Posted by s.hettrick on 12 December 2011 - 10:58am

The IEEE Computer Society is seeking public review comments for Version 3 of the Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK). This guide spells out components of the software engineering discipline, promoting a consistent view of software engineering worldwide. To review the latest guide, visit the review site.

The IEEE Computer Society’s two software development certifications—the Certified Software Development Associate (CSDA) for entry-level developers and the Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) credential for mid-career professionals are both based on the SWEBOK Guide. The CSDA and the CSDP are the first two certifications that conform to the ISO/IEC 24773 standard, which stipulates methods of certifying software engineering professionals worldwide.

The newest version of the SWEBOK Guide includes new topic areas, updated topic descriptions, and retirement of topics that are no longer relevant. Five new knowledge areas (KAs) provide a guide to foundational knowledge in software engineering. The new guide will feature better integration of the related disciplines, and renaming and distribution of some material into different knowledge areas.

Software practitioners worldwide participate in the Guide’s development to ensure that it captures established traditional practices recommended by many organizations. The SWEBOK Guide uses a rigorous process that includes successive levels of review. Each of the fifteen KAs will be published as they become available for review. Three knowledge areas are now available for review: Software Construction, Software Configuration Management, and Computing Foundations.

The deadline for review comments on these areas is 6 January, 2012. For more information, contact Dick Fairley, chair of the SWEBOK V3 Change Control Board.

For more details, visit the IEEE website.