Professor Barry Boehm outlined an period in software program engineering by means of his seminal work in software program value estimation and lifecycle modeling. Picture/John Vidar.
Barry Boehm, a pioneer within the fields of pc science and software program engineering, died Aug. 20 in Santa Monica. He was 87.
Boehm, who served as a USC distinguished professor of pc science, industrial and programs engineering and astronautics till his retirement in Could 2022, outlined an period in software program engineering by means of his seminal work in software program value estimation and lifecycle modeling.
Born in 1935, Boehm earned his bachelor’s and grasp’s levels from Harvard College and his Ph.D. in arithmetic from UCLA. Following a number of influential roles spanning business, authorities businesses, and non-profits, together with positions with the RAND Company, TRW Inc. and DARPA, Boehm joined USC’s school in 1992.
“Barry’s contributions can’t be measured solely by the impression of his concepts on software program engineering,” stated USC Viterbi Dean Yannis C. Yortsos. “Far more than that, he impacted the lives of his college students and colleagues alike. We’ve got been lucky to work within the presence of a real large and to name him our buddy.”
Pioneering contributions
Boehm’s profession is filled with contributions to the software program and programs engineering disciplines, together with his later work “centered on transitioning software program improvement from a pure artwork into an engineering self-discipline,” based on a 2014 paper titled ‘On the Shoulders of Giants: A Tribute to Professor Barry Boehm.’
Certainly one of his pioneering contributions was the invention of a software program value estimation mannequin that remodeled the self-discipline. In his 1981 e-book, Software program Engineering Economics, Boehm outlined the Constructive Value Mannequin (COCOMO).
Boehm’s former pupil, Neil Siegel, now a USC IBM Professor of Engineering Administration and professor of business and programs engineering and pc science apply, recollects a narrative Boehm shared about COCOMO’s creation.
“The sector of pc science was perpetually modified for the great by his work.” Neil Siegel.
“After receiving bids from main satellite tv for pc programs within the mid-Seventies, the vice-president of TRW Inc. requested Boehm for a reputable approach to estimate the price of creating a software program product. And so, he did!” stated Siegel.
The consequence was the primary dependable mannequin that allowed software program engineers and mission managers to achieve management of tasks that had been more and more not on time, over funds, and low high quality, saving firms and authorities businesses untold billions of {dollars}. Extensions to this mannequin remained the gold customary in each analysis and business for a number of many years.
“Boehm’s creations have had an unlimited affect on the strategies of software program improvement, are used actually all through the world, and have basically modified the trail utilized by thousands and thousands of software program improvement practitioners,” stated Siegel. “The sector of pc science was perpetually modified for the great by his work.”
Revolutionizing software program engineering
Along with this historic contribution, Boehm revolutionized the software program engineering panorama by means of the event of the spiral software program lifecycle mannequin. This methodology acknowledged that enormous, costly, and complex tasks require an iterative improvement course of with gradual releases and refinement of a product by means of every section.
The seminal paper made a huge impact on Neno Medvidovic, chair of the USC Viterbi Division of Laptop Science, who was a younger researcher on the time of its publication.
“To me personally, Barry was an inspiration, and one of many first technical articles I learn as a college pupil was his 1988 paper describing the spiral mannequin of software program improvement,” stated Medvidovic
Professor Boehm works with CSSE PhD pupil Vu Nquyen ’10, whereas Thomas Tan CSSE ’11 and LiGuo Huang CSSE ’06 watch on. (Picture/Jon Vidar)
“That paper was an enormous motive behind my profession selection. Barry, in fact, didn’t know this, so when he tried to recruit me to USC in 1998, I may scarcely imagine it. I actually felt like I used to be strolling on clouds.”
So far, the spiral mannequin paper has acquired practically 8,000 educational citations, and his six guidelines for appropriately utilizing the spiral mannequin have been used for many years since.
“His door was all the time extensive open”
Boehm authored greater than 900 publications, together with practically 200 journal articles, 6 textbooks, and a whole bunch of convention papers along with displays, keynotes, and webinars. His publications have over 70,000 citations listed in Google Scholar, and Springer evaluation lists him because the second most cited software program engineer on the earth.
However past his prolific publishing, intensive experience and cerebral prowess, Boehm was often called an affable, energetic and respectful colleague, mentor and buddy.
Along with his passing, our division misplaced considered one of its most distinguished members, and the sphere of computing misplaced an enormous.” Shang-Hua Teng.
“When he was in his workplace, his door was all the time extensive open, and I’m glad that I took the chance to stroll in and speak to him every time I handed by,” stated his colleague Shang-Hua Teng, a College Professor and Seeley G. Mudd Professor of Laptop Science and Arithmetic. “From these interactions with Barry, I discovered quite a bit about his insights on computing and his knowledge about life.”
In celebration of his achievements within the discipline, in 2007, the Worldwide Convention on Software program Engineering (ICSE) held an occasion entitled “Software program Engineering: The Legacy of Barry W. Boehm,” which included displays summarizing his contributions and their impression on the analysis and apply of software program engineering.
Organizers famous that, “Not many individuals…have constantly made important contributions over a 40-year time interval and earned respect throughout academia, business, and authorities audiences.”
Teng agrees with this sentiment, including, “[Boehm’s] work in making use of mathematical economics theories to software program engineering led to a principled framework that has had a large and profound impression on computing. Along with his passing, our division misplaced considered one of its most distinguished members, and the sphere of computing misplaced an enormous.”
An everlasting legacy
Amongst his many accolades and accomplishments, Boehm acquired the SERC Founders Award in 2018 and the INCOSE Pioneer Award in 2019 “for his work as a programs pioneer uniquely contributing to the development of programs engineering by means of intensive analysis, training and the applying thereof in business.”
He was fellow of the Worldwide Council on Programs Engineering (INCOSE), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the Affiliation of Computing Equipment (ACM), and the IEEE, and was elected as a member of the Nationwide Academy of Engineering in 1996.
Along with his analysis, Boehm was equally devoted to his college students. Based on Jo Ann Lane et. al, greater than thirty doctoral college students at USC have established their very own mental pursuits by constructing on Boehm’s analysis. He transferred to emeritus standing in Could 2022 to spend extra time together with his beloved spouse, Sharla, having served as a professor at USC for 3 many years.
“The time period ‘dwelling legend’ is overused, however I had the fortune of working subsequent to an actual one for practically 25 years,” stated Medvidovic. “Barry outlined an period in software program engineering, and I really feel fortunate to have identified him.”
Printed on September 1st, 2022
Final up to date on September 1st, 2022
