Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!mahendo!wlbr!lonex.radc.af.mil!hawksk
From: hawksk@lonex.radc.af.mil (Kenneth B. Hawks)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: What is Software Engineering ???
Message-ID: <1991Apr11.115142.6595@lonex.radc.af.mil>
Date: 11 Apr 91 11:51:42 GMT
References: <1991Apr9.114709.7695@cc.curtin.edu.au>
Organization: RADC
Lines: 32

In article <1991Apr9.114709.7695@cc.curtin.edu.au> sschnellm@cc.curtin.edu.au writes:
>
>I would like to hear some personal opinions on the following
>question :
>
>   What is Software Engineering ???
>
>   Is it
>
>         1. Management of People,
>         2. Management of Software,
>         3. Management of Hardware,
>         4. Management of Specifications.
>
Software engineering is none of the four choices above!!!

As the word "engineering" should imply, it has nothing to do with management.
(This is not to imply that management has nothing to do with s/w engineering)

In its broadest sense, software engineering is the discipline of applying
engineering principles to the design and development of software.  Computer
software should not be an art form.  It should be engineered according to
accepted engineering standards and conventions.

In an industry that can't agree on the definition of a "computer" (for some
very good reasons), the methods and engineering principles are up for debate
and evolving.  I have yet to be able to go to my hardware store and buy the
universal solvent (it seems packaging it becomes a problem).  Likewise, I
haven't run into software engineering techniques that apply to every situation.

Ken Hawks
Rome Laboratory