What is software?
Publication Date
2008
Journal or Book Title
AUTOMATED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
Abstract
This paper suggests that there may be other types of software besides computer software. The paper identifies parallels between computer software and such other societal artifacts as laws, processes, recipes, and instructions (e.g. for driving and kitbuilding), and suggests that there are similar parallels in the ways in which these artifacts are built and evolved. The paper suggests that technologies for supporting the automation of computer software development and evolution might facilitate work in these other domains. It also suggests that successful approaches in these other domains could have useful and important application to the domain of computer software. It is further suggested that it might be important for discussions such as these to lead to a deeper understanding of the nature of “software”.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10515-008-0031-y
Pages
261-273
Volume
15
Issue
3-4
Recommended Citation
Osterweil, LJ, "What is software?" (2008). AUTOMATED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING. 242.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10515-008-0031-y