Software Requirements:

Software requirements are a crucial part of the software development process, providing a detailed
description of what a system is expected to do. These requirements serve as a foundation for
designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining the software.

Here are the key types of software requirements:

Functional Requirements:

• Detailed descriptions of all functions and features the software must provide
• Use cases or user stories to illustrate different functionalities
• Input and output specifications for each function
• Dependencies between functions

Non-functional Requirements:

• Performance requirements (response time, throughput, etc.)

• Reliability and availability specifications
• Security requirements (authentication, authorization, encryption)
• Usability and user interface guidelines
• Compatibility with other systems and platforms
• Scalability and flexibility requirements

User Requirements:

• User profiles and roles

• Specific needs and expectations of end-users
• User interface requirements
• User experience considerations
• Training and support requirements

System Requirements:

• Hardware requirements (servers, workstations, etc.)

• Software requirements (operating systems, databases, third-party libraries)
• Network requirements (protocols, bandwidth)
• System architecture and design constraints
• Integration with other systems
Documentation Requirements:

• Documentation standards and guidelines

• User manuals, technical documentation, and training materials

Requirements Engineering Processes:

Requirements engineering is a systematic and structured process of defining, documenting, and

managing software requirements throughout the development lifecycle. The goal is to ensure that
the software meets the needs of its stakeholders.
The requirements engineering process typically involves the following key stages:

Feasibility Study:

• Assess the viability of the proposed project.

• Evaluate the technological capabilities and constraints of the proposed solution.
• Assess how well the proposed system integrates with existing processes and meets
operational needs.
• Examine the cost-effectiveness of the project, considering development costs, ongoing
operational expenses, and potential returns on investment.
• Ensure that the proposed system complies with relevant laws, regulations, and industry
standards.
• Assess whether the project can be completed within a reasonable timeframe.
• A feasibility report that provides insights into whether the project is viable and should be
pursued.

Requirements Analysis:

• Analyze and document the collected requirements to identify any inconsistencies, conflicts,
or missing information.
• Prioritize requirements based on their importance and relevance to the project goals.

Requirements Elicitation:

• Identify and gather requirements from stakeholders, including users, customers, and other
relevant parties.
• Use various techniques such as interviews, surveys, workshops, and observations to
understand user needs and expectations.

Requirements Specification:
 • Clearly document the requirements in a structured manner, using templates, diagrams, and
natural language.
• Create a Requirements Specification document that serves as a comprehensive reference
for all stakeholders.

Requirements Validation:

• Review and validate requirements with stakeholders to ensure accuracy, completeness, and
alignment with business goals.
• Use techniques like reviews, walkthroughs, and prototypes to verify that requirements meet
the desired criteria.

Requirements Management and Traceability:

• Establish a system for managing changes to requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain traceability to link requirements to design, implementation, and testing artifacts.

structured analysis:

Structured analysis is a traditional method used in systems analysis and design for understanding
and documenting the requirements of a system. It involves breaking down a complex system into
smaller, more manageable parts to facilitate understanding and analysis.

Elements of an Analysis Model:

1.Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs):

• Purpose: Illustrate how data moves through a system and how processes transform that
data.
• Elements:
• Processes: Represent functions or activities that manipulate data.
• Data Flows: Represent the movement of data between processes, data stores, and external
entities.
• Data Stores: Represent repositories where data is stored persistently.
• External Entities: Represent entities outside the system with which the system interacts.

2.Data Dictionary:

• Purpose: Provides a detailed description of data elements used in the system.

 • Elements:
• Data Elements: Describe the characteristics of data items, including their name, type,
length, and purpose.
• Data Structures: Define how data elements are organized and related.
• Data Flows: Describe the data moving between processes, data stores, and external
entities.
• Data Stores: Specify the data stored persistently within the system.

Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERDs):

• Purpose: Represents the entities within a system and their relationships.

• Elements:
• Entities: Represent objects or concepts about which data is stored.
• Attributes: Describe the properties or characteristics of entities.
• Relationships: Define associations between entities.

Data Modeling in Structured Analysis:

Data modeling is a key aspect of structured analysis, and it primarily involves creating DFDs and
data dictionaries. Here's a closer look at data modeling within structured analysis:

1. Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs):

• DFDs depict how data moves through a system by representing processes, data flows, data
stores, and external entities.
• Processes in DFDs illustrate the functions or activities that transform data.
• Data flows represent the movement of data between different components of the system.
• Data stores represent repositories where data is stored persistently.

2. Data Dictionary:

• A data dictionary provides a comprehensive and detailed description of data elements used
in the system.
• For each data element, the data dictionary includes information such as the element's name,
data type, length, and description.
• Data structures in the data dictionary define how data elements are organized and related.
• The data dictionary also documents data flows, data stores, and external entities, providing
a standardized reference for the entire system.
Benefits of Data Modeling in Structured Analysis:

1.Clarity and Understanding:

 • Data modeling helps stakeholders visualize and understand how data moves through a
system.
• It provides a clear representation of processes, data flows, and data stores.
2.Communication:
• DFDs and data dictionaries serve as effective communication tools between stakeholders,
including analysts, designers, and end-users.
3.Requirements Analysis:
• Data modeling aids in identifying and analyzing the data requirements of a system, helping
define what data needs to be processed and stored.
4.System Design:
• The insights gained from data modeling contribute to the design phase by informing
decisions about how data will be processed and stored in the system.
4.Documentation:
• DFDs and data dictionaries serve as valuable documentation, providing a reference for
future development, maintenance, and enhancements.

