View source for Software Engineering Institute

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}

{{Short description|Federally funded research center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox research institute
|name             = Software Engineering Institute
|native_name      =
|image            = [[File:Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute.JPG|220px]]
|motto            =
|established      = {{Start date|1984|11|14}}
|type             = Multiprogram
|budget           = US$584 million for 2011–2015
|debt             =
|research_field   = [[Software engineering]]
|director         = Paul D. Nielsen
|staff            = 700
|address          = 4500 Fifth Avenue
|city             = [[Pittsburgh]]
|state            = [[Pennsylvania]]
|country          = [[United States]]
|coordinates      = {{Coord|40.4466|-79.9500|region:US_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
|location_map     = Pittsburgh
|zipcode          = 15213
|campus           =
|affiliations     = {{ indented plainlist |
*[[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]
*[[Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering]]
}}
|operating_agency = [[Carnegie Mellon University]]
|nobel_laureates  =
|website          = {{URL|https://www.sei.cmu.edu|sei.cmu.edu}}
|logo             =
|footnotes        =
}}
'''Software Engineering Institute''' ('''SEI''') is a [[Federally funded research and development centers|federally funded research and development center]] in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. Founded in 1984, the institute is now sponsored by the [[United States Department of Defense]] and the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering|Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering]], and administrated by [[Carnegie Mellon University]].<ref name=DoDFunding>{{cite journal
|title=Software engineering institute (SEI)
|author=Linda Hutz Pesante
|journal=Encyclopedia of Computer Science
|publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|John Wiley and Sons Ltd.]]
|location=[[Chichester]], West Sussex, UK
|editor1=Anthony Ralston
|editor2=Edwin D. Reilly
|isbn=978-0-470-86412-8
|date=January 1, 2003
|pages=1611–1613
|url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/1074100.1074803
|quote="(1) The institute was competitively awarded to [[Carnegie Mellon]] in December 1984 by the [[US Department of Defense]] (DoD) to improve the state of the practice of software engineering. ... (2) the SEI moves mature solutions of proven value into widespread use; examples include the [[Capability Maturity Model]] (CMM) ... (3) bring engineering insight and management discipline to the practice of software engineering."}} {{free access}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Master Government List of Federally Funded R&D Centers {{!}} NCSES {{!}} NSF |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=www.nsf.gov |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217073602/https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The activities of the institute cover [[cybersecurity]], [[software assurance]], [[software engineering]] and acquisition, and component capabilities critical to the United States Department of Defense.

==Authority==
The Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute is a [[federally funded research and development center]] headquartered on the campus of [[Carnegie Mellon University]] in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]],  [[United States]]. The SEI also has offices in  [[Washington, DC]]; [[Arlington County, Virginia]]; and [[Los Angeles]], California. The SEI operates with major funding from the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]]. The SEI also works with industry and academia through research collaborations.<ref name=DoDFunding/>

On November 14, 1984, the U.S. Department of Defense elected Carnegie Mellon University as the host site of the Software Engineering Institute.<ref name=DoDFunding/>
The institute was founded with an initial allocation of $6 million, with another $97 million to be allocated in the subsequent five years. The SEI's contract with the Department of Defense is subject to review and renewal every five years.

SEI focuses on several technical directions: [[software engineering]], [[cybersecurity]], [[Software Assurance |assurance]], and [[DoD]] [[high-performance computing |critical component capabilities]].<ref>{{cite web
|title=2015 Year in Review
|page=4
|url= https://insights.sei.cmu.edu/documents/2342/2016_001_001_465447.pdf
|publisher=[[Software Engineering Institute]], [[Carnegie Mellon University]]
|year=2015}}</ref>

==Areas of work==
The SEI defines specific initiatives aimed at improving organizations' software engineering capabilities.

=== Management practices===
Organizations need to effectively manage the acquisition, development, and evolution (ADE) of software-intensive systems. Success in software engineering management practices helps organizations predict and control quality, schedule, cost, cycle time, and productivity. The best-known example of SEI  in management practices is the SEI's [[Capability Maturity Model|Capability Maturity Model (CMM)]] for Software (now [[Capability Maturity Model Integration|Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)]]). The CMMI approach consists of models, appraisal methods, and training courses that have been proven to improve process performance. In 2006, Version 1.2 of the CMMI Product Suite included the release of CMMI for Development. CMMI for Development was the first of three constellations defined in Version 1.2: the others include CMMI for Acquisition and CMMI for Services. The CMMI for Services constellation was released in February 2009. Another management practice developed by CERT, which is part of the SEI, is the Resilience Management Model (CERT-RMM). The CERT-RMM is a capability model for operational resilience management. Version 1.0 of the Resilience Management Model was released in May 2010.

===Engineering practices===
SEI work in engineering practices increases the ability of software engineers to analyze, predict, and control selected
functional and non-functional properties of software systems. Key SEI tools and methods include the SEI [[Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method]] (ATAM) method, the SEI Framework for Software Product Line Practice, and the SEI Service Migration and Reuse Technique (SMART).

===Security===
The SEI is also the home of the [[CERT/CC]] (CERT Coordination Center), a federally funded computer security organization. The SEI CERT Program's primary goals are to ensure that appropriate technology and systems-management practices are used to resist attacks on networked systems and to limit damage and ensure continuity of critical services in spite of successful attacks, accidents, or failures. The SEI CERT program is working with [[US-CERT]] to produce the Build Security In (BSI) website, which provides guidelines for building security into every phase of the [[software development lifecycle]]. The SEI has also conducted research on insider threats and [[computer forensics]]. Results of this research and other information now populate the CERT Virtual Training Environment.

