Software Engineering Principles Research Articles

QSOA®: Dynamic integration for hybrid quantum/Classical software systems

This is the “quantum decade” when quantum computers are proving to be more useful for some types of processing than their classical counterparts. The solutions of the future will combine classical IT with quantum algorithms and applications. However, there is very little work that addresses this issue. Each manufacturer provides specific tools for their products, which makes integration between quantum and classical systems a costly and time-consuming process.We believe that we should follow good software engineering principles and best practices to build platforms and tools that insulate software and systems engineers from implementation details and provide them with adequate support. In this paper we propose qSOA® as a mechanism for the dynamic integration of hybrid (quantum/classical) software systems and present in detail an SDK for Python. qSOA® provides a set of well-defined functions with which a classical system can access quantum products as if they were a piece of classical software, accessing the use case and not its complexities. In addition to some examples that illustrates its operation in real cases, we present the evaluation of qSOA® by 200 quantum software developers in a workshop in collaboration with AWS Braket.

Proposed Method of Gesture-controlled presentation software design

This paper introduces an innovative method for developing a presentation application that empowers users to seamlessly control slide transitions and other essential actions through intuitive hand gestures. The approach integrates sophisticated computer vision algorithms capable of real-time gesture detection and interpretation from a standard webcam feed. Furthermore, machine learning techniques personalize the system to individual users' unique gestures, enhancing usability and accuracy. The proposed method is a groundbreaking innovation that seamlessly integrates with existing presentation tools. Furthermore, the research delves into cross-device synchronization, enabling a cohesive presentation experience. To ensure optimal usability and performance, we follow established software engineering principles, resulting in a user-friendly interface and an efficiently structured codebase. This paper comprehensively guides the design, implementation, and potential of this gesture-controlled presentation software.

Quantum software engineering and quantum software development lifecycle: a survey

AbstractQuantum software engineering is advancing in the domain of quantum computing research and application, yet the documentation is scattered. The slow transition from Von-Neumann based computation systems to quantum systems, and conserving the fundamental computing principles in software development and software engineering helps in enrichment of quantum software development. The evolution of quantum computing over the past years shows a shift in the domain of classical computation to quantum computation in the years to come. Future applications such as, quantum AI and quantum machine learning will benefit from quantum software engineering. This survey collects and explores the various documentations in the domain of quantum systems and quantum software engineering. The survey provides an in-depth exploration of quantum programming languages, which is combined with explanations of quantum computing’s fundamentals. The review also goes in-depth about quantum software engineering and quantum software life cycle development, outlining the quantum software reuse methodology that is introduced in the quantum software lifecycle development domain.

Spreadsheet Modeling and Wrangling with Python

A staple of many spreadsheet-based management science courses is the use of Excel for activities such as model building, sensitivity analysis, goal seeking, and Monte-Carlo simulation. What might those things look like if carried out using Python? We describe a teaching module in which Python is used to do typical Excel-based modeling and data-wrangling tasks. In addition, students are exposed to basic software engineering principles, including project folder structures, version control, object-oriented programming, and other more advanced Python skills, creating deployable packages and documentation. The module is supported with Jupyter notebooks, Python scripts, course web pages that include numerous screencasts, and a few GitHub repositories. All of the supporting materials are permissively licensed and freely accessible. Supplemental Material: The supplemental files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ited.2023.0047 .

Enabling continuous deployment techniques for quantum services

AbstractEarly advances in quantum computing have provided new opportunities to tackle intricate problems in diverse areas such as cryptography, optimization, and simulation. However, current methodologies employed in quantum computing often require, among other things, a broad understanding of quantum hardware and low‐level programming languages, posing challenges to software developers in effectively creating and implementing quantum services. This study advocates the adoption of software engineering principles in quantum computing, thereby establishing a higher level of hardware abstraction that allows developers to focus on application development. With this proposal, developers can design and deploy quantum services with less effort, which is similar to the facilitation provided by service‐oriented computing for the development of conventional software services. This study introduces a continuous deployment strategy adapted to the development of quantum services that covers the creation and deployment of such services. For this purpose, an extension of the OpenAPI specification is proposed, which allows the generation of services that implement quantum algorithms. The proposal was validated through the creation of an application programming interface with diverse quantum algorithm implementations and evaluated through a survey of various developers and students who were introduced to the tool with positive results.

