SOFTWARE PROCESSES ARE SOFTWARE TOO.

Abstract

The author examines the nature of process, taking as the elementary notion of a process that it is a systematic approach to the creation of a product or the accomplishment of some task. This is used as the basis of a discussion of software processes. It is shown in what way this description of software processes differs from previous conceptions. A small example of a process program is presented and used to illustrate some of the benefits of the process programming approach. The advantages of process programming is discussed. The author then explains why he believes that software process descriptions should be considered to be software. A number of directions in which the notion of process programming can be pursued are discussed.