Software Engineering Perspectives


slide: Software Engineering Perspectives

Objectives

This section discusses the impact of object orientation on the software lifecycle. It first presents a classical view of the software lifecycle and then discusses why, when taking user needs into account, our conception of the software lifecycle may need to change. A number of alternative software development models are then mentioned. This section intends to show that object orientation allows for a more or less seamless transition between the various phases of the software development cycle, including analysis, design and implementation. Moreover, it intends to introduce the problems addressed in each of these phases, respectively the elicitation of requirements, the quality of software and robustness. Also, a first introduction is given to possible vehicles for the implementation of object-oriented software.

Points to emphasize


slide: Points to emphasize

Hints

The notion of prototyping appears to be quite appealing to students. In principle, the entire software lifecycle may be turned upside down (Meyer, 1988), without essentially sacrificing the goals of adaptability, quality and robustness. Also worth stressing are the potential benefits of object orientation in dealing with future users, especially since business is likely to require more experts in this field than in the area of system development. Choosing a good vehicle for implementation might be essential for successfully completing a software development project. Don't hesitate to express and discuss your personal taste.

Questions

  1. What influence is an object-oriented approach said to have on the software lifecycle? What is your own opinion?
  2. How would you characterize software quality? Discuss the problem of maintenance.
  3. Mention a number of object-oriented programming languages, and give a brief characterization.

slide: Questions

Comments

It is worth elaborating on the figures, taken from Meyer88, concerning the relative contribution of implementation and design and the proportion of time taken up by maintenance. These figures will probably have to be updated, but the trend they indicate is clear.