Online Learning Platform Development

This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of online learning platforms for language learning by integrating principles from software engineering, instructional design, and multimedia resources. Emphasizing the development of platforms conducive to transnational cultural engagement and equitable access, the study leverages the ADDIE model for instructional design, integrating task-based language teaching and online intercultural exchanges. Key to this approach is the development of user-friendly interfaces and content that supports diverse learning styles through multimedia integration, including social media, gaming, and virtual environments. The study also addresses the digital divide by ensuring accessibility across different regions and socioeconomic groups. The research methodology includes a comprehensive literature review, needs analysis focused on Arabic language learning, and the application of multimedia authoring principles. The ADDIE model guides the creation and evaluation of educational content, while software engineering principles ensure platform robustness and scalability. Findings indicate a significant potential for these platforms to enhance cognitive learning outcomes. The research validates the effectiveness of these integrations through experimental designs, user feedback, and expert evaluations. The study underscores the importance of digital literacy and intercultural competence in online learning environments and suggests emerging technologies like virtual and augmented reality for immersive experiences. In conclusion, the research demonstrates that well-designed online learning platforms, a synthesis of software engineering excellence, sound pedagogical frameworks, and engaging multimedia content, can substantially improve the learning experience and outcomes for language learners. The study recommends continuous integration of online methods with traditional learning to maximize educational benefits for language students.

Design and Implementation of Puzzle Adventure Game Based on Unity

With the progress of Gaming industry, the classic genre Puzzle adventure games, due to their friendly difficulty level, low learning curve, and interesting game mechanics, have been favored by a large number of players. This paper follows the guiding principles of software engineering and game development, designs and implements an adventure puzzle game using the Unity game engine. The game design is carried out through multiple aspects such as game art style, plot, sound effects, and game puzzles to provide players with an interesting gameplay experience. For the implementation part of the game, various plugins and functions of the Unity engine are integrated to complete the development of the game system, such as using Unitys navigation system to bake navigation meshes and implement automatic pathfinding for game characters. The animation state machine is used to arrange and control game character animations, and the Unity event system is used to implement click-based interactive functions in the game. At the same time, optimization was carried out based on the test results, improving the experience of user interface and the stability of game program, further enhancing the players gameplay experience. Finally, players can experience thrilling adventure in a mysterious world, and achieve a sense of accomplishment by solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles.

Modeling software processes from different domains using SPEM and BPMN notations: An experience report of teaching software processes

In a current application development scenario in different environments, technologies and contexts, such as IoT, Blockchain, Machine Learning and Cloud Computing, there is a need for particular solutions for domain-specific software development processes. The proper definition of software processes requires the understanding for the involved teams and organization’s particularities and specialized technical knowledge in Software Engineering. Although it is an essential part of Software Engineering, many university curricula do not dedicate as much effort to teaching software processes, focusing more on the basic principles of Software Engineering, such as requirements, architecture and programming languages. Another important aspect of software processes is modeling. The modeling of a software process provides a basis for managing, automating and supporting the software process improvement. In this context, teaching software process modeling becomes challenging, mainly due to the great emphasis on theory and few practices. This work presents an experience report teaching the definition and modeling of software processes in different domains. In the discipline of software processes, we applied a practice for defining and modeling processes in various application domains, such as: IoT, cloud, mobile, critical systems, self-adaptive systems, machine learning, blockchain and games. The processes were modeled in the Software Systems Process Engineering Metamodel (SPEM) and Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) notations based on references from the literature for each domain. We evaluated the process modeling practice with the SPEM and BPMN in two classes of the software processes discipline, and we had discussions about the use of the two notations applied to the different domains. In general, students reported good experiences in defining processes, highlighting the importance of practical modeling applications for professional life. As the main results of the study in teaching process modeling, we have that: (i) students accepted HEFLO tool better than EPF Composer tool; (ii) most students are not aware of specific domains and that anticipating the study of these domains in the discipline is a good strategy; and, (iii) the students also highlighted the need for more support for the two notation tools.

