Which event is credited with the origin of Software Engineering?

The origin of Software Engineering is most commonly credited to the 1968 NATO Conference held in Garmisch, Germany. This conference brought together leading figures in computer science and engineering to address the growing complexities of software development. During this event, participants recognized the increasing difficulty of managing software projects due to their size and complexity, leading to a call for more structured methodologies and practices to improve the development process.

The discussions at this conference highlighted the need for a disciplined approach to software development, which ultimately laid the groundwork for the formal establishment of Software Engineering as a distinct field. It emphasized the importance of applying engineering principles to software development, thereby directly influencing how software projects are managed and executed.

While other events mentioned in the options contributed to the evolution of the field in various ways, none had the foundational impact that the NATO Conference had on the formal recognition and development of Software Engineering as a discipline.