Software uncertainty and the role of CASE in its minimisation and control

The fundamental concepts of software engineering and of the process of software development are summarized. This leads to the formulation of a principle of uncertainty that applies, in general, to all computer applications in the real world. A brief analysis of the implications of uncertainty and their relationship to software engineering follows. In particular, the role that computer-assisted software engineering, (CASE) can and should play in minimizing the degree of uncertainty in a software system and controlling it over the lifetime of a system is examined. The views presented are reviewed in the context of the relevance of the issues raised to society as a whole