Developing a Multiprofessional Mobile App to Enhance Health Habits in Older Adults: User-Centered Approach.

Although comprehensive lifestyle habits are crucial for healthy aging, their adherence tends to decline as individuals grow older. Sustaining a healthy life over time poses a motivational challenge. Some digital tools, such as smartphone apps aimed at promoting healthy habits, have been used to counteract this decline. However, a more profound investigation is necessary into the diverse experiences of users, particularly when it concerns older adults or those who are unfamiliar with information and communications technologies. We aimed to develop a mobile app focused on promoting the health of older adults based on the principles of software engineering and a user-centered design. The project respected all ethical guidelines and involved the participation of older adults at various stages of the development of the app. This study used a mixed methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methodologies for data collection. The study was conducted in Ribeirão Prêto, São Paulo, Brazil, and involved 20 older adults of both genders who were aged ≥60 years and enrolled in the Physical Education Program for the Elderly at the University of São Paulo. The research unfolded in multiple phases, encompassing the development and refinement of the app with active engagement from the participants. A total of 20 participants used a mobile health app with an average age of 64.8 (SD 2.7) years. Most participants had a high school education, middle-class status, and varying health literacy (mean score 73.55, SD 26.70). Overall, 90% (18/20) of the participants owned smartphones. However, 20% (4/20) of the participants faced installation challenges and 30% (6/20) struggled with web-based searches. The focus groups assessed app usability and satisfaction. Adjustments increased satisfaction scores significantly (Suitability Assessment of Materials: 34.89% to 70.65%; System Usability Scale: 71.23 to 87.14). Participant feedback emphasized font size, navigation, visual feedback, and personalization, and suggestions included health device integration, social interaction, and in-app communication support. This study contributes to the development of health care technologies tailored to the older adult population, considering their specific needs. It is anticipated that the resulting app will serve as a valuable tool for promoting healthy habits and enhancing the quality of life for older adults.

Fairness in Machine Learning Meets with Equity in Healthcare

With the growing utilization of machine learning in healthcare, there is increasing potential to enhance healthcare outcomes. However, this also brings the risk of perpetuating biases in data and model design that can harm certain demographic groups based on factors such as age, gender, and race. This study proposes an artificial intelligence framework, grounded in software engineering principles, for identifying and mitigating biases in data and models while ensuring fairness in healthcare settings. A case study is presented to demonstrate how systematic biases in data can lead to amplified biases in model predictions, and machine learning methods are suggested to pre-vent such biases. Future research aims to test and validate the proposed ML framework in real-world clinical settings to evaluate its impact on promoting health equity.

Pyrit: A finite element based field simulation software written in Python

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the freely available finite element simulation software Pyrit.Design/methodology/approachIn a first step, the design principles and the objective of the software project are defined. Then, the software’s structure is established: The software is organized in packages for which an overview is given. The structure is based on the typical steps of a simulation workflow, i.e., problem definition, problem-solving and post-processing. State-of-the-art software engineering principles are applied to ensure a high code quality at all times. Finally, the modeling and simulation workflow of Pyrit is demonstrated by three examples.FindingsPyrit is a field simulation software based on the finite element method written in Python to solve coupled systems of partial differential equations. It is designed as a modular software that is easily modifiable and extendable. The framework can, therefore, be adapted to various activities, i.e., research, education and industry collaboration.Research limitations/implicationsThe focus of Pyrit are static and quasistatic electromagnetic problems as well as (coupled) heat conduction problems. It allows for both time domain and frequency domain simulations.Originality/valueIn research, problem-specific modifications and direct access to the source code of simulation tools are essential. With Pyrit, the authors present a computationally efficient and platform-independent simulation software for various electromagnetic and thermal field problems.

