Software Crisis is a term used in computer science for the difficulty of writing useful and efficient computer programs in the required time. The software crisis was due to using the same workforce, same methods, and same tools even though rapidly increasing software demand, the complexity of software, and software challenges. With the increase in software complexity, many software problems arise because existing methods were insufficient.
If we use the same workforce, same methods, and same tools after the fast increase in software demand, software complexity, and software challenges, then there arise some issues like software budget problems, software efficiency problems, software quality problems, software management, and delivery problems, etc. This condition is called a Software Crisis.
Software Crisis
Causes of Software Crisis:
- The cost of owning and maintaining software was as expensive as developing the software.
- At that time Projects were running overtime.
- At that time Software was very inefficient.
- The quality of the software was low quality.
- Software often did not meet user requirements.
- The average software project overshoots its schedule by half.
- At that time Software was never delivered.
- Non-optimal resource utilization.
- Challenging to alter, debug, and enhance.
- The software complexity is harder to change.
Factors Contributing to Software Crisis:
- Poor project management.
- Lack of adequate training in software engineering.
- Less skilled project members.
- Low productivity improvements.
Solution of Software Crisis:
There is no single solution to the crisis. One possible solution to a software crisis is Software Engineering because software engineering is a systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable approach. For preventing software crises, there are some guidelines:
- Reduction in software over budget.
- The quality of the software must be high.
- Less time is needed for a software project.
- Experienced and skilled people working on the software project.
- Software must be delivered.
- Software must meet user requirements.
Questions for Practice:
1. Many causes of the software crisis can be traced to mythology based on [UGC NET 2011]
(A) Management Myths
(B) Customer Myths
(C) Practitioner Myths
(D) All of the Above
Solution: Correct Answer is (D).
FAQs On Software Crisis:
Q.1: What are the main causes of the Software Crisis?
Answer:
The main causes of the Software Crisis are low-quality Software or when the Software does not meet user requirements.
Q.2: Give one of the real examples of a Software Crisis?
Answer:
One of the famous software failures in computer science is Therac-25. It is a machine that is used to deliver radiation therapy to Cancer Patients.
Q.3: What are the impacts of the Software Crisis?
Answer:
The impact of the Software Crisis is that it affects the development of new software and also creates problems in the maintenance of older software.