MIDTERM TUTORIALS

Question 1

Define software in detail !

Answer 1

Software is an intangible product that is built by software professionals for a particular market or general market and consists of instructions, data structures, and documentation.

• Instructions (computer programs) that, when executed provide desire features, functions, and performance
• Data structures that enable the programs to adequately store and manipulate information adequately store and manipulate information and
  -Documentation that describes the operation and use of the programs

Question 2

Describe the differences between Software Engineering and Software Engineer.

Answer 2

Software Engineering: This is an engineering discipline concerned with all aspects of software production. It involves the establishment and use of sound engineering principles to economically obtain software that is reliable and works efficiently on real machines. It covers the entire lifecycle, from initial system specification through to maintaining the system after it has gone into use. It’s not just about the technical process of development but also includes project management, and the development of tools and methods to support software production.

Software Engineer: A software engineer is an individual who applies the principles and practices of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software systems. They are the practitioners who develop solutions for application-specific problems for clients, using computers, programming languages, tools, techniques, and methods. They work in multiple application domains and are responsible for creating the software products.

In essence, Software Engineering is the discipline and process, while a Software Engineer is the professional who practices that discipline.

Question 3

Dr. Koh asked SmartDeveloper to develop a medical system for his clinic, but he does not want to spend much. SmartDeveloper advised him to purchase an existing medical management system at a lower cost and utilize all the features provided to minimize expenses.

Answer 3

Based on the situation, the type of software product SmartDeveloper advised Dr. Koh to purchase is a Generic Product.

Here’s why, along with two features:

Type of Software Product: Generic Product. These are stand-alone systems that are developed for a general market and sold to any customer who wishes to buy them. An “existing medical management system” fits this description as it’s likely designed to cater to the common needs of many clinics, rather than being custom-built for Dr. Koh’s specific, unique requirements.

Two Features of Generic Products relevant to the scenario:

Lower Initial Cost: As SmartDeveloper advised, purchasing an existing system is at a “lower cost.” This is a key characteristic of generic products because the development costs are spread across many customers, making the individual purchase price more affordable compared to developing a custom solution from scratch.

Readily Available Features: SmartDeveloper advised Dr. Koh to “utilize all the features provided.” Generic products come with a pre-defined set of functionalities designed to cover common needs within their target market (in this case, medical clinics). While not every feature might be used, the system is ready to use “off-the-shelf” with a broad range of capabilities.

Question 4

Explain FIVE activities of a generic process framework.

Answer 4

• Communications : communicate with customers to understand objectives and requirements
• Planning creates a “map” to define the work by describing the tasks, risks, and resources, work products, and work schedule.
• Modeling creates a “sketch”, what it looks like architecturally and how the constituent parts fit together and other characteristics.
• Construction: code generation and the testing
• Deployment : delivered to the customer who evaluates the product and provides feedback based on the evaluation