SEMAT
Encyclopedia
SEMAT is an initiative to reshape software engineering
such that software engineering qualifies as a rigorous discipline. The initiative was launched in December 2009 by Ivar Jacobson
, Bertrand Meyer
, and Richard Soley
.
The sponsors and supporters of the SEMAT initiative have agreed and signed the following Call for Action :
Software engineering is gravely hampered today by immature practices. Specific problems include:
The initiative supports a process to refound software engineering based on a solid theory, proven principles and best practices that:
The huge number of methods in itself is not a problem. There should be many methods focused on different problems and cultures; however, these methods must be designed in such a way that they can be compared, assessed and improved.
A significant number of world-class experts in the field of software engineering endorse the initiative's Call for Action. The signatories include Scott Ambler
, Barry Boehm
, Erich Gamma
, Watts Humphrey
, Ken Schwaber
etc. The initiative is also supported by corporations such as IBM
, Microsoft
, Ericsson
, ABB and Samsung
. Some of the signatories are known in the field for well established software engineering models or methods, which are not always compatible. Yet the consensus on the initiative shows that they agree with the importance of refounding software engineering.
The criticisms of SEMAT argue that Software Engineering is heterogeneous by nature, and that "fad" is an inaccurate word because the mainstream object orientation was once considered fad.
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
such that software engineering qualifies as a rigorous discipline. The initiative was launched in December 2009 by Ivar Jacobson
Ivar Jacobson
Ivar Hjalmar Jacobson is a Swedish computer scientist, known as major contributor to UML, Objectory, RUP and aspect-oriented software development.- Biography :...
, Bertrand Meyer
Bertrand Meyer
Bertrand Meyer is an academic, author, and consultant in the field of computer languages. He created the Eiffel programming language.-Education and academic career:...
, and Richard Soley
Richard Soley
Dr. Richard Mark Soley is the chair and CEO of Object Management Group, Inc. ; as such, the vision and direction of the consortium are his responsibility...
.
The sponsors and supporters of the SEMAT initiative have agreed and signed the following Call for Action :
Software engineering is gravely hampered today by immature practices. Specific problems include:
- The prevalence of fads more typical of fashion industry than of an engineering discipline
- The lack of a sound, widely accepted theoretical basis
- The huge number of methods and method variants, with differences little understood and artificially magnified
- The lack of credible experimental evaluation and validation
- The split between industry practice and academic research
The initiative supports a process to refound software engineering based on a solid theory, proven principles and best practices that:
- Include a kernel of widely-agreed elements, extensible for specific uses
- Address both technology and people issues
- Are supported by industry, academia, researchers and users
- Support extension in the face of changing requirements and technology
The huge number of methods in itself is not a problem. There should be many methods focused on different problems and cultures; however, these methods must be designed in such a way that they can be compared, assessed and improved.
A significant number of world-class experts in the field of software engineering endorse the initiative's Call for Action. The signatories include Scott Ambler
Scott Ambler
Scott W. Ambler is a Canadian software engineer, consultant and author, currently Practice Leader Agile Development at IBM Corporation in the IBM Methods group...
, Barry Boehm
Barry Boehm
Barry W. Boehm is an American software engineer, TRW Emeritus Professor of Software Engineering at the Computer Science Department of the University of Southern California, and known for his many contributions to software engineering.- Biography :...
, Erich Gamma
Erich Gamma
Erich Gamma is Swiss computer scientist and co-author of the influential Software engineering textbook, Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software. He co-wrote the JUnit software testing framework with Kent Beck and led the design of the Eclipse platform's Java Development Tools...
, Watts Humphrey
Watts Humphrey
Watts S. Humphrey was an American software engineer, key thinker in the discipline of software engineering, and was often called the "Father of Software quality".- Biography :...
, Ken Schwaber
Ken Schwaber
Ken Schwaber is a software developer, product manager and industry consultant. Ken worked with Jeff Sutherland to formulate the initial versions of the Scrum development process and to present Scrum as a formal process at OOPSLA'95. They have extended and enhanced Scrum at many software companies...
etc. The initiative is also supported by corporations such as IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Ericsson
Ericsson
Ericsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
, ABB and Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
. Some of the signatories are known in the field for well established software engineering models or methods, which are not always compatible. Yet the consensus on the initiative shows that they agree with the importance of refounding software engineering.
The criticisms of SEMAT argue that Software Engineering is heterogeneous by nature, and that "fad" is an inaccurate word because the mainstream object orientation was once considered fad.
External links
- SEMAT website http://www.semat.org
- The SEMAT Initiative: A Call for Action http://www.ddj.com/architect/222001342
- Why We Need a Theory for Software Engineering http://www.ddj.com/architect/220300840
- Methods Need Theory http://www.ddj.com/architect/219100242
- SEMAT - Software Engineering Method and Theory http://www.infoq.com/news/2010/04/semat
- SEMAT Vision Statement http://www.semat.org/pub/Main/WebHome/SEMAT-vision.pdf
- Criticism of SEMAT from Martin Fowler and Alistair Cockburn