Selection and Estimation of Quality Attributes for Software Systems. Methods and Standards.

Monographs of Vladimir Lipaev

Selection and Estimation of Quality Attributes for Software Systems. Methods and Standards.

Series "Information technology". M.:SYNTEG, 2001.-228 p., 20 ill.

The book considers main concepts, factors and analysis methods of quality attributes of complex software facilities. The nature and matter of standardized software facility quality characteristics, subcharacteristics and attributes are systematically presented. Properties of internal and external quality metrics, and quality metrics for program in use are discussed. A dependence of these metrics in software facilities production and use for direct purposes from a number of internal and external factors, and from recourses limitations is shown. Examples of measures and scales are given for selection and estimation of quality attribute values of software complexes. An attention is paid for work content and duration of processes needed to reach required values of quality characteristics, and also for their influence on economics of software facilities functional appropriateness. Presented methods for standardized estimation and measuring of different quality characteristics are recommended to use in preparing of methods of testing and certification of specific software products.

The book is recommended for specialists who provide life cycle phases of complex software facilities and utilize their quality characteristics. It may serve as a base for comparison of quality of software facilities from different vendors, and also for companies quality systems preparing and deployment for certification for international standards compliance. The book may also be used as a textbook in educating students to build complex software facilities of high quality.

Table of contents:

Introduction.

Chapter 1. MAIN CONCEPTS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF QUALITY OF SOFTWARE FACILITIES.
1.1. Main factors that define quality of software facilities.
1.2. Standards that regulate characteristics of quality of software facilities.
1.3. Metrics of quality characteristics of software facilities.
1.4. Specifics of measuring and estimation of quality characteristics of software facilities.
1.5. Main factors that impact on quality of software facilities.
1.6. Recourses that limit reachable characteristics of quality of software facilities.

Chapter 2. SELECTION OF MEASURES AND SCALES OF SOFTWARE FACILITIES QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS.
2.1. Principles for selection of software facilities quality characteristics.
2.2. Selection of properties and attributes for quality of functional capabilities of software facilities.
2.3. Selection of quantitative characteristics of software facilities quantity.
2.4. Selection of qualitative characteristics of software facilities quantity.
2.5. Processes of selection and setting of quality characteristics and measures in projects of software facilities.

Chapter 3. RECOURSES NEEDED FOR SOFTWARE FACILITIES HIGH QUALITY PROVISION.
3.1. Impact of economic characteristics of software facilities life cycle on their quality.
3.2. Main factors that influence on costs in life cycle of complex software facilities.
3.3. Costs for functional appropriateness provision in complex software facilities development.
3.4. Costs for improving design characteristics of software facilities quality.
3.5. Costs for software facilities maintenance.
3.6. Economic effectiveness of software facilities portability.
3.7. Costs for external environment imitation in providing and evaluating quality of software facilities.

Chapter 4. STANDARDS FOR EVALUATING TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF LIFE CYCLE AND QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFTWARE FACILITIES.
4.1. Evaluating a level of maturity for processes of life cycle and software facilities quality provision.
4.2. Evaluating life cycle processes of software facilities according with the ISO 15504:1-9:1998 standard.
4.3. Evaluating quality of ready to use software product according with the ISO 14598:1-6:1998-2000 standard.
4.4. Organization and tools for software complexes quality evaluation.

Chapter 5. EVALUATING QUALITY CHATACTERISTICS OF SOFTWARE FACILITIES.
5.1. Evaluating functional capabilities of software facilities.
5.1.1. Evaluating functional appropriateness of software facilities.
5.1.2. Evaluating correctness of software facilities.
5.1.3. Evaluating interoperability of software facilities and their components.
5.1.4. Evaluating a level of security of software facilities.
5.2. Evaluating functional reliability of software facilities.
5.3. Evaluating of effectiveness of computing recourses utilization by a software facility.
5.4. Evaluating of software facilities usability.
5.5. Evaluating of software facilities maintainability.
5.6. Evaluating of software facilities portability.
5.7. Evaluating of quality of in-line and technological documentation of software facilities.
5.8. Evaluating of risks in life cycle of a software facility.
5.9. Integral evaluating of software facilities quality characteristics.

Appendixes.
A1. An example of selection and building requirements for software facilities quality characteristics.
A2. Analysis and evaluation of program correctness by covering its structure by tests.
A3. Evaluating improvement of program reliability by operational control and restart.
A4. Evaluating effectiveness of software facilities performance improvement with operational dispatching.
A5. List of major standards in the field of quality of software facilities.

References.

Books of the SYNTEG publishers.