Chapter 1 - Module 1: Software Design and Testing

What is the purpose of software design?

To transform user requirements into a suitable form that helps programmers in coding and implementation.

What document is created to assess user requirements?

The Software Requirement Specification (SRS).

What are the three levels of software design?

1. Architectural Design - highest-level, shows system components and their interaction.

2. High-Level Design - focuses on sub-systems and modules.

3. Detailed Design - defines logic, structure, and interfaces of modules.

What is modularization in software design?

A technique to divide software into independent modules that can work separately.

List two advantages of modularization

Smaller components are easier to maintain, Components with high cohesion can be reused.

What is concurrency in software design?

The ability to execute more than one part of code in parallel.

Define cohesion and coupling.

Cohesion: Intra-dependability within a module (higher = better). , Coupling: Inter-dependability between modules (lower = better).

What is design verification?

The process of checking design outputs (documents, diagrams, pseudocode) before implementation.

What does FURPS stand for in software quality attributes?

Functionality, Usability, Reliability, Performance, Supportability.

Give one example of each FURPS quality attribute.

Functionality: Security of the system, Usability: Ease of learning, Reliability: Accuracy of results, Performance: Response time, Supportability: Maintainability.

What is the principle of portable designs?

Software should work across different platforms using abstract interfaces.

What is the principle of malleable designs?

Software should be easily adaptable to evolving user requirements.

What is conceptual integrity in design?

Consistency and coherence in design through uniform application of limited design forms.

How can visibility in design be achieved?

By using visual notations (diagrams, flowcharts, UML, ER diagrams).