Software engineering for internet of underwater things to analyze oceanic data

Internet of Things (IoTs) represents a networked collection of heterogeneous sensors – enabling seamless integration between systems, humans, devices, etc. – to support pervasive computing for smart systems. IoTs unify hardware (embedded sensors), software (algorithms to manipulate sensors), and wireless network (protocols that transmit sensor data) to develop and operationalize a wide range of smart systems and services. The Internet of Underwater Things (IoUTs for short) is a specific genre of IoTs in which data about ocean ecosystems is continuously ingested via underwater sensors. IoUTs referred to as context-sensing eyes and ears under the sea operationalize a diverse range of scenarios ranging from exploring marine life to analyzing water pollution and mining oceanic data. This paper proposes a layered architecture that (i) ingests oceanic data as a sensing layer, (ii) computes the correlation between the data as an analytics layer, and (iii) visualizes data for human decision support via the interface layer. We unify the concepts of software engineering (SE) and IoTs to exploit software architecture, underlying algorithms, and tool support to develop and operationalize IoUTs. A case study-based approach is used to demonstrate the sensors’ throughput, query response time, and algorithmic execution efficiency. We collected IoUT sensor data, involving 6 distinct sensors from two locations including the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea for 60 days. Evaluation results indicate (i) sensors’ throughput (daily average: 10000–20000 KB data transmission), (ii) query response time (under 30 ms), (iii) and query execution performance (CPU utilization between 60%–80%). The solution exploits SE principles and practices for pattern-based architecting and validation of emerging and next-generation IoUTs in the context of smart oceans.

Review on Software Technology

Abstract: Software technology is the term employed to describe the assortment of instruments, approaches, and procedures used in the creation, upkeep, and deployment of software systems. It covers a wide range of topics, including testing methods, software engineering principles, databases, frameworks, libraries, and programming languages. Programming languages are one of the major components of software technology. Different programming languages provide varying degrees of functionality and abstraction, enabling programmers to construct code for certain goals. In addition to many others, popular programming languages include Java, Python, C++, and JavaScript. These languages are always changing to accommodate brand-new features and improvements as well as adapt to shifting requirements

Optimization design of electronic commerce system based on the basic principles of software engineering

Based on the basic principles of software engineering, this paper optimizes the design of e-commerce system from the aspects of demand analysis, system design, coding, implementation, testing and maintenance. Specifically, this paper adopts the object-oriented software development method, using the UML modeling tools to model the system, adopted the MVC architecture mode to realize the stratification of the system, using the front-end technology such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript to realize the user interface design of the system, combined with the back-end technology such as Java, JSP, the Servlet system. Through the system test and the use of code quality control tools, the system is accepted, and the maintenance of the system is planned and designed. Finally, this paper realizes an easy-to-use, stable, safe and efficient e-commerce system.

Designing an Effective Teaching Learning Environment for an Undergraduate Software Engineering Course

Software engineering is a core theory course offered in undergraduate engineering programmes which deals with various systematic approaches, methods, and tools that can be employed for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining quality software applications. It is one of the challenging courses for the teaching faculty. After graduation, the students are expected to practice software engineering principles and practices in their prospective projects. In order to satisfy the industrial requirement, and to create industry ready software professionals, software engineering course is offered as theory cum practical course. This article focuses on setting up an effective learning environment for learning software engineering courses. The course is blended with traditional classroom teaching methodology along with a set of pedagogical practices, active learning strategies, ICT tools for content delivery and assessment. This enhanced approach in teaching learning methodology improves student learning outcomes, which in turn helps them to adopt corporate practices more easily.

OSS in Software Engineering Education

Software Engineering is a crucial topic in undergraduate computing-related courses and provides the basic knowledge and skills necessary for professional practice in the software industry. Teaching Software Engineering principles, concepts, and practices and relating them to real-world scenarios are challenging tasks, and the adoption of Open Source Software (OSS) projects can help to face these challenges. On the other hand, adopting OSS projects as a didactic resource may introduce additional challenges to instructors who are not familiar with the OSS ecosystem. Objective: In this paper, we identified and mapped the profiles of instructors of Software Engineering courses concerning their classroom practices and use of OSS projects in Software Engineering Education. Method: We surveyed 90 higher education instructors in Brazil to collect data regarding their familiarity with the Software Engineering knowledge areas, pedagogical methods and resources used, and familiarity with and use of OSS projects in the classroom. Then, we resorted to data mining techniques, for instance, K-modes and Decision Tree algorithms, to identify instructors’ characteristics according to their classroom practices and use of OSS projects in the course activities. Results: Our findings include the characterization of instructors who use and instructors that do not use OSS projects in Software Engineering Education and the grouping of instructors after the application of the K-modes algorithm, and after the application of the Decision Tree algorithm, with similar characteristics of the pedagogical practices. The main result of this work is that the familiarity with OSS projects and the use of active learning methods were characteristics present in the application of the K-modes and Decision Tree algorithms, that distinguished instructors who used OSS projects from those that did not use them in Software Engineering Education. Finally, we confirmed that familiarity with OSS projects could have a positive influence on the instructors’ interest and potential for adopting this approach in Software Engineering Education.

