Software engineers affect society by creating applications. These applications produce value for users, and sometimes produce disasters. List of software engineering topics - Applications. Software engineers build applications that people use. Applications influence software engineering by pressuring developers to solve problems in new ways. For example, consumer software emphasizes low cost, medical software emphasizes high quality, and Internet commerce software emphasizes rapid development. < ...

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List of software engineering topics, List of software engineering topics - Influence on society, List of software engineering topics - Applications, List of software engineering topics - Disasters, List of software engineering topics - Technologies and practices, List of software engineering topics - Software engineering topics, List of software engineering topics - Computer science topics, List of software engineering topics - Mathematics topics, List of software engineering topics - Life cycle phases, List of software engineering topics - Deliverables, List of software engineering topics - Business roles, List of software engineering topics - Management topics, List of software engineering topics - Business topics, List of software engineering topics - Community topics, List of software engineering topics - Pioneers, List of software engineering topics - Notable publications, List of software engineering topics - Professional topics, List of software engineering topics - Odds and ends, List of software engineering topics - Related fields, List of software engineering topics - Different languages, List of software engineering topics - Miscellaneous and to do

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In information technology and telecommunications, the term configuration management or configuration control has the following meanings: The management of security features and assurances through control of changes made to hardware, software, firmware, documentation, test, test fixtures and test documentation of an automated information system, throughout the development and operational life of a system. Source Code Management or revision control is part of this. The control of changes--inclu ...

Including:

• Configuration management - Products for software configuration management SCM
• Configuration management - Sites for configuration management
• Configuration management - Source

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IDEs initially became necessary when doing development in front of console or terminal. Early languages did not have one, since they were prepared using flowcharts, coding forms, and keypunches before being submitted to a compiler. BASIC was the first language to be created with an IDE (and was also the first to be designed for use while sitting in front of a console or terminal). Its IDE (part of the Dartmouth Time Sharing System) was command-based, and therefore didn't look much like the menu-driven, graphical IDEs of today. However it seamlessly integrated editing, file management, compilation, debu ...

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Integrated development environment, Integrated development environment - History, Integrated development environment - Visual programming, Integrated development environment - Arguments

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GUIs that are not PUIs are most notably found in computer games, and advanced GUIs based on virtual reality are now frequently found in research. Many research groups in North America and Europe are currently working on the Zooming User Interface or ZUI, which is a logical advancement on the GUI, blending some 3D movement with 2D or "2 and a half D" vectorial objects. Some GUIs are designed for the rigorous requirements of vertical markets. These are known as "application specific GUIs." One example of such an application specific GUI ...

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Graphical user interface, Graphical user interface - Types of GUIs, Graphical user interface - GUI vs. CLI

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GUIs that are not PUIs are most notably found in computer games, and advanced GUIs based on virtual reality are now frequently found in research. Many research groups in North America and Europe are currently working on the Zooming User Interface or ZUI, which is a logical advancement on the GUI, blending some 3D movement with 2D or "2 and a half D" vectorial objects. Some GUIs are designed for the rigorous requirements of vertical markets. These are known as "application specific GUIs." One example of such an application specific GUI ...

See also:

Graphical user interface, Graphical user interface - Types of GUIs, Graphical user interface - GUI vs. CLI, Graphical user interface - 3D user interfaces, Graphical user interface - Humor

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For a typical shrink-wrap application, the spiral model might mean that you have a rough-cut of user elements (without the pretty graphics) as an operable application, add features in phases, and, at some point, add the final graphics. The Spiral model is used most often in large projects (by companies such as IBM and Microsoft) and needs constant review to stay on target. For smaller projects, the concept of agile software development is becoming a viable alternative. Agile software development tends to be rat ...

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Spiral model, Spiral model - Applications in Software, Spiral model - Spiral Model in use, Spiral model - Advantages

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Though terms like 'quality engineering' and 'quality assurance' are relatively new, the ideas have existed just as long as the very art of tool manufacture. Simple tools made of rock or bone were subject to familiar modes of failure. They could be fragile, dull where they should be sharp, sharp where they should be dull, etc. When the first specialized craftsmen arose, manufacturing tools for others, the principle of quality control was simple: "let the buyer beware" (caveat emptor). The first civil engineering projects, however, needed to be built to specifications. Qualit ...

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Quality control, Quality control - History, Quality control - Craft and tradespersons, Quality control - Wartime production, Quality control - Postwar, Quality control - Quality assurance, Quality control - Failure testing, Quality control - Statistical control, Quality control - Company quality, Quality control - Total quality control, Quality control - External links, Quality control - References

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The electronics usually uses either a microprocessor or a microcontroller. Some large or old systems use general-purpose mainframe computers or minicomputers. Embedded system - User interfaces. User interfaces for embedded systems vary widely, and thus deserve some special comment. Interface designers at PARC, Apple Computer, Boeing and HP discovered the principle that one should minimize the number of types of user actions. In embedded systems ...

