Society

Software is designed to perform tasks for people
Critical to society at large
A significant part of progress in any field relies on software
Lack of agility of software constrains all other activities

Non-Functional Issues

User stories capture functional issues, e.g., Can a student see their remaining courses in DPR?
A good process assures that the issues are completed
Non-functional issues, e.g., How easy is it for a student to view and understand their remaining courses in DPR?
Very difficult to capture
Most difficult is usability (especially in mobile)

gestalt

An organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts

Principle of proximity
Principle of closure
Principle of similarity
Principle of continuity
Principles of perception
Principle of organization
Principle of symmetry

Solution

Non-functional issues must be part of the conversation between developers and users and among developers
All parts of the process must lead to interaction and conversation
Documents do not capture all of this

Security Issues

goto fail (Apple SSL/TLS bug)
OpenSSL bug Heartbleed (OpenSSL bug)
Proposed solution: Better programming languages
Proposed solution: Better coding standards
Proposed solution: More sleep/less caffeine for developers

Solution

Better process
Little previous funding for OpenSSL (years previous to the event, $2,000)
The setup and support of process requires money

Development

Software Engineering is a process that includes many different people in many different roles
You have to deal with antiquated technologies, languages, and people
What you think of as modern technologies and languages are not in the future

Lifespan

Initial Development
Evolution
Servicing
Phaseout
Close Down

Lifespan Factors

Code Decay
Reengineering
Lehman's Laws
All make staying in evolution difficult

Forecast (No Surprises)

Best time in history to be a Software Engineer in terms of job satisfaction, pay, and opportunities
With few exceptions, hardware is commonplace and inexpensive
Platforms to easily distribute software, e.g., app stores
Cloud services remove many barriers to entry
Post-PC and rise of mobile, e.g., tablets, smartphones
To some, these are challenges, but they can be opportunities

Challenges

Refinement of any process never stops
Abstractions such as cloud computing remove many issues but introduce new ones
How to create for mobile and post-pc devices, i.e., the "jobs to be done".

Things to Avoid

Letting your attitudes get in the way of serving your customers or employer
Confusing what you need to do your job with what other people need
Confusing traditional ways of doing things with newer approaches

Improve Your Skills

Use version control for everything
Learn to write good commit messages
Learn to write and use build files and associated software
Practice your workflows and use them in all your classwork