Software Development Processes

Question 1

Describe the waterfall model

Answer 1

A software development process where each stage must be completed before moving onto the next. At the end of the process you may return to specific steps and restart the process from that point. Cannot return to a previous step until completing all steps.
Includes:
Requirements definition
System and software design
Implementation and unit testing
Integration and system testing
Operation and maintenance

Question 2

V Model

Answer 2

Like the waterfall model but the output of each step is documentation or unused software.
Drawn as a V to show the relationship between activities.
It assumes that documents and unused software has value.
Steps:
Business modelling
Requirements
Analysis and design
Build
Test
Deployment

Question 3

List some advantages of the waterfall model

Answer 3

Forces precise definition of requirements
Includes a range of analysis and design tools
Avoids errors and reworking
Commonly understood
Used successfully by many organisations

Question 4

Describe Rapid Application Development (RAD)

Answer 4

A process involving small teams working close with the user community, building prototypes of systems and testing them.
It is an iterative process where users give feedback so the prototypes can be improved.

Question 5

Describe an iterative approach

Answer 5

Typically consists of four steps:
Inception: Prototype of concept
Elaboration: Proof of architecture prototype
Construction: Incomplete but working system
Transition: Used system

Question 6

List some advantages of an iterative process

Answer 6

Serious misunderstandings are highlighted early in development.
Enables user feedback.
Team is forced to focus on most critical issues first.
Continuous, iterative testing allows an objective assessment of the project’s status.
Inconsistencies between requirements, design, and implementations are detected early.
The workload of the team is spread more evenly throughout the project lifecycle.
The team can learn lesson and can improve as they learn.
Stakeholders are given concrete evidence of the project’s status throughout its development.

Question 7

Unified process

Answer 7

The waterfall model repeated over a number of iterations.

Concentrate only on valuable documents and valuable software.

Question 8

List the four phases of the unified process

Answer 8

Inception: Eliminate architectural risk.
Elaboration:Elaborate on the requirements of design.
Construction: Bring in large team of people and commit lots of resources. Less risky because of inception and elaboration phases.
Transition: Go live. Risk free because of previous steps.

Question 9

Describe the rational unified process

Answer 9

Each phase of the unified process is split into sub-phases:
Business modelling
Requirements
Analysis and design
Implementation
Test
Deployment
Configuration and change management
Project management
Environment