History of Computing, 1980s
Transition to Maturity: Software Engineering for Mainframes
vIn the 1980s, large computer technology stood still (comparatively).
²Although mainframe computers continued to get better, cheaper, and faster, with new features, large computer technology at the end of the 1980s was very similar to technology at the beginning of the decade. A mainframe application built in 1980 looked virtually identical to one built in 1990.
vFocus shifted to designing and building applications in some kind of disciplined fashion.
²In 1970, organizations had dreams of on-line corporations, wired desktops, totally consistent databases. By, 1980, reality set in — the vision was harder to achieve than anyone imagined.
²In the 1980s, the industry focused on developing the necessary tools, disciplines, and methodologies to make predictably possible the big systems required by the dream. Promised applications had to arrive on schedule and in good working order.