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Embedded system, Embedded system - History, Embedded system - Examples of embedded systems, Embedded system - Characteristics, Embedded system - Design of embedded systems, Embedded system - User interfaces, Embedded system - Platform, Embedded system - Tools, Embedded system - Debugging, Embedded system - Operating system, Embedded system - Built-In Self-Test, Embedded system - Reliability regimes, Embedded system - Start-up, Embedded system - Types of embedded software architectures, Embedded system - The control loop, Embedded system - Nonpreemptive multitasking, Embedded system - Preemptive timers, Embedded system - Preemptive tasks, Embedded system - Office-style operating systems, Embedded system - Exotic custom operating systems

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The electronics usually uses either a microprocessor or a microcontroller. Some large or old systems use general-purpose mainframe computers or minicomputers. Embedded system - User interfaces. User interfaces for embedded systems vary wildly, and thus deserve some special comment. Interface designers at PARC, Apple Computer, Boeing and HP minimize the number of types of user actions. For example, their systems use two buttons (the absolute minimum) to control a menu system (just to be clear, one button should be "next men ...

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Embedded system, Embedded system - History, Embedded system - Examples of embedded systems, Embedded system - Characteristics, Embedded system - Design of embedded systems, Embedded system - User interfaces, Embedded system - Platform, Embedded system - Tools, Embedded system - Operating system, Embedded system - Built-In Self-Test, Embedded system - Reliability regimes, Embedded system - Debugging, Embedded system - Start-up, Embedded system - Types of embedded software architectures, Embedded system - The control loop, Embedded system - Nonpreemptive multitasking, Embedded system - Preemptive timers, Embedded system - Preemptive tasks, Embedded system - Office-style operating systems, Embedded system - Exotic custom operating systems

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GUIs that are not PUIs are most notably found in computer games, and advanced GUIs based on virtual reality are now frequently found in research. Many research groups in North America and Europe are currently working on the Zooming User Interface or ZUI, which is a logical advancement on the GUI, blending some 3D movement with 2D or "2 and a half D" vectorial objects. Some GUIs are designed for the rigorous requirements of vertical markets. These are known as "application specific GUIs." One example of such an application specific GUI ...

See also:

Graphical user interface, Graphical user interface - Types of GUIs, Graphical user interface - GUI vs. CLI, Graphical user interface - Outlook

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A decades-long goal has been to find repeatable, predictable processes or methodologies that improve productivity and quality. Some try to systematize or formalize the seemingly unruly task of writing software. Others apply project management techniques to writing software. Without project management, software projects can easily be delivered late or over budget. With large numbers of software projects not meeting their expectations in terms of functionality, cost, or delivery schedule, effective project management is proving difficult. See ...

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Software development process, Software development process - Processes and meta-processes, Software development process - Process and methodology, Software development process - Process steps, Software development process - Waterfall processes, Software development process - Iterative processes, Software development process - Agile processes, Software development process - Formal methods, Software development process - Specification-driven development, Software development process - Lists

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Various techniques are used to model data structure. Most database systems are built around one particular data model, although it is increasingly common for products to offer support for more than one model. For any one logical model various physical implementations may be possible, and most products will offer the user some level of control in tuning the physical implementation, since the choices that are made have a significant effect on performance. An example of this is the relational model: all serious implementations of the relational model allow the creation of indexes which provide fast access to rows in a table ...

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Database, Database - History, Database - Database models, Database - Flat model, Database - Network model, Database - Relational model, Database - Dimensional model, Database - Object database models, Database - Database Internals, Database - Indexing, Database - Transactions and concurrency, Database - Replication, Database - Applications of databases, Database - Common Database Brands

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Quality Assurance covers all activities from design, development, production, installation, servicing and documentation, this introduced the rules: "fit for purpose" and "do it right the first time". It includes the regulation of the quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components; services related to production; and management, production, and inspection processes. One of the most widely used paradigms for QA management is the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach, also known as the Shewhart cycle. The main goal of QA is to ensure that the product fulfills or exceeds customer expectations.

Quality control, Quality control - History, Quality control - Craft and tradespersons, Quality control - Wartime production, Quality control - Postwar, Quality control - Quality assurance, Quality control - Failure testing, Quality control - Statistical control, Quality control - Company quality, Quality control - Total quality control, Quality control - External links, Quality control - References

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There are several basically different types of software architectures in common use. Embedded system - The control loop. In this design, the software simply has a loop. The loop calls subroutines. Each subroutine manages a part of the hardware or software. Interrupts generally set flags, or update counters that are read by the rest of the software. A simple API disables and enables interrupts. Done right, it handles nested calls in nested subroutines, and restores the preceding interrupt state in the out ...

