing and
delivering software

4. What is the difference between Software
engineering and System engineering?
• System engineering – all aspects of computer system engineering ;
hardware, software and process engineering
• Software engineering – a part of system engineering

5. What are key challenges to Software engineering?
• Developing trustworthy software
• Demand for reduced delivery time
• Increasing diversity

6. Name three issues that affect software?
• Heterogeneity = software being distributed systems; desktop and
phone
• Security and trust
• Business and social change

7. What are costs of Software engineering?
Develoment
Cost
60%
Testing Cost
40%
Costs
Develoment Cost
Testing Cost
Evolution cost > Development cost

8. Name four attributes of good software?
• Maintainability
• Dependability and security
• Efficiency
• Acceptability

9. Name three significant factors important in
designing web based systems?
• Reusing existing software
• Incremental development and delivery (Impractical to specify all
requirements in advance)
• User interface design is constrained by browser capabilities