CPSC-3720 Midterm

What is the main difference between Waterfall and Agile SDLC models?

Waterfall is sequential and rigid, while Agile is iterative and flexible.

What are the five key stages of the SDLC?

Requirements Analysis, Design, Implementation (Coding), Testing, Deployment & Maintenance.

Why is building large software products harder than simple programs according to Fred Brooks?

Large systems involve dependencies, multiple developers, integration challenges, and documentation needs, making them exponentially complex.

What are the Three C’s of User Stories?

Card, Conversation, Confirmation.

Which Agile role removes obstacles and ensures Scrum principles are followed?

Scrum Master.

What are the four key Scrum ceremonies?

Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum (Stand-up), Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective.

What does the INVEST acronym stand for in user stories?

Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimatable, Small, Testable.

What is the purpose of a Burndown Chart in Scrum?

To visually track remaining work in a sprint.

What is the difference between a Product Backlog and a Sprint Backlog?

A Product Backlog contains all desired features, while a Sprint Backlog includes tasks selected for the current sprint.

Why do microservices favor low coupling and high cohesion?

Low coupling ensures independence, while high cohesion groups related functionality together, improving maintainability.

What is the main advantage of microservices over monolithic architecture?

Microservices allow for independent scaling, deployment, and fault isolation.

What are two key components of a REST API request?

Headers and HTTP Methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).

What is the difference between a Path Parameter and a Query Parameter in a REST API?

A Path Parameter identifies a resource (/users/{id}), while a Query Parameter modifies a request (?name=John).

What type of testing ensures individual software components work as expected?

Unit Testing.

What is cruft in software development?

Unnecessary, outdated, or poorly written code that reduces maintainability.

What is the difference between Validation and Verification?

Validation checks if the right product is being built, while Verification ensures the product is built correctly.

What does Conway’s Law state?

A software system’s design will reflect the communication structure of the organization that built it.

What does 'Don’t Flip the Bozo Bit' mean according to Jim McCarthy?

Don’t dismiss a team member as incompetent; instead, focus on constructive collaboration.

What is the purpose of a Sprint Retrospective?

To reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and how the team can improve in the next sprint.

What is Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

A structured process for building software applications.

What does Requirements Analysis entail?

Understanding and documenting what the software must do.

What is involved in the Design Phase?

Creating architecture and system models before coding.

What is Implementation (Coding)?

Writing the actual source code.

What is the Testing Phase?

Verifying that the software works correctly.

What does Deployment & Maintenance involve?

Releasing software and fixing issues over time.

What is the Waterfall Model?

A sequential, phase-based development model.

What is the Agile Model?

An iterative and flexible development approach.

What is the Spiral Model?

A risk-driven process model combining iterative and waterfall methods.

What is the Incremental Model?

Development in small, manageable sections (increments).

What does the Agile Manifesto declare?

4 values and 12 principles for Agile software development.

What is Scrum?

A framework within Agile for managing software projects.

What is a Sprint?

A time-boxed iteration (usually 2-4 weeks) in which work is completed.

What role does the Product Owner fulfill?

Defines the product backlog and prioritizes features.

What is the responsibility of the Scrum Master?

Facilitates the Scrum process and removes blockers.

Who are considered Developers/Team members?

Engineers, designers, and testers who build the product.

What is the Daily Scrum (Stand-up)?

A short daily meeting where the team discusses progress.

What occurs during Sprint Planning?

A meeting where the team selects backlog items to work on during a sprint.

What happens at the Sprint Review?

A demonstration of completed work at the end of a sprint.

What is discussed during the Sprint Retrospective?

A reflection meeting to improve processes after a sprint.

What is a Product Backlog?

A prioritized list of features and requirements for the product.

What is a Sprint Backlog?

A list of tasks selected for the current sprint.

What is a Burndown Chart?

A visual representation of work remaining in a sprint.

What are the Three C’s of User Stories?

Card, Conversation, Confirmation – essential elements of user stories.

What is the Story Hierarchy?

Product > Epics > User Stories > Tasks.

What are Acceptance Criteria?

Conditions that must be met for a user story to be considered complete.

What does the INVEST Criteria entail?

Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimatable, Small, Testable – qualities of a good user story.

What is Relative Sizing?

Estimating work effort using comparative sizes (e.g., Story Points, Fibonacci Sequence).

What is Planning Poker?

A game where teams estimate user story effort using Fibonacci numbers.

What are Microservices?

A software architecture where applications are broken into small, independent services.

What does Low Coupling refer to?

Minimal dependencies between services, improving flexibility.

What is High Cohesion?

Grouping related functions within a module, making it more understandable.

What is Monolithic Architecture?

A traditional single-codebase approach where all components are tightly integrated.

What is an API (Application Programming Interface)?

A set of rules allowing different systems to communicate.

What is a REST API?

A widely used architectural style for APIs using HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).

What is a Path Parameter?

A variable in the URL that identifies a specific resource (e.g., /users/{id}).

What is a Query Parameter?

A key-value pair in the URL used for filtering or modifying a request (e.g., ?name=John).

What is the OpenAPI Specification?

A standard format for defining RESTful APIs.

What is Software Testing?

The process of verifying software functionality and quality.

What is Unit Testing?

Testing individual functions or components of software.

What is Integration Testing?

Ensuring different software modules work together correctly.

What is System Testing?

Testing the entire application as a whole.

What is Performance Testing?

Measuring how software performs under load.

What is Regression Testing?

Checking that new changes don’t break existing functionality.

What is Test-Driven Development (TDD)?

Writing tests before writing the actual code.

What is Continuous Integration (CI)?

Frequently merging code into a shared repository to detect issues early.

What is Cruft?

Old, inefficient, or redundant code that complicates maintenance.

What is Technical Debt?

The cost of delaying code improvements, leading to future refactoring.

What does Conway’s Law indicate?

The structure of software mirrors the structure of the organization that creates it.

What are Jim McCarthy’s Principles?

Guidelines for strong software teams, including 'Don’t Flip the Bozo Bit' and 'Don’t Go Dark.'

What is a Cross-Functional Team?

A team with diverse skills working together (e.g., developers, testers, UX designers).

What is Servant Leadership?

The Scrum Master's approach to supporting the team rather than commanding them.

What is Psychological Safety?

A team environment where members feel safe to share ideas and take risks.