CHAPTER TWENTY

Software Development

THIS CHAPTER LOOKS at the software development design process and covers the separation of specification and implementation in programming, requirements-specification methodologies, and technical process design. In addition, database creation and manipulation, principles of good screen and report design, and program language alignment are covered.

DEVELOPING A SYSTEM

The process of developing a new computer system is commonly known as the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and consists of a finite and predefined number of tasks, which include:

  • Analyze
  • Design
  • Code
  • Test
  • Retest
  • Redesign
  • Retest
  • Run
  • Audit

As seen in Chapter 11, the SDLC can come in a variety of forms including the waterfall, iterative spiral, or vee, to name but three. Regardless of the model taken SDLC will split these tasks into:

  • Feasibility study to decide if the project is worthwhile
  • Outline design, which involves analyzing and designing the new business system
  • Detailed design, where computer programs are specified, file layouts designed, and access rules laid out
  • Code, test, and implement, where programs are written, tested, and signed-off
  • Conversion, which involves acquiring data and converting it into the new formats
  • Installation and live running
  • Post-implementation review to determine what went wrong with the SDLC process itself

Feasibility Study

Systems proposals come from a variety of sources and for a variety of reasons. They may come from the Board of Directors ...

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