CSC/ECE 517 Fall 2009/wiki3 7 Agile

Similar to the design pattern which give structure and name to commonly occuring problem, Software development methodology or system development methodology is a frame work which is used to structure, plan, and control the process of developing an information system.

Development methodologies

Introduction

Software Development Methodology (SDM) or Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is the documented collection of policies, processes and procedures used to conduct a Software Engineering project. Software Engineering project involves various stages viz. analysis, design, developement, testing, documentation, implementation and evaluation.

The art of Software Development requires a clear understanding of the project or business goals by both the customer commissioning the project and the technical team. It is the software devlopers role to then communicate with the project sponsor and translate a business concept into a working software system in a timely and effective manner.

The use of systematic processes for the development of software reduces the risk that is inherent in any software project. These processes must be put in place in a careful manner to allow technical team members to solve problems in a creative and skillful manner.

Software Development Methodolgies involve four key steps

1. Requirements This is the phase where the Business Analyst or Project Manager works with the Customer to understand the project goals and translate this into a desired set of functional objectives.

2. Design In this phase a solution is mapped out with 'pen and paper'. The solution describes how the final software will operate and includes other practical components including the technologies to be used, hardware requirements, impact on other information systems and the time and resources required to implement the software.

3. Implementation This is the time where the agreed project plans are coded into a practical working system.

4. Testing Testing is performed on discrete units of the computer system as well as the solution as a whole. A tracibility matrix can be used to ensure that each functional objective set in the requirements phase has been solved.

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References

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