Software Design Question and Answers

What is a key difference between RUP and Agile methodologies?

RUP requires a strong commitment to upfront design, while Agile prefers evolving design over time.

What is a use case?

A simple description of how a user (or actor) interacts with the system to achieve a goal.

What are the main types of requirements in software development?

Functional, Non‑functional, Domain, and Interface requirements.

What can be used as an alternative to Use Case Diagrams and Descriptions?

User stories or activity/sequence diagrams.

How are key domain abstractions identified in data-driven design?

By analyzing the data model, its entities, and the relationships between them.

What are the steps in Use Case Realisation?

Identify actors/scenarios, define interacting objects, create interaction diagrams, assign responsibilities.

In the context of MVC, what is the intent of this design pattern?

Separate data (Model), UI (View), and input control (Controller) for easier maintenance.

What is software architecture?

The high‑level structure that defines the components of a system and how they interact.

What defines an Open architecture?

A design with modular components and standard interfaces.

What are the characteristics of a Closed architecture?

A monolithic design with tightly coupled parts.

What is the main purpose of the Composite design pattern?

Simplify client code by treating individual objects and compositions the same way.

How does the State design pattern change an object's behavior?

It allows an object to change its behavior when its internal state changes.

What is the intent of the Strategy design pattern?

To allow interchangeable algorithms by encapsulating each one in its own class.

What is the difference between the Strategy and State patterns?

Strategy allows you to swap algorithms easily (focus on choice), while State allows an object to change behavior as its state changes (focus on state transitions).

What roles do sketches (blueprints) play in software engineering?

They help communicate ideas, guide design decisions, and support early planning before detailed design work.