Software Processes Lecture 4

Requirements Engineering Process

• Software specification establishes required services and operational constraints for the system.
• Requirements elicitation involves gathering expectations from system stakeholders.
• Requirements specification defines requirements in detail for clarity.
• Requirements validation is the process of verifying the validity of stated requirements.

Software Design and Implementation

• Converts system specifications into executable systems through a structured approach.
• Software design is focused on creating a structure that fulfills the specifications.
• Implementation translates the design into an actual executable program.
• Design and implementation activities are often inter-related and can be conducted simultaneously.

Design Activities

• Architectural design identifies the system's overall structure, key components, and their interrelations.
• Database design involves creating system data structures and determining their representation in a database.
• Interface design defines interactions and interfaces between system components.
• Component selection includes identifying reusable components, and if none are available, designing new components.

System Implementation

• Implementation can either involve developing programs or configuring existing application systems.
• Design and implementation processes are closely intertwined for most software types.
• Programming tends to be a solitary activity without a standardized process.
• Debugging focuses on identifying and correcting faults within the program.

Software Validation

• Verification and validation (V&V) ensures that a system aligns with its specifications and fulfills customer requirements.
• Processes include checks, reviews, and systematic testing of the system.
• System testing involves executing the system with test cases based on real data specifications.
• Testing is recognized as the primary V&V activity in software development.

Stages of Testing

• Component testing assesses individual components, which could be functions or objects.
• System testing evaluates the entire system, with an emphasis on testing emergent properties.
• Customer testing utilizes customer data to ensure that the system meets the specified needs.

Software Evolution

• Software is naturally adaptable, necessitating changes as business requirements evolve.
• The distinction between development and maintenance is blurring, as modern systems often require ongoing evolution rather than being entirely new.

System Evolution

• Continuous adaptation and enhancement of software systems is essential to support shifting business environments and requirements.

This quiz covers Lecture 4 on Software Processes, focusing on the requirements engineering process. It encompasses the stages of requirements elicitation, analysis, and specification, detailing how to determine system stakeholder needs and constraints.