A 1999 Computer Society survey lists the following candidate fundamental principles of software engineering:
A. Apply and use quantitative measurements in decision-making.
B. Build with and for reuse.
C. Control complexity with multiple perspectives and multiple levels of abstraction.
D. Define software artifacts rigorously.
E. Establish a software process that provides flexibility.
F. Implement a disciplined approach and improve it continuously.
G. Invest in the understanding of the problem.
H. Manage quality throughout the life cycle as formally as possible.
I. Minimize software components interaction.
J. Produce software in a stepwise fashion.
K. Set quality objectives for each deliverable product.
L. Since change is inherent to software, plan for it and manage it.
M. Since tradeoffs are inherent to software engineering, make them explicit and document them.
N. To improve design, study previous solutions to similar problems.
O. Uncertainty is unavoidable in software engineering. Identify and manage it
For each of these principles, indicate whether you (strongly) agree or (strongly) disagree, and why. You may wish to re-appraise these principles after having studied the rest of this book.