Software Development Approaches Flashcards
What are the five steps of the software development cycle
Defining and understanding the problem
Planning and designing
Implementation
Testing and evaluating
Maintenance
What are the factors that influence when choosing an approach
the size of the product
the nature of the product
the skills of the development personnel
the detail of the requirements
the finances available to fund the product development
what are the five common software development approaches
Structured Approach
Agile Approach
Prototyping Approach
RAD (Rapid Application Development) Approach
End User Development Approach
What is the Structured Approach
the structured approach is the traditional approach to software development, as the name suggests it involves a very structured, step-by-step stages. Each stage of the software development cycle must be completed before progressing the to the next step
the stages of the Structured approach
Defining and understanding the problem
Planning and designing
Implementation
Testing and Evaluation
Maintenance
What is another name for the Structured approach
The waterfall method
what is Structured approach best suited to
it is best suited to software developments where all the requirements of the product are, or can be defined and understood before any planning and designing commences.
what is a Driver (not debugging and testing technique)
It is the interface between a hardware device and an application
what is validation
the process of substantiating the requirements of a system.
where do most of the source of errors occur in the traditional approach
Defining and Understanding the problem (56%)
what is the relative cost of error corrections for errors originating at the defining and understanding the problem stage
Defining and understanding: 1
Planning and Designing: 5
Implementation: 10
Testing and evaluation: 40
Maintenace: 200
Characteristics of the Structured approach
it is the most formal approach
has 5 distinct stages (defining and understanding, Planning and Designing, Implementing, Test and Evaluating, Maintaining)
Requires a large time frame
There is very little room for error
Costs of developing with this software is expensive
what is the Agile development approach
Agile development approach is the quickest Software development cyle approach that creates apps in a short amount of time. It releases the product as fast as it can and continually releases update after update to keep up with the competition.
What are the characteristics of the Agile Approach
lack of formal stages
emphasis on collaboration and speed to market (development team and clients collaborate closely)
emphasis on the user’s experience
Emphasis on getting the product to the market
iteratively (continously) update and refine the product based on customer feedback
Responds well to changing specifications
what is the agile development approach best suited to
the Agile approach is best suited to web-based software development and other software applications that are modified reguluary (such that they can evolve and are updated over time)
What is are the stages of the Software development cycle for the Agile Approach
Defining and understanding initial problem
Plan, design and implement
Test and evaluate current solution
release working version to users
define and understand new requirements
What is a prototype
A prototype is an enactabled model or mock up of a software system that enables evaluation of features and functions in an operational scenario.
What is the prototyping approach
The prototyping approach creates re-tierations of a prototype leading up to the final prototype to progressively refine user requirements. This approach allows for interactions between the customers and the software developers.
what are the two major types of prototypes
Concept prototypes and Evolutionary Prototypes
what is a concept prototype
a concept prototype is prototype used to promote discussion and further enhance the developer’s knowledge of the customer’s requirements. This prototype is never meant to be the final product.
What is an evolutionary prototype
An evolutionary prototype is intended to be the intial prototype that will eventually become the final product. Each succesive generation of prototypes is an improvement on its predecessor to the eventually a level of functionality is reached where the prototype becomes the final product.
What is the RAD (Rapid Application Development) approach
The Rad approach is a software development approach that allows usable systems to be built within a small amount of time. It aims to get a working product up and operation as fast as possible even if some secondary requirements are not met.
What is API
API (Application Programmers Interface) is a set of functions and procedures built into the operating system that can be used by programmers
what are some disadvantages to using the RAD approach
buying modules may be more expensive than building from scratch
other software may be requried to be installed on customers’ devices
less efficient code because it is not specifically made for the particular job
Reliance on third party modules may sacrifice needed functionaliy and add unneeded functinoality
Using third party components may create legal problems
Characteristics of RAD Approach
Lacks formal stages
typically used for developing databases
Uses CASE Tools to assist development
Use of existing routines
Short time development period
small-scale project
low budget
Communication between developer and client
What are some advantages for using the RAD approach
Buying modules may save money compared with building them from scratch
greatly reduced manual coding
possibly fewer code errors as code is produced by CASE tools
Shorter software development cycle resulting in reduced costs
Standardised look and feel because of the use of APIs and other reusable components
What is an End User
the final person or persons who operates a software package
what is the End User Development Approach
The End user approach is where a person, or business create their own products by customising other applications using wizards, automatic code generating devices and Custom Off-The-Shelf packages (COTS for short).
what are the advantages of End User development
Adaptability to requirements
automate functions at low costs
the characteristics of end user approach
Use of standard software packages
End user as the developer and maintainer
Small budget
short time period for development
lack of formal stages
what are the disadvantages of End User development
the product will need to compormise between the requirements and the functionality
the product will not be as efficient compared to the product being developed from scratch
performance is often less than satisfactory
lower quality products are developed
what are CASE tools
Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools are used to assist and coordinate the activities involved in the process of software development. Any software tool that is used to assiste developers can be classified as CASE tools.
