This book introduces modern software engineering techniques specifically tailored for the development of software products and applications familiar to students. Ian Sommerville, an established author in the field, adopts an informal style to present relevant techniques for software product engineering, moving away from traditional project-based methods. The text covers contemporary topics such as personas and scenarios, cloud-based software, microservices, security and privacy, and DevOps, making it suitable for students with programming experience in languages like Java, Python, or Ruby.

The book is presented as an introductory text for software engineering students, focusing on practical, modern techniques relevant to current software products and apps. Its informal style and focus on contemporary topics like cloud computing, microservices, and DevOps aim to make the subject accessible to those with programming backgrounds. The approach prioritizes the engineering of software products over traditional project management methodologies, suggesting a practical and up-to-date perspective for aspiring software developers.