When is a Software Engineer Not a Software Engineer?

Written by V. Berba Velasco Jr., Ph.D.


Continued from page 1

In part, this problem is also rooted inrepparttar malleable nature of computer software. No self-respecting civil engineer would design a bridge by slapping girders together until he has something that works; after all, ifrepparttar 107599 bridge collapses, it could take months to rebuild it. Similarly, no sensible architect would want to build a house without blueprints and floor plans. Yet it is commonplace for programmers to develop software using poorly chosen functions and onlyrepparttar 107600 sketchiest of designs. After all, ifrepparttar 107601 software doesn’t work, they can always findrepparttar 107602 bug and fix it—at least, in theory. In practice, these bugs are often difficult to detect, and fixing them can require extensive surgery. The consequences of an ill-designed software program can be disastrous indeed.

For this reason, I believe that high-tech companies need to give software engineeringrepparttar 107603 respect that it deserves. They need to develop a true culture of systematic software design, instead of merely settling for “whatever works.” A company that’s looking towardrepparttar 107604 future must pay proper devotion torepparttar 107605 principles of software maintainability, proper documentation and elegant, robust design. It must also inculcate a culture of true software engineering among its employees. The failure to do so may work inrepparttar 107606 short-term, but it is a recipe for long-term disaster.



V. Berba Velasco Jr., Ph.D. is a senior electrical and software engineer at Cellular Technology Ltd, a provider of ELISPOT analysis tools and ELISPOT expertise. He is pleased to work in an environment where excellence is valued.


Laptop computers and the PVP effect!

Written by Tom Fox


Continued from page 1

(V) Value: Inrepparttar seventiesrepparttar 107598 aforementioned IBM 5100 would have set you back a staggering 20,000 dollars. Today a top ofrepparttar 107599 range IBM Thinkpad can be bought for around 3000 dollars. Cheaper Thinkpads can often be obtained for well under a thousand dollars, especially if you don't mind purchasing a used or refurbished model.

(P) Performance: Many laptops today come fitted with Centrino processors which offer superb performance and improved battery life. What is Centrino I hear you ask? Well this is Intel's name for their new notebook technology that combines their Pentium M processor, 855 chipset andrepparttar 107600 Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 WiFi 802.11 network interface. Laptops fitted with these processors are usually lighter because ofrepparttar 107601 smaller components used.

Couple this attractive feature with wireless networking technology and you have a powerful technological package. Wi-Fi is short for "Wireless Fidelity" and it's usage is growing quickly amongst home users, office workers, even coffee shops. If you enter Wi-Fi areas with a properly equipped notebook, you can accessrepparttar 107602 Internet at broadband speeds.



Tom Fox writes for http://www.cheap-laptops-notebooks.com, a web site providing information and articles related to notebook computers.


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