Section 3: Software development

Question 1

What are the 5 basic stages of software development?

Answer 1

5 basic stages of software development:

1. Analysis
2. Design
3. Programming and testing
4. Implementation
5. Evaluation

Question 2

What occurs in the analysis stage of software development?

Answer 2

During analysis, the problem at hand is defined. This could include:

• The data required i.e. its origin, uses and characteristics
• The procedures
• The future i.e. development plans and expected growth rates
• Problems with any existing system (if there is one)

Question 3

What occurs in the design stage of software development?

Answer 3

The designers of the system will consider some or all of the following:

• Modular structure and content of the program
• Data structures
• Peripherals
• User interface
• Security
• Hardware

Question 4

What is the difference between black box testing and white box testing?

Answer 4

White box testing is dependent on the code logic, testing the structure of the program through every possible path at least once. However, black box testing is done independent of the code by someone who has no knowledge of the code in order to test its functionality.

Question 5

What is alpha testing?

Answer 5

Alpha testing is testing carried out by the software developer’s in-house testing team. This allows basic functionality errors to be spotted and potential gaps in the fulfillment of user requirements.

Question 6

What is beta testing?

Answer 6

Beta testing is a process by which a number of potential users of the software agree to use the system and report any problems that they find to the developers. This allows the program to be exposed to the real world and can detect errors that the developers did not anticipate.

Question 7

What occurs in the implementation stage of software development?

Answer 7

Once the coding and testing has been carried out, the program is installed on the user’s system. This is likely to lead to more errors surfacing.

Question 8

What occurs in the evaluation stage of software development?

Answer 8

The evaluation is likely to include a post-implementation review, which is a critical examination of the system 3-6 months after it has been put into operation. Shortcomings of the system will become apparent and users will be given a chance to discuss potential improvements.

Question 9

What are the 3 criterion that software is often evaluated on?

Answer 9

• Effectiveness
• Usability
• Maintainability

Question 10

What is the waterfall lifecycle model?

Answer 10

The Waterfall Model is the model in which each of the 5 basic software development stages are completed one at a time from beginning to end.

Question 11

What are the advantages of the waterfall lifecycle model?

Answer 11

Advantages:

• Simple process
• Can be cheap provided that the developers get the product correct first time

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of the waterfall lifecycle model?

Answer 12

Disadvantages:

• After the initial analysis stage, there is little customer involvement
• Can be expensive if mistakes are made throughout the process

Question 13

What is the spiral model?

Answer 13

The spiral model uses the same basic steps of software development, however it does this cyclically while producing prototypes for each iteration of the cycle. Each iteration is structured around the next prototype, building on the feedback from the previous prototype.

Question 14

What are the advantages of the spiral model?

Answer 14

Advantages:

• Regularly involves the user
• Regular incremental refinement of the product, rather than having to made a big set of changes after evaluation
• Good for big projects that may take years to deliver

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of the spiral model?

Answer 15

Disadvantages:

• Can be expensive
• Too time-consuming for smaller projects

Question 16

What is the agile model?

Answer 16

In an agile model, an agile approach is used at each stage of development. This means that the analysis, design and implementation stages may not be completed linearly. Some analysis might be done, then some parts of the system would be designed and implemented while others are still being analysed. Throughout this, feedback is received from the user as it is an iterative process.

Question 17

What is extreme programming?

Answer 17

Extreme programming is a software development methodology which is intended to improve the software quality and responsiveness to user requirements. Frequent releases of the software are made in short development cycles, which can improve productivity and introduce checkpoints at which new customer requirements can be adopted.

Question 18

What is Rapid Application Development (RAD)?

Answer 18

Rapid Application Development is a methodology that looks to combat the cancelling of projects due to changes in technology and user requirements. It does this by using very close contact with the user (e.g. through focus groups), continuous prototyping involving input from the users, sticking to strict time limits for each part of the system and reusing software components that have been used elsewhere.

Question 19

What are the 4 major programming paradigms?

Answer 19

4 major programming paradigms:

• Procedural programming
• Object-oriented programming
• Declarative programming
• Functional programming

Question 20

What is polymorphism?

Answer 20

Polymorphism is the ability of a language to redefine methods for defined classes when using object-oriented programming.

Question 21

What is assembly language?

Answer 21

Assembly language is an advancement upon machine code that, instead of using binary numbers, uses mnemonics to represent machine code instructions - 1 assembly language instruction = 1 machine code instruction.

Question 22

What is immediate addressing?

Answer 22

Immediate addressing is where the operand is the actual value to be used in the instruction, often preceded by a #

Question 23

What is direct addressing?

Answer 23

Direct addressing is where the operand is the memory address of the value to be used in the instruction.

Question 24

What is indirect addressing?

Answer 24

Indirect addressing is where the operand is the memory address that contains the memory address of the value to be used in the instruction.

Question 25

What is indexed addressing?

Answer 25

Indexed addressing is where the operand is the value of the index register and a constant value, the sum of which is used to access the contents of an array held in successive memory locations.