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Embedded system, Embedded system - History, Embedded system - Examples of embedded systems, Embedded system - Characteristics, Embedded system - Design of embedded systems, Embedded system - User interfaces, Embedded system - Platform, Embedded system - Tools, Embedded system - Operating system, Embedded system - Built-In Self-Test, Embedded system - Reliability regimes, Embedded system - Debugging, Embedded system - Start-up, Embedded system - Types of embedded software architectures, Embedded system - The control loop, Embedded system - Nonpreemptive multitasking, Embedded system - Preemptive timers, Embedded system - Preemptive tasks, Embedded system - Office-style operating systems, Embedded system - Exotic custom operating systems

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Embedded computer systems constitute the widest possible use of computer systems; it includes all computers other than those specifically intended as general-purpose computers. Examples of embedded systems range from a portable music player, to real-time control of systems like the space shuttle. They are characterized by providing a function, or functions, that is not itself a computer. The majority of commercial embedded systems are designed to perform selected functions at a low cost. Many, but not all embedded systems have real-ti ...

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Embedded system, Embedded system - History, Embedded system - Examples of embedded systems, Embedded system - Characteristics, Embedded system - Design of embedded systems, Embedded system - User interfaces, Embedded system - Platform, Embedded system - Tools, Embedded system - Operating system, Embedded system - Built-In Self-Test, Embedded system - Reliability regimes, Embedded system - Debugging, Embedded system - Start-up, Embedded system - Types of embedded software architectures, Embedded system - The control loop, Embedded system - Nonpreemptive multitasking, Embedded system - Preemptive timers, Embedded system - Preemptive tasks, Embedded system - Office-style operating systems, Embedded system - Exotic custom operating systems

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A database is an organized collection of data. The term originated within the computer industry, but its meaning has been broadened by popular use, to the extent that the European Database Directive (which creates intellectual property rights for databases) includes non-electronic databases within its definition. This article is confined to a more technical use of the term; though even amongst computing professionals, some attac ...

Including:

• Database - History
• Database - Database models
• Database - Flat model
• Database - Network model
• Database - Relational model
• Database - Dimensional model
• Database - Object database models
• Database - Database Internals
• Database - Indexing
• Database - Transactions and concurrency
• Database - Replication
• Database - Applications of databases
• Database - Common Database Brands

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The first recognizably modern embedded system was the Apollo Guidance Computer, developed by Charles Stark Draper at the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory. Each flight to the moon had two. They ran the inertial guidance systems of both the command module and LEM. At the project's inception, the Apollo guidance computer was considered the riskiest item in the Apollo project. The use of the then new monolithic integrated circuits, to reduc ...

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Embedded system, Embedded system - History, Embedded system - Examples of embedded systems, Embedded system - Characteristics, Embedded system - Design of embedded systems, Embedded system - User interfaces, Embedded system - Platform, Embedded system - Tools, Embedded system - Operating system, Embedded system - Built-In Self-Test, Embedded system - Reliability regimes, Embedded system - Debugging, Embedded system - Start-up, Embedded system - Types of embedded software architectures, Embedded system - The control loop, Embedded system - Nonpreemptive multitasking, Embedded system - Preemptive timers, Embedded system - Preemptive tasks, Embedded system - Office-style operating systems, Embedded system - Exotic custom operating systems

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Engineering applies scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. Engineers use imagination, judgment, reasoning and experience to apply science, technology, mathematics, and practical experience. The result is the design, production, and operation of useful objects or processes. Engineering - Methodology. The crucial and unique task of the engineer is to identify, understand, and integrate the constraints on a design in order to produce a successful result. It is usually not enough to build a ...

Including:

• Engineering - Methodology
• Engineering - Problem solving
• Engineering - Computer use
• Engineering - Etymology
• Engineering - Cultural presence
• Engineering - Legislation
• Engineering - Comparison to other disciplines
• Engineering - Science
• Engineering - Other fields
• Engineering - Top 15 branches
• Engineering - Sources

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Some software development methods: Top-Down Model Bottom Up Waterfall model V model Spiral model Chaos model Prototyping Evolutionary prototyping Iterative and Incremental development Extreme Programming Rational Unified Process Some paradigms for programming software: Procedural programming Structured programming Imperative programming Declarative programming Functional program ...

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Software development process, Software development process - Processes and meta-processes, Software development process - Process and methodology, Software development process - Process steps, Software development process - Waterfall processes, Software development process - Iterative processes, Software development process - Agile processes, Software development process - Formal methods, Software development process - Specification-driven development, Software development process - Lists

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GUIs were introduced in reaction to the steep learning curve of Command Line Interfaces (CLI), text-based user interfaces requiring commands to be typed on the keyboard. Since the command words in CLIs are usually numerous and composable, very complicated operations can be invoked using a relatively short sequence of words and symbols. This leads to high levels of efficiency once the many commands are learned, but reaching this level can take a while because the command words aren't easily discoverable. WIMPs ("wi ...

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Graphical user interface, Graphical user interface - Types of GUIs, Graphical user interface - GUI vs. CLI, Graphical user interface - 3D user interfaces, Graphical user interface - Humor

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