Software Engineering: A Methodical Approach

This text provides a comprehensive, but concise introduction to software engineering. It adopts a methodical approach to solving software engineering problems proven over several years of teaching, with outstanding results.

The book covers concepts, principles, design, construction, implementation, and management issues of software systems. Each chapter is organized systematically into brief, reader-friendly sections, with itemization of the important points to be remembered. Diagrams and illustrations also sum up the salient points to enhance learning. Additionally, the book includes a number of the author's original methodologies that add clarity and creativity to the software engineering experience, while making a novel contribution to the discipline.


Upholding his aim for brevity, comprehensive coverage, and relevance, Foster's practical and methodical discussion style gets straight to the salient issues, and avoids unnecessary fluff as well as an overkill of theoretical calculations.

What you'll learn

• The main activities of the software development life cycle (SDLC)
• How to conceptualize, research, design, construct, implement, and manage top quality software systems
• How to evaluate the impact of software systems on organizations
• The nature, importance, and scope of software engineering as opposed to programming

Who this book is for

This book is best suited for students who are pursuing a course in software engineering. Practicing software engineers who need a quick reference on various aspects of the field will also find this text useful.

Table of Contents

Part I: Fundamentals
Chapter 01: Introduction to Software Engineering
Chapter 02: The Role of the Software Engineer
Part II: Software Investigation and Analysis
Chapter 03: Project Selection and Initial System Requirement
Chapter 04: The Requirements Specification
Chapter 05: Information Gathering
Chapter 06: Communicating via Diagrams
Chapter 07: Decision Models for System Logic
Chapter 08: Project Management Aids
Part III: Software Design
Chapter 09: Overview of Software Design
Chapter 10: Database Design
Chapter 11: User Interface Design
Chapter 12: Operations Design
Chapter 13: Other Design Considerations
Part IV: Software Development
Chapter 14: Software Development Issues
Chapter 15: Human Resource Management
Chapter 16: Software Economics
Part V: Software Implementation and Management
Chapter 17: Software Implementation Issues
Chapter 18: Software Management
Chapter 19: Organizing for Effective Management
Part VI: Final Preparations
Chapter 20: Sample Exercises and Examination Questions
Part VI: Appendices
Appendix 01: Sample Examination Questions and Case Studies
Appendix 02: Overview of Fundamental Object-Oriented Methodologies
Appendix 03: Object-Oriented Information Engineering
Appendix 04: Basic Guidelines for Object-Oriented Methodologies
Appendix 05: Categorizing Objects
Appendix 06: Specifying Object Behavior
Appendix 07: Tools for Object-Oriented Methodologies
Appendix 08: Project Proposal for a Generic Inventory Management System
Appendix 09: Requirements Specification for a Generic Inventory Management System
Appendix 10: Design Specification for a Generic Inventory Management System