8 ◾ Software Essentials
modern soware systems. Soware use is no longer conned to experts.
Soware systems target a wide range of users, possibly multinational, with
diering levels of expertise. Soware systems are more likely to be distrib-
uted and consist of several components integrated together. Hence, design
priorities shi from computer performance issues, such as data storage
and processor clock cycles, to user expectations, such as responsive inter-
faces and meaningful error processing.
For example, an online reservation system must process requests to
reserve an item, whether the item is a library book, a plane ticket, or a seat
in a theater. Typically, a reservation system must be accessible in-house and/
or externally, oen ...