Functional Modeling:

Purpose:
• To represent the functions or processes that need to be performed by the system.
• To illustrate how data is transformed by processes within the system.
Key Elements:
Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs):
• These diagrams show the flow of data between processes, data stores, and external entities.
Processes represent functions that manipulate data, and data flows represent the movement
of data between these functions.
Mechanism:
• Identify and document the processes that are necessary for the system to accomplish its
objectives.
• Represent these processes graphically using DFDs, where processes are depicted as circles,
data flows as arrows, data stores as rectangles, and external entities as squares.

Behavioral Modeling:

Purpose:
• To describe how the system behaves or responds to stimuli.
• To capture the dynamic aspects of the system.
Key Elements:
State Transition Diagrams (STDs) or Finite State Machines (FSMs):
• These diagrams depict the different states a system can be in and the transitions between
those states based on events or stimuli.
Mechanism:
• Identify the different states that the system can exist in and the events that trigger transitions
between states.
• Represent these states and transitions graphically using STDs or FSMs.

Mechanism of Structured Analysis:

1.Requirements Elicitation:
• Identify and understand the requirements of the system through discussions with
stakeholders, documentation review, and other elicitation techniques.
2.Functional Decomposition:
• Break down the system's functionality into smaller, manageable functions or processes.
• Use techniques such as top-down decomposition to represent the hierarchical structure of
the system.
3.Functional Modeling:
• Develop Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) to represent the flow of data through processes, data
stores, and external entities.
• Identify inputs, processes, outputs, and data stores.
4.Behavioral Modeling:
• Create State Transition Diagrams (STDs) or Finite State Machines (FSMs) to represent the
dynamic behavior of the system.
• Identify different states, events, and transitions between states.
5.Data Modeling:
• Develop data models, such as Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERDs), to represent the data
requirements and relationships within the system.
6.Verification and Validation:
• Validate the models with stakeholders to ensure that they accurately represent the system
requirements.
• Verify that the proposed system meets the specified functional and behavioral
requirements.
7.Documentation:
• Document the analysis models in a structured manner using tools like Data Dictionaries,
which provide detailed descriptions of data elements and structures.
8.Prototyping (Optional):
• Create prototypes or mock-ups to provide stakeholders with a visual representation of the
system's functionality and behavior.

Software estimation and project management:

Software estimation and project management are critical aspects of successful software
development projects. They involve a series of processes and activities aimed at planning,
scheduling, and managing resources to ensure that a project is completed on time, within budget,
and meets its objectives.

Project Planning:

1.Definition:
• Project planning involves defining the scope, objectives, and deliverables of the software
project.
2.Activities:
• Scope Definition: Clearly define what the project will accomplish and what it will not.
• Objective Setting: Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound
(SMART) project objectives.
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Break down the project into smaller, more
manageable tasks and sub-tasks.
• Resource Planning: Identify and allocate the necessary resources, including human
resources, equipment, and tools.
• Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.
3.Outcome:
• A comprehensive project plan that outlines the scope, objectives, tasks, resources, and
timelines.

Project Scheduling:

1.Definition:
• Project scheduling involves creating a timeline for project activities and allocating
resources to ensure timely completion.
2.Activities:
• Task Sequencing: Determine the order in which tasks need to be performed.
• Task Duration Estimation: Estimate the time required for each task.
• Resource Allocation: Assign resources (human, material, and equipment) to tasks.
• Dependency Management: Identify dependencies between tasks and manage them
effectively.
• Critical Path Analysis: Identify the critical path, which represents the longest path
through the project and determines the project's duration.
3.Outcome:
• A project schedule that includes start and end dates for each task, resource assignments,
and dependencies.
Risk Management:

1.Definition:
• Risk management involves identifying potential risks that could impact the project and
developing strategies to address them.
2.Activities:
• Risk Identification: Identify potential risks to the project, including technical,
organizational, and external factors.
• Risk Analysis: Assess the likelihood and impact of identified risks.
• Risk Mitigation Planning: Develop strategies to reduce the probability or impact of risks.
• Contingency Planning: Plan for how the project will respond if certain risks materialize.
3.Outcome:
• A risk management plan outlining identified risks, their potential impact, and mitigation
strategies.

Software Project Estimation:

1.Definition:
• Software project estimation involves predicting the effort, time, and resources required to
complete a software project.
2.Activities:
• Size Estimation: Estimate the size of the software product, often measured in lines of code
or function points.
• Effort Estimation: Estimate the human effort required to complete the project,
considering factors like complexity and skill levels.
• Time Estimation: Predict the time required for project completion, based on the estimated
effort.
• Resource Estimation: Estimate the resources needed, including personnel, hardware, and
software tools.
• Techniques:
• Expert Judgment: Rely on the expertise of experienced team members or domain experts.
• Analogous Estimation: Use historical data from similar projects to estimate the current
project.
• Parametric Estimation: Use mathematical models based on project parameters to
estimate effort and time.
3.Outcome:
• Estimation documents providing a basis for planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.