The Nature of Software
Video: Did You Know??
Why is it that software is as important as it is? Spend 4:55 and take a look at this VERY important collage of facts. Thought provoking and a little scary. Very Highly Recommended.
The Nature of Software
A generic discussion by Philippe Kruchten on the nature of computer software and the impact of software engineering.
They Write the Right Stuff
An entertaining Fast Company article about the people who develop software and the way they do it. Good reading. Recommended.
Key Attributes of Complex Software Intensive Systems
A brief article in CIO Magazine that considers Grady Booch's view of SIS and the fundamentals of their development and delivery.
Software as a service
A wikipedia article that provides basic information on SaaS.
Protecting Intellectual Property Right for Software
A reasonably detailed discussion of the nature of software as it applies to the protection of intellectual property rights.
pdf: Patterns of Software: Tales from the Software Community
A collection of essays on software and the people who create it.
Software Disasters
If you think bad things can't happen when software fails, this is the site to visit. Many of our industry's more infamous horror stories are covered. In addition, a worthwhile book by Robert Glass (Software Runaways: Monumental Software Disasters, Prentice Hall, 1998) discusses 16 infamous software projects.
The Nature of Software Engineering
The nature of software development
Scott Bain attempts to establish that the nature of software development is best characterized as one of evolution.
The nature of software engineering
An introductory discussion of the basic characteristics of software engineering
Positive And Negative Innovations In Software Engineering
A whitepaper by Caper's Jones: “There have been many attempts to improve software development, but progress has resembled a drunkard's walk. Some attempts have been beneficial, but others have been either ineffective or harmful.”
Software Engineering: Moving From Craft to Profession
This paper provides a status report on various activities, past and present, which provide the basis for transforming software engineering from craft to profession.
Creating a Software Engineering Culture
lAn article by Karl Weigers that discusses “a set of shared values and principles that guide the behaviors, activities, priorities, and decisions of a group of people working in the same area.”
Book: The Human Aspects of Software Engineering
An online book length by James E. Tomayko and Orit Hazzan.
Video: Introduction to Software Engineering (2 parts)
An indepth introduction to the subject.
General Resources for Software Engineering
Computer Science Bibliographies
The basis for a solid understanding of computer software and software engineering lies in computer science. A collection of close to 600 bibliographies in the field of computer science, comprising about 330,000 references.
Shareware/Freeware Library
This library includes dozens of subcategories and tens of thousands of apps. One of the most comprehensive software libraries on the net.
Opposing or Critical Views
Rejecting Software Engineering
Eric Wise argues: "When I actually get some free time and surf around the blogosphere I often see people referring to software as "engineering". I've always had a problem with this term because it implies things about software development that simply are not." As a counter point see ... (next resource)
Rumors of Software Engineering's Death are Greatly Exaggerated (aka Software Engineering Ignorance, Part II)
From the response by Steve McConnell: "A reader of my previous blog post on Software Engineering Ignorance pointed me to Eric Wise's blog post Rejecting Software Engineering. Eric seems like a bright guy, and he's a persuasive writer, but his post is another example of what I was referring to in my earlier post -- that is, people who are uninformed about software engineering spreading misinformation about it."
Nerdlife: "Why SE Sucks"
In the interest of balance, here's a rather opinionated piece by a student arguing against software engineering. Please be certain to read the comments from readers and recognize that a disciplined approach to anything rubs some folks the wrong way.
The end of software engineering and the start of economic-cooperative gaming
"An alternative underlying model for software development is described: Software development is a series of goal-directed, resource-limited, cooperative games of invention and communication. The primary goal of each game is the production and deployment of a software system; the residue of the game is a set of markers to assist the players of the next game."
Revisiting The Facts and Fallacies of Software Engineering
A book review with commentary.
Books 
and
introduce the concept of “open-world” software and predict a wireless environment in which software must adapt to requirements that emerge in real-time.