What are the four main methods of installation (or conversion)
Direct cut-over
Parallel
Phased
Pilot
What does CASE stand for
Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE)
what is the consequence of using Direct cut-over method
The consequence is that the developers must be absolutely sure that new system is totally functional and operational before using this conversion and users must be fully trained in the operation of the new system before the conversion takes place.
what are some of the functions that CASE tools provide
System modelling
Data dictionary creation
Product of documentation
Software versioning
Production of source code
What is the Direct Cut-Over Installation method
This method involves the old system being completely dropped and the new system being completely installed at the same time. (The old system is no longer available).
When do you use Direct Cut-over
when it is not feasible to operate two systems together.
What is the parallel method of installation (or conversion)
The parallel installation involves operating both systems together for a period, which allows any major problems discovered in the new system to be corrected without the loss of data.
When do you use Parallel methods of installation
This method of installation used when the product is of is crucial, meaning there would be dire consequences if the new system were to fail.
characteristics of Parallel conversion
operates both systems together for a period
allows uses to have time to familiarise themselves with the new system
old system remains as backup
double workload for the users
what is the phased method of installation (or conversion)
The phased installation is when converting from the old system to the new system involves a gradual introduction of the new features of the new system whilst replacing and turning off parts of the old system.
When do you use Phased conversion
Phased conversions are used when the product as a whole is still under development.
what is an advantage of using phased conversion
for large businesses the conversion process is more manageable.
what is the pilot method of installation (or conversion)
The pilot installation method is when the new system is installed for a small number of users. These users learn, use and evaluate the new system and once they deem it to be performing at a satisfactorily level then the new system is installed and used by all.
When do you use the Pilot installation method
Pilot installation method is used for new products, as it ensures functionality is at a level that can perform in a real operational setting.
characteristics of Pilot conversion
a small number of users test the system
allows a base of users to learn the system and then can assist with the training of others when the new system is installed
the final testing of a product
both the developer and customer are able to evaluate the product in an operational environment prior to its full installation.
what are Current Employment trends in Software Development
Outsourcing
Contract programmers
what is outsourcing
Outsourcing is when a business hire the services of a specialist software developer.
what are some reasons why businesses may choose to outsource software development
to reduce and control costs
higher quality results
to free internal resources for other purposes
resources not available internally
access to new technologies
faster developement times
and specialists respond better to change
what is a Contract programmer
a contract programmers are where a programmer is employed for a short-term product to write particular software products
what are the main trends in the software development
the Environment in which the developer works
Changing nature of applications
what are the main changing in nature of applications categories
web-based software
learning objects
widgets
apps
appelts
web 2.0 tools
Cloud computing
Mobile phone technologies
Collaborative environments
What is web-based software
it is a software that is runned on a web server on the World Wide Web.
what is a learning object
A learning object is a collection of resources used to teach a specific chunk of knowledge (they are an actual collection of resources.)
what is the difference between Learning Management systems and learning Content Management systems
Learning Management systems (LMS) are used to deliver the learning objects to the students whereas an Learning Content Management systems (LCMS) used to produce and publish the digital content.
what is a widget
A widget is a graphical user interface (GUI) element, for example text boxes, menus, raido buttons and checkboxeses.
What is an App
An App is an appliaction that is executed on mobile phones, due to restricted RAM and secondary storage they are generally much smaller applications compare to their desktop alternatives.
What is an Applet
An applet is a small application
What is Web 2.0 tools
Web 2.0 tools are about user participation and collaboration.
What is Cloud Computing
Cloud Computer refers to software as a services.
what does cloud mean in cloud computing
cloud refers to the unkown nature of devices providing this service.
What are examples of Mobile Phone technologies
Digital cameras
internet connectivitiy
Bluetooth
GPS recievers
What are Collaborative envrionements
is an environment that aims to allow distributed workers or friends to communicate as if they were working physically alongside each other.
what is Voice Over IP
short for VoIP are systems that provide high quality audio between teams of workers.
