Evidence-based Software Engineering

Abstract

This book discusses what is currently known about software engineering based on an analysis of all publicly available software engineering data. This aim is not as ambitious as it sounds because there is not a lot of data publicly available. The analysis is like a join-the-dots puzzle, except that the 600+ dots are not numbered, some of them are actually specs of dust, and many dots are likely to be missing. The way forward is to join the dots to build an understanding of the processes involved in building and maintaining software systems; work is also needed to replicate some of the dots to confirm that they are not specs of dust, and to discover missing dots. The dots are sprinkled across chapters covering the major issues involved in building and maintaining a software system; when dots could be applicable to multiple issues your author selected the issue he felt maximised the return on use. If data relating to a topic is not publicly available, that topic is not discussed. Adhering to this rule has led to a very patchy discussion, although it vividly highlights the almost non-existent evidence for current theories of software development. The intended audience is software developers and their managers. Some experience of building software systems is assumed.