==Special programs==

===SEI Partner Network===
The SEI Partner Network helps the SEI disseminate software engineering best practices. Organizations and individuals in the SEI Partner Network are selected, trained, and licensed by the SEI to deliver authentic SEI services, which include courses, consulting methods, and management processes.  The network currently consists of nearly 250 partner organizations worldwide.

===Conferences===
The SEI sponsors national and international conferences, workshops, and user-group meetings. Other events cover subjects including the acquisition of software-intensive systems, [[commercial off-the-shelf]] (COTS)-based systems, network security and survivability, software process research, [[software product line]]s, CMMI, and the SEI Team Software Process.

===Education and training===
[[File:Software Engineering Institute.jpg|thumb|Main facility on Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh.]]
SEI courses are currently offered at the SEI's locations in the United States and Europe. In addition, using licensed course materials, SEI Partners train individuals.

===Membership program===
The SEI Membership Program helps the software engineering community to network. SEI Members include small business owners, software and systems programmers, CEOs, directors, and managers from both Fortune 500 companies and government organizations.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.sei.cmu.edu/about/work-with-us/index.cfm| title = Work With Us Page| access-date = March 26, 2018| archive-date = March 8, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210308233958/https://www.sei.cmu.edu/about/work-with-us/index.cfm| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Affiliate program===
Through the SEI Affiliate Program, organizations place technical experts with the SEI for periods ranging from 12 months to four years. Affiliates currently are working on projects with the SEI to identify, develop, and demonstrate improved software engineering practices.

===Software Process Achievement award program===
In order to recognize outstanding achievements in improving an organization's ability to create and evolve software-dependent systems, the SEI and [[IEEE Computer Society]] created the [[Software Process Achievement Award]] program.<ref>[http://www.sei.cmu.edu/process/casestudies/processawards/ Software Process Award program] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929093206/http://www.sei.cmu.edu/process/casestudies/processawards/ |date=September 29, 2017 }}.</ref> In addition to rewarding excellence, the purpose of this award is to foster continuous advancement in the practice of software engineering and to disseminate insights, experiences, and proven practices throughout the relevant research and practitioner communities.

==Research and publications==
The SEI publishes reports that offer new technical information about software engineering topics, whether theoretical or applied. The SEI also publishes books on [[software engineering]] for industry, government and military applications and practices.

In addition, the SEI offers public courses, workshops, and conferences in process improvement, software architecture and product lines, and security.

==Controversies==

{{Further|CERT Coordination Center#Operation Onymous | Operation Onymous#Tor 0-day exploit | Tor (network)#Relay early attack }}

On November 11, 2015, [[Roger Dingledine]] from [[the Tor Project]] accused<ref>{{cite web| url = https://blog.torproject.org/did-fbi-pay-university-attack-tor-users| title = Did the FBI Pay a University to Attack Tor Users?| access-date = March 29, 2020| archive-date = March 8, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145659/https://blog.torproject.org/did-fbi-pay-university-attack-tor-users| url-status = live}}</ref> the Software Engineering Institute of aiding the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] in uncovering the identities of users of the [[Tor network]].  Later prosecution showed the hack was paid for by the Department of Defense and subpoenaed by the FBI.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/d7yp5a/carnegie-mellon-university-attacked-tor-was-subpoenaed-by-feds| title = Confirmed: Carnegie Mellon University Attacked Tor, Was Subpoenaed By Feds| date = February 24, 2016| access-date = September 6, 2017| archive-date = March 28, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190328163206/https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/d7yp5a/carnegie-mellon-university-attacked-tor-was-subpoenaed-by-feds| url-status = live}}</ref>

==Focus of progressive protests==
SEI has been an occasional site of [[anti-war movement]] and [[peace movement]] protests,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.democracynow.org/2004/11/19/carnegie_military_university_how_the_pentagon| title = Democracy Now! {{!}} Carnegie Military University : How the Pentagon Funds Universities to Contribute to War| website = [[Democracy Now!]]| access-date = December 3, 2007| archive-date = September 4, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200904152544/https://www.democracynow.org/2004/11/19/carnegie_military_university_how_the_pentagon| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thetartan.org/2007/3/26/news/war| title = The Tartan Online : Pittsburgh walks for peace| access-date = December 3, 2007| archive-date = December 5, 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003753/http://thetartan.org/2007/3/26/news/war| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07083/772350-100.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=1,200 demonstrate against Iraq War in Oakland | date=March 24, 2007 | access-date=December 3, 2007 | archive-date=June 29, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629055716/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07083/772350-100.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> many of which have been organized by [[Thomas Merton Center (Pittsburgh)|Pittsburgh's Thomas Merton Center]].

==Popular culture==
[[File:SEI from Mellon Institute.jpg|thumb|The tunnel in SEI served as the entrance to Blackgate Prison in The Dark Knight Rises.]]
*SEI served as the Blackgate Prison in the 2012 film ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]''.

==See also==
{{Portal|Engineering}}
* [[Software engineer]]
* [[Personal software process]] (PSP)
* [[Team software process]] (TSP)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book | author=Fenton, Edwin | title=Carnegie Mellon 1900–2000: A Centennial History | location=Pittsburgh | publisher=[[Carnegie Mellon University Press]] | year=2000 | isbn=0-88748-323-2}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.sei.cmu.edu}}

{{Carnegie Mellon}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Software engineering organizations]]
[[Category:Computer science institutes in the United States]]
[[Category:Federally Funded Research and Development Centers]]
[[Category:Carnegie Mellon University]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1984]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Cyberwarfare]]
[[Category:Military research organizations in the United States]]