The search for software engineering principles : an overview of results
Alain Abran, Normand Séguin, Pierre Bourque, Robert Dupuis · 2004
Abstract. A list of fundamental principles of software engineering is viewed as needed to solidify the foundations of the field, thereby enabling and hastening the maturation of the discipline. Most of the authors who have investigated software engineering principles note that the discipline has a foundation. Some talk about principles, others about concepts, laws or notions, while they all agree with the view that a stable basis for the discipline is formed by their own individual set of these. However, this paper illustrates that there is a clear lack of consensus about which of the proposed principles are indeed fundamental. Furthermore, authors do not share the same definition of software engineering, nor do they share the same definition of the term ‘principle’. In summary, over 250 statements on what is meant by a principle are inventoried, and most are based only on the author’s opinion or point of view. Therefore, significant effort is still required to pursue this research topic relating to the foundation of software engineering. In particular, more work is required to design an appropriate research methodology, including precise definitions of the terms being used.