History of Computing: Software Issues International Conference on the History of Computing, ICHC 2000 April 5–7, 2000 Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum Paderborn, Germany

This book reviews the present understanding of the history of software and establishes an agenda for further research. By exploring this current understanding, the authors identify the fundamental elements of software. The problems and questions addressed in the book range from purely technical to societal issues. Thus, the articles presented offer a fresh view of this history with new categories and interrelated themes, comparing and contrasting software with artefacts in other disciplines, so as to ascertain in what ways software is similar to and different from other technologies.
This volume is based on the international conference "Mapping the History of Computing: Software Issues", held in April 2000 at the Heinz Nixdorf Museums Forum in Paderborn, Germany.

Pioneering Work in Software During the 50s in Central Europe.- Software as Science—Science as Software.- Commentary on Michael S. Mahoney.- Software as Science? Commentary on Michael S. Mahoney.- Software as Engineering.- Commentary on James E. Tomayko.- Commentary on James E. Tomayko.- A View from the Sonnenbichl: On the Historical Sociology of Software and System Dependability.- Commentary on Donald MacKenzie.- Dependability Then and Now: Commentary on Donald MacKenzie.- Software as Labor Process.- Are Programmers Oppressed by Monopoly Capital, or Shall the Geeks Inherit the Earth? Commentary on Nathan Ensmenger & William Aspray.- A Commentary on David A. Hounshell’s Commentary on “Software as Labor Process”.- Software as an Economic Activity.- Commentary on Martin Campbell-Kelly.- Commentary on Martin Campbell-Kelly.- A Note on Martin Campbell-Kelly’s “Software as an Economic Activity” and David Mowery’s “Commentary”.- Collecting Software: Preserving Information in an Object-Centred Culture.- Commentary on Doron Swade.- Towards a Software Museum: Challenges and Opportunities.- Towards a Software Museum: Challenges and Opportunities.- Preserving Software in History Museums: A Material Culture Approach.- Commentary on David K. Allison, “Preserving Software in History Museums”.- Probing the Elephant: How Do the Parts Fit Together?.