Evolution and manufacturing of finite element software: A historical and software engineering perspective

This paper presents a historical and technical analysis of the development of software based on the Finite Element Method (FEM), focusing on the manufacturing process and the evolution of software engineering practices employed since the early programs in the 1950s. The phases marking the transition from artisanal scientific programming to systematic software engineering are examined, including the evolution of development processes from the waterfall model to agile methods and continuous integration. The study highlights classic cases such as NASTRAN and SAP, and analyzes in detail the modern architecture of libraries such as deal.II, evidencing how separation of concerns, generic programming, and test automation have transformed these codes into complex and sustainable industrial products.