Software design and development

• What does the iterative development process involve?

  Working through a specific set of steps in order
• What can be done if an error or change occurs in the iterative development process?

  Steps can be revisited at any time
• What must be done after jumping back to a previous step in the iterative development process?

  All subsequent steps must be revisited in order
• What is the most common iterative development methodology?

  The waterfall model
• What are the seven stages of the waterfall model?

  • Analysis
  • Design
  • Implementation
  • Testing
  • Documentation
  • Evaluation
  • Maintenance
• What pneumonic can be used to remember the stages of the waterfall model?

  A Dance In The Dark Every Monday
• What is the purpose of the analysis stage in the waterfall model?

  • Identify inputs, processes, and outputs
  • Conduct interviews, surveys, and observations
  • List functional and end user requirements
  • Write the software specification
• Who carries out the analysis in the waterfall model?

  A Systems Analyst
• What does the purpose of a program describe?

  What the program is and what it will be used for
• What are the three sections the purpose of a program is broken down into?

  • Inputs
  • Processes
  • Outputs
• What are inputs in the context of a program?

  Data entered into the program by the user
• What does the process in a program refer to?

  What the program does with the data
• What is the output of a program?

  The information given to the user as a result of the process
• What are functional requirements in a program?

  • Features and functions of the program
  • Necessary inputs, processes, and outputs
  • Examples include:
  • Asking the user for 10 numbers
  • Calculating a total
  • Displaying the total to the user
• What are end user requirements?

  • Requests on how the program will look
  • Do not cover the workings of the program
  • Examples include:
  • Instructions for buttons
  • Specific color and font requirements
• What is the role of a Systems Analyst?

  To collect information about the problem
• How does a Systems Analyst gather information?

  By interviewing clients, conducting surveys, and observing staff
• What is a software specification?

  A legally binding contract between the client and the developer
• What is the output of the analysis stage?

  The software specification
• What is the design stage in the waterfall model?

  • Uses end user and functional requirements
  • Plans how the program looks and works
  • Breaks the program into smaller tasks
  • Tasks include wireframes, flow charts, structured diagrams, and pseudocode
• What is top-down design?

  • Starts with the program as a whole
  • Breaks it down into smaller, manageable steps
  • Each step is represented in a structured diagram or pseudocode
• What is a wireframe?

  A sketch of how the user interface will look
• Why is it important to label parts of a wireframe?

  To indicate the type of object and its purpose
• What is a flowchart?

  • A visual representation of the program
  • Uses arrows to show the flow of steps
  • Read from top to bottom
• What is a structured diagram?

  • A visual representation of the program
  • Does not use arrows
  • Read from left to right
• What is pseudocode?

  A written plan of the program in an English-like language
• What is the output of the design stage?

  • Completed pseudocode
  • Completed wireframe
  • Given to the programmer for coding
• What is a text editor?

  Software used to write program code and create the user interface
• What features do text editors have?

  Find and replace, font styles, spell check
• What is the implementation stage in the waterfall model?

  • Actual creation of the user interface and program code
  • Programmers use outputs from the design stage
• What is a variable in programming?

  A storage location for data inputted by the user
• Why must variables be declared at the start of a program?

  To allocate memory for the data
• What are the five data types you need to know for N5?

  • String
  • Integer
  • Single
  • Boolean
  • Char
• What does a string data type store?

  Text and alphanumeric characters
• What does an integer data type store?

  Whole numbers, both positive and negative
• What does a single data type store?

  Decimal numbers, fractions, and large or small numbers
• What does a boolean data type store?

  Only two values: True or False
• What does a char data type store?

  A single character, usually a letter
• How do you assign values to variables?

  • In pseudocode: SET variable_name TO data_value
  • In VB: FirstName = "Michelle" or Age = 21
• What does the end button do in a program?

  Allows the program to stop running and close down