Software & Jobs

Fundamental Activities

Software Development Diagram

Best Time to Develop Software

• Free and easy access to tools
• Free and easy access to documentation, examples, etc
• Free and easy ways to post information
• Easy, low overhead, inexpensive ways to distribute and collect payment

Reflected in Career

The U.S. News 100 Best Jobs ranks "Software Developer" as the #3 best job. According to the report, the projected number of new software developer jobs in the next 10 years is estimated at 410,400. This represents 38% of all projected jobs in the top ten and is almost 3 times the number of projected jobs for the next highest-ranked job.

Most software that people use is typically …

• buggy
• ugly and painful to use
• challenging to add new features or get bugs fixed
• not updated frequently enough

Changes in the software environment

• Specific apps for specific purposes: Noted, Agenda
• Multiple types of devices
• Internet of Things

"Software is eating the world"

• A software layer gets introduced into an industry
• Computer hardware iterates faster than mechanical systems or people
• Software iterates faster than computer hardware
• Companies based on a software layer often have reduced costs and can bring features to the unserved
• Older companies are unable to adapt, so they die or become insignificant, e.g., first digital camera

Computing in Companies

• The company provides a software-based service/product
• The company provides a service/product with a (potential) software layer
• The company provides a physical product

Hardware Platforms

• Mainframe (Server)
• Minicomputer (Server)
• Desktop PC
• Laptop PC
• Tablet
• Smartphone
• Smartwatch
• IoT: lights, appliances, locks, etc.

Platform: Mainframe

• AKA "Big Iron"
• Era: 1950s - present
• Cost: 1 Million+
• Large companies, government
• E.g., IBM System/360
• Accessed via terminals
• Total Sold: 100,000
• Active: 20,000 - 30,000
• 9 Mainframe Statistics That May Surprise You and 5 Things Everyone Should Know about Mainframes
• Software Focus: heavy-duty data processing tasks, such as database management, transaction processing, and batch processing.

Historical Platform: Word Processors

• E.g., Sperry, etc.
• Total Sold: 500,000 - 1 million
• 1972 - 1984 (?)
• Inactive
• Software Focus: Word Processing, not general computing

Historical Platform: Minicomputers

• E.g., DEC VAX
• Cost: $150,000+
• Smaller companies, Math & Engineering departments
• Era: 1964 - 1985
• UNIX O.S.
• Total: 1 million
• Software Focus: More specialized tasks, such as scientific simulations, development environments, or serving as a departmental server

Historical Platform: Apple IIs

• Era: 1977 - 1993
• Cost: $1,000+
• Total: 6 Million
• Software

Current Platform Sizes

Expectations are changing

• Reliability
• Robustness
• Transparency
• New Features
• Rate of Improvements
• Security and Compliance
• Usability and User Experience (UX)
• Scalability and Performance
• Sustainability and Ethical Considerations
• Interoperability and Integration
• Affordability and Business Alignment
• Community and Collaboration
• Support and Maintenance
• Diversity and Inclusivity

Processes needed to…

• fix bugs quickly and safely
• introduce new features quickly and safely
• get users what they need
• stay current with changes in the software environment
• ensure security and compliance
• facilitate collaboration and communication

Stakeholders, i.e., People

• Developers
• Developers' management
• Other parts of the company
• Users
• Users' management
• Other parts of the users' company
• Others in the same industry
• Reviewers and the outside world

Single Project Development

Goal: Success

• Improve quality
• Add new features
• Update current features
• Reduce needed development resources
• Reduce time-to-market