App development in a sports science setting: A systematic review and lessons learned from an exemplary setting to generate recommendations for the app development process.

The digital health sector is rapidly growing. With only 4% of publishers out of academic settings, it is under-represented in app development. The objective of this study is to assess the current state of app development with a systematic review and a survey within an exemplary academic setting along the following research questions: (Q1) Are software engineering principles sufficiently known in the sports science app development context? (Q2) Is the role of sports scientists in the context of app development sufficiently understood? The systematic review was conducted by two independent reviewers within databases Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore. The PICO schema was used to identify the search term. We subtracted information about five main topics: development process, functional requirements and features, security, technology, and dissemination. The survey was developed by a multidisciplinary team and focused on five main topics. Out of 701 matches, 21 were included in the review. The development process was only described in seven studies. Functional requirements and features were considered in 11 studies, security in 3, technology in 13, and dissemination in 12 with varying details. Twelve respondents [mean age 33(7) years, 58% women] replied to the survey. The survey revealed limited knowledge in realization of security measures, underlying technology and source code management, and dissemination. Respondents were able to provide input on development processes as well as functional requirements and features. The involvement of domain experts is given in seven review studies and described in two more. In 50% of survey respondents, the role in app development is defined as a research assistant. We conclude that there is a varying degree of software engineering knowledge in the sports science app development context (Q1). Furthermore, we found that the role of sports scientists within app development is not sufficiently defined (Q2). We present recommendations for improving the success probability and sustainability of app development and give orientation on the potential roles of sports scientists as domain experts. Future research should focus on the generalizability of these findings and the reporting of the app development process.

Decentralizing Infrastructure as Code

Infrastructure as code (IaC) automates deployments for single teams, falling short of decentralized deployments across groups. We need mature IaC solutions that embrace and consolidate software engineering principles to enable testing and automation advances for decentralized organizations.

Software engineering research on the Robot Operating System: A systematic mapping study

The Robot Operating System (ROS) has become the de-facto standard framework for robotics software, and a great part of commercial robots is expected to have at least one ROS package on board in the coming years. For good quality, robotics software should rely on strong software engineering principles. In this paper, we perform a systematic mapping study on several works in software engineering on ROS, published at the top software engineering and robotics venues. Our goal is to analyze and evaluate such state-of-the-art regarding its relevance to the robotics software industry. The potentially-relevant studies are subject to a rigorously defined selection process. This results in a set of 63 primary studies on software engineering research on ROS. Those primary studies are then qualitatively analyzed according to a rigorously-defined classification framework. The results are of interest to both researchers and practitioners: (i) we provide an up-to-date overview of the state of the art on software engineering research on ROS and its potential for industrial adoption, (ii) a broad discussion of the research area as a whole, and (iii) point out routes of action for a better alignment between research and industry.

Modularization in Belief-Desire-Intention agent programming and artifact-based environments.

This article proposes an extension for the Agents and Artifacts meta-model to enable modularization. We adopt the Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) model of agency to represent independent and reusable units of code by means of modules. The key idea behind our proposal is to take advantage of the syntactic notion of namespace, i.e., a unique symbol identifier to organize a set of programming elements. On this basis, agents can decide in BDI terms which beliefs, goals, events, percepts and actions will be independently handled by a particular module. The practical feasibility of this approach is demonstrated by developing an auction scenario, where source code enhances scores of coupling, cohesion and complexity metrics, when compared against a non-modular version of the scenario. Our solution allows to address the name-collision issue, provides a use interface for modules that follows the information hiding principle, and promotes software engineering principles related to modularization such as reusability, extensibility and maintainability. Differently from others, our solution allows to encapsulate environment components into modules as it remains independent from a particular BDI agent-oriented programming language.