Re: Computer aided s/w engineering

[rgc@raybed2.UUCP (RICK CARLE)]

In article <2703@mmintl.UUCP>, franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) writes:
> A better definition of Software Engineering might be "tools & techniques for
> the design of computer programs".  It should be obvious that one can do
> program design without ever touching a computer.

But that too is a narrow definition of software engineering.  It is MUCH,
MUCH more than tools & techniques.
Software engineering is the application of computer science to build,
maintain, and manage software systems that solve control or
information-processing problems.  It is (or must become) an engineering
discipline, based in science and structured technique, that addresses
the complete software development process and software life-cycle
concerns.  Barry Boehm provided us with a useful definition:

	"Software engineering is the application of science and
	mathematics by which the capabilities of computer equipment
	are made useful to man via computer programs, procedures, and
	associated documentation."
	(Software Engineering Economics, Barry W. Boehm, Prentice-Hall,
	1981)

Rick Carle, Raytheon Co., rgc@raybed2.RAY.COM