Software Engineering | What is Software Engineering?

Software engineering is a systematic, disciplined, cost effective technique for software development. It is a branch of computer science, which uses well-defined engineering concepts required to produce efficient, durable, scalable, in-budget and on-time software products.

Software engineering is defined as a discipline whose aim is the production of quality software, software that is delivered on time within budget and that satisfies its requirements.

Various Definitions of Software Engineering:

IEEE:  Software engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined and quantifiable approach to the development, operation and maintenance of software”.

Fritz Bauer: Software engineering is defined as “the establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to obtain the software that is economical, reliable and works efficiently on real machines”.                                        

Boehm [Boehm 1979]:  Software engineering is the practical application of scientific knowledge in the design and construction of computer programs and the associated documentation required to develop, operate, and maintain them.               

Dennis [Dennis 1975]: Software engineering is the application of principles, skills and art to the design and construction of programs and systems of programs.

Fairley [Fairley 1985]: Software engineering is the technological and managerial discipline concerned with the systematic production and maintenance of software products that are developed and modified on time and within cost estimation.             

Pomberger and Blaschek [Pomberger 1996]: Software engineering is the practical application of scientific knowledge for the economical production and use of high-quality software.