Software Design

 

What is software?

• Coined by either Paul Niquette (1953) or John W. Tukey (1958)
• To be distinguised from hardware - the physical, tangible components of a computer system
• A sequence of instructions for changing the state of computer hardware - that cause a computer to behave in a certain manner.
• source code and machine code (high and low level languages)

What types of software are there?

• System software - operates basic computer system functions
• Programming software - facilitates the writing of computer programs
• Application software - allows users to complete specific tasks
  • brainstorm a list of software applications

What is design?

• Design is the planning that lays the basis for the making of every object or system. [wikipedia]
  
• the act of working out the form of something
• can be a noun or a verb
• "The management of constraints" [Dino Dini]
  • Design a chair
    1. constraints are either negotiable or non-negotiable
    2. identification, classification, selection of constraint
    3. manipulation of design variables to satisfy non-negotiable constraints and optimize negotiable constraints

An incomplete list of types of design:

• user interface design
• information architecture
• interaction design
• graphic design
• industrial design
• fashion design
• urban planning
• game design
• garden design
• sound design
• floral design

What makes good design?

iPhone, Bloody Mary, happiness

eyePhone

• Functionality - a good design should work well, be "bug" free
• Suitability - a good design should be suitable for its intended purpose
• Delight - a good design should produce pleasurable experiences

Is software design different from computer programming?