, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE TO ANSWER YOUR ASSIGNMENT
1. Explain how advances in technology can force a software subsystem to undergo change or
risk becoming useless.
Obsolescence of Underlying Hardware and Software Platforms
Software subsystems are often designed and optimized to work with specific hardware. As
technology advances, new, faster, and more efficient hardware platforms emerge, rendering older
hardware obsolete. Subsystems designed for outdated hardware struggle to maintain compatibility
with modern systems, especially as hardware components evolve rapidly. For instance, a subsystem
developed for older processors might be optimized to run efficiently on hardware with limited
processing power. When new, more powerful hardware becomes the standard, these legacy systems
may be slow, inefficient, or incompatible, requiring significant updates or even complete redesigns.
If the hardware upon which a subsystem depends is no longer available or supported, its
functionality diminishes, and the system risks becoming completely obsolete. In such cases, software
subsystems may need to be updated, re-engineered, or replaced entirely to continue functioning with
newer hardware.
Equally important is the obsolescence of support software. Many legacy subsystems depend on
outdated operating systems, utilities, or compilers that are no longer supported by their original
providers. This lack of ongoing support means that critical security vulnerabilities or bugs are left
unaddressed, and the system's ability to interface with newer software or technologies becomes
increasingly problematic. Without updates or modifications to adapt to current standards, subsystems
built on these outdated platforms risk becoming completely incompatible with modern technological
environments. Additionally, if subsystems are coded in programming languages that are no longer in
use or have minimal developer support, finding qualified professionals to maintain or upgrade the
system becomes increasingly difficult and costly.
Emergence of New Technologies and System Paradigms
Advancements in technology also create new paradigms that demand substantial changes to existing
software subsystems. The widespread adoption of the Internet and the World Wide Web
fundamentally shifted how software systems are developed and delivered. The need for distributed,
networked systems has become paramount, and subsystems that cannot accommodate this shift face
the risk of becoming irrelevant. For example, subsystems that are not designed with modern,
service-oriented architectures or that cannot interface with cloud-based solutions are likely to be left
behind. If a subsystem cannot interact effectively with the growing ecosystem of interconnected,
online systems, it will likely lose its utility in a digitally connected world.
Cloud computing is another major technological leap that forces subsystems to undergo change.
With more applications being delivered through "Software as a Service" (SaaS) models, subsystems
originally designed to run on local servers or on-premise hardware must be re-engineered to operate
efficiently within cloud infrastructures. The scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency of cloud-based
solutions have fundamentally altered how businesses operate, requiring subsystems to adapt to this
new environment. Without the necessary adjustments, subsystems may struggle to integrate into
modern business processes, which increasingly rely on cloud technologies. In the same vein, as
systems grow in complexity and scale, the demands on subsystems evolve. The development of
"systems of systems," which are highly complex and interdependent, requires subsystems to become
more adaptable and capable of handling larger volumes of data and transactions. This often
necessitates rethinking subsystems’ architecture, interface design, and integration strategies.
1. Explain how advances in technology can force a software subsystem to undergo change or
risk becoming useless.
Obsolescence of Underlying Hardware and Software Platforms
Software subsystems are often designed and optimized to work with specific hardware. As
technology advances, new, faster, and more efficient hardware platforms emerge, rendering older
hardware obsolete. Subsystems designed for outdated hardware struggle to maintain compatibility
with modern systems, especially as hardware components evolve rapidly. For instance, a subsystem
developed for older processors might be optimized to run efficiently on hardware with limited
processing power. When new, more powerful hardware becomes the standard, these legacy systems
may be slow, inefficient, or incompatible, requiring significant updates or even complete redesigns.
If the hardware upon which a subsystem depends is no longer available or supported, its
functionality diminishes, and the system risks becoming completely obsolete. In such cases, software
subsystems may need to be updated, re-engineered, or replaced entirely to continue functioning with
newer hardware.
Equally important is the obsolescence of support software. Many legacy subsystems depend on
outdated operating systems, utilities, or compilers that are no longer supported by their original
providers. This lack of ongoing support means that critical security vulnerabilities or bugs are left
unaddressed, and the system's ability to interface with newer software or technologies becomes
increasingly problematic. Without updates or modifications to adapt to current standards, subsystems
built on these outdated platforms risk becoming completely incompatible with modern technological
environments. Additionally, if subsystems are coded in programming languages that are no longer in
use or have minimal developer support, finding qualified professionals to maintain or upgrade the
system becomes increasingly difficult and costly.
Emergence of New Technologies and System Paradigms
Advancements in technology also create new paradigms that demand substantial changes to existing
software subsystems. The widespread adoption of the Internet and the World Wide Web
fundamentally shifted how software systems are developed and delivered. The need for distributed,
networked systems has become paramount, and subsystems that cannot accommodate this shift face
the risk of becoming irrelevant. For example, subsystems that are not designed with modern,
service-oriented architectures or that cannot interface with cloud-based solutions are likely to be left
behind. If a subsystem cannot interact effectively with the growing ecosystem of interconnected,
online systems, it will likely lose its utility in a digitally connected world.
Cloud computing is another major technological leap that forces subsystems to undergo change.
With more applications being delivered through "Software as a Service" (SaaS) models, subsystems
originally designed to run on local servers or on-premise hardware must be re-engineered to operate
efficiently within cloud infrastructures. The scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency of cloud-based
solutions have fundamentally altered how businesses operate, requiring subsystems to adapt to this
new environment. Without the necessary adjustments, subsystems may struggle to integrate into
modern business processes, which increasingly rely on cloud technologies. In the same vein, as
systems grow in complexity and scale, the demands on subsystems evolve. The development of
"systems of systems," which are highly complex and interdependent, requires subsystems to become
more adaptable and capable of handling larger volumes of data and transactions. This often
necessitates rethinking subsystems’ architecture, interface design, and integration strategies.
