History of Computing, 1980s
Transition to Maturity: Software Engineering, cont.
vBy 1990, MIS organizations had learned (more or less) how to build predictable and reliable big systems — using methodologies that prescribe ways to build high-quality systems, and CASE (computer-aided software engineering) tools to support analysts, designers, and developers in building bigger systems better.
²A methodology is a formal prescription for describing how software should be built. They can range from loose frameworks describing basic design approaches to 60-book encyclopedias that define every step and function required to build an application.
²Fundamental insight: software design is a formal process.
²CASE tools offer ways to use computers to help automate the design process and the associated methodologies.