Software Crisis - Software Engineering

The term "software crisis" refers to the numerous challenges and difficulties faced by the software industry during the 1960s and 1970s. It became clear that old methods of developing software couldn't keep up with the growing complexity and demands of new projects. This led to high costs, delays, and poor-quality software. New methodologies and tools were needed to address these issues.

What is Software Crisis?

Software Crisis is a term used in computer science for the difficulty of writing useful and efficient computer programs in the required time. The software crisis was due to using the same workforce, same methods, and same tools even though rapidly increasing software demand, the complexity of software, and software challenges. With the increase in software complexity, many software problems arose because existing methods were insufficient.

Suppose we use the same workforce, same methods, and same tools after the fast increase in software demand, software complexity, and software challenges. In that case, there arise some issues like software budget problems, software efficiency problems, software quality problems, software management, and delivery problems, etc. This condition is called a Software Crisis.

Causes of Software Crisis

Following are the causes of Software Crisis:

• The cost of owning and maintaining software was as expensive as developing the software.
• At that time Projects were running overtime.
• At that time Software was very inefficient.
• The quality of the software was low quality.
• Software often did not meet user requirements.
• The average software project overshoots its schedule by half.
• At that time Software was never delivered.
• Non-optimal resource utilization.
• Challenging to alter, debug, and enhance.
• The software complexity is harder to change.

Factors Contributing to Software Crisis

Factor Contributing to Software Crisis are:

• Poor project management.
• Lack of adequate training in software engineering.
• Less skilled project members.
• Low productivity improvements.

Solution of Software Crisis:

There is no single solution to the crisis. One possible solution to a software crisis is Software Engineering because software engineering is a systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approach. For preventing software crises, there are some guidelines:

• Reduction in software over budget.
• The quality of the software must be high.
• Less time is needed for a software project.
• Experienced and skilled people working on the software project. 
• Software must be delivered.
• Software must meet user requirements.

Questions for Practice:

1. Many causes of the software crisis can be traced to mythology based on [UGC NET 2011]

(A) Management Myths

(B) Customer Myths

(C) Practitioner Myths

(D) All of the Above

Solution: Correct Answer is (D).

Conclusion

Software crisis refers to the challenges faced in developing efficient and useful computer programs due to increasing complexity and demands. Factors like poor project management, inadequate training, and low productivity contribute to this crisis. Addressing these issues through systematic approaches like software engineering, with a focus on budget control, quality, timeliness, and skilled workforce, can mitigate the impact of the crisis.