software engineering

branch of computer sciences that deals with the methodological aspect of creating computer programs

Software engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software. The term software engineering was popularized during the 1968 NATO Software Engineering Conference (held in Garmisch, Germany) by its chairman F.L. Bauer, and has been in widespread use since. The discipline of software engineering encompasses knowledge, tools, and methods for defining software requirements, and performing software design, software construction, software testing, and software maintenance tasks. Software engineering also draws on knowledge from fields such as computer engineering, computer science, management, mathematics, project management, quality management, software ergonomics, and systems engineering.
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The discipline devoted to the design, development, and use of computer software. Note: Software engineering must address various aspects of data processing, including compatibility with the computer system which is to execute the software, and tradeoffs among maintainability, flexibility, efficiency, processing time, and costs. [From Weik '89]

<programming> (SE) A systematic approach to the analysis, design, implementation and maintenance of software. It often involves the use of CASE tools. There are various models of the software life-cycle, and many methodologies for the different phases.
(1994-11-03)