Page 13 - DCAP405_SOFTWARE_ENGINEERING

Software Engineering

Notes Operating procedures comprise of instructions required to setup and use the software and
instructions on actions to be taken during failure. List of operating procedure manuals/
documents is given in Figure 1.5.

Figure 1.5: List of Operating Procedure Manuals
System overview

Operation Reference material
manuals

Operating Beginner’s guide
procedures
System administration guide
User
manuals
Installation guide

1.2.2 Software Engineering and Its Relationship with Other Disciplines

Any area that involves a sequence of steps (i.e. an algorithm) to generate output can make use of
software engineering. The nature of the software application depends upon two things: (1) the
form of incoming and outgoing information. Some business applications generate more complex
results then others and require more complex inputs. (2) The sequence and timing of the
information being used. A program that takes data in a predefined order, applies algorithms to
it and generates results is called a determinate program. On the other hand, the application that
accepts data from multiple users at varied timings, applies logic that can be interrupted by
external conditions, and generates results that vary according to time and environment are
called indeterminate. Although software application cannot be categorized, following areas
show the potential application of software in various breadths:

Real-time software: It refers to the software that controls the events and when they occur.
The data gatherer component of the software gathers the data and formats it into an
acceptable form. The analyzer component that transforms information as required by the
application. The output component that interacts with the external environment and the
monitoring component that coordinates with all the components to generate timely results.

Business software: It is the single largest area of software application. These areas use one
or more large databases for business information and reframe the information in such a
manner that facilitates business operations and decision making. For example, library
management, data inventory, HR management, etc.

System Software: It is the software program that interacts with the hardware components
so that other application software can run on it. Operating systems like Windows, Unix,
DOS, etc., are examples of the system software. Such type of software perform a wide
range of operations like allocation and distribution of memory amongst various computer
processes, process scheduling, resource scheduling, etc.

Embedded software: This software resides in the commodities for the consumer and industry
markets in the form of read-only memory devices. They perform limited functions e.g.
keypad of an automatic washing machine or significant functions as per requirement e.g.
dashboard functions in an aircraft.

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