Software Denn » Software Methodologies

The Boehm-Waterfall Methodology

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:25:32 +0000

The Boehm-Waterfall software engineering methodology [#!waterfall!#] is one of the best known example of a software engineering methodology. The Boehm-Waterfall software engineering methodology is composed into the stages of system requirements, software requirements, preliminary and detailed design, implementation, testing, operations, and maintenance. At each stage is a validation step. In the Boehm-Waterfall software engineering methodology, as often quoted and viewed, the process flows from stage to stage like water over a fall. However, in the original description of the Boehm-Waterfall software engineering methodology, there is an interactive backstep between each stage. Thus the Boehm-Waterfall is a combination of a sequential methodology with an interactive backstep. However, in engineering practice, the term waterfall is used as a generic name to any sequential software engineering methodology.

The Booch Methodology

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:23:44 +0000

The Booch software engineering methodology [#!booch!#] provides an object-oriented development in the analysis and design phases. The analysis phase is split into steps. The first step is to establish the requirements from the customer perspective. This analysis step generates a high-level description of the system’s function and structure. The second step is a domain analysis. The domain analysis is accomplished by defining object classes; their attributes, inheritance, and methods. State diagrams for the objects are then established. The analysis phase is completed with a validation step. The analysis phase iterates between the customer’s requirements step, the domain analysis step, and the validation step until consistency is reached.

Once the analysis phase is completed, the Booch software engineering methodology develops the architecture in the design phase. The design phase is iterative. A logic design is mapped to a physical design where details of execution threads, processes, performance, location, data types, data structures, visibility, and distribution are established. A prototype is created and tested. The process iterates between the logical design, physical design, prototypes, and testing.

The Booch software engineering methodology is sequential in the sense that the analysis phase is completed and then the design phase is completed. The methodology is cyclical in the sense that each phase is composed of smaller cyclical steps. There is no explicit priority setting nor a non-monotonic control mechanism. The Booch methodology concentrates on the analysis and design phase and does not consider the implementation or the testing phase in much detail.

Software Methodologies

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:20:36 +0000

In this chapter, three major categories of methodologies are presented: sequential, cyclical, and WaterSluice. The sequential and cyclical methodologies, informally known as the waterfall and spiral methodologies, are generic in design and have been simplified to emphasize a key aspect. In a sequential methodology, the four phase of analysis, design, implementation, and testing follow each other sequentially. In a cyclical methodology, the four phase of analysis, design, implementation, and testing are cycled with each cycle generating an incremental contribution to the final system. The WaterSluice is a hybrid borrowing the steady progress of the sequential methodology along with the iterative increments of the cyclical methodology and adds priority and governors to control change.

These three categories of methodologies form a basis for comparison. In the theory chapter, the categories are analyzed in detail. In the survey of methodology chapter, other more established methodologies, are categorized. Performance characteristics of established methodologies can be analyzed based on this categorization.

The computer software industry has introduced a major confusion in terms of naming of methodologies. The Boehm-waterfall methodology, analyzed later in this thesis, is most often quoted as a sequential methodology, but the original paper presents it as a cyclical methodology. However, in the greater computer software industry, the term waterfall has come to mean any sequential methodology. This leads to major confusion and hence the introduction, in this thesis, of the sequential classification. Likewise, the Boehm-spiral methodology, also analyzed later in this thesis, is most quoted as a cyclical methodology but behaves more like a sequential methodology with many stages. Yet the term spiral has come to mean any cyclical methodology.

Sony VAIO X specs and pricing leak out — 2.0GHz Atom, $1,499?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:41:05 +0000

We’re expecting the official launch of Sony’s hot little VAIO X ultraportable later today, but Boy Genius Report claims to have some leaked specs and pricing to think over while we wait — and if they’re accurate, you’ll be staring down the wrong end of a $1,499 price tag when all is said and done. Yeah, it’s not unexpected, but still, ouch. For your trouble, you’ll be getting what Sony’s calling the “world’s lightest notebook,” weighing in a just 1.5 pounds of carbon-fiber with an 11.6-inch LED display, SSD, multitouch trackpad, and a 3.5-hour standard battery life that can be pushed to 14 hours using a “super-extended” battery. Okay, not bad, but what’s running this show? Well, we’ve got some potentially bad news to report — we’ve been told that the VAIO X will have a 2.0GHz Atom Z550 inside, just like the prototypes. Yep, that’s another $1,499 Sony Atom laptop — we’ll wait for the official announcement to confirm before we start wringing our hands, but we’re open to your lamentations in comments.

India-based Software Developer Introduces New Web Hosting Service with Fully Integrated Office Tools

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:21:35 +0000

CHENNAI, India, Sept. 1, 2009 — Owtsar Technologies, a Chennai, India-based software firm, has announced the introduction of the “i Cube Office(R),” a web hosting service integrated with web office tools in a completely new format.

i Cube Office offers a revolutionized look and feel to a company’s home page and Internet office pages. In a very innovative and visually appealing approach, a home page can easily be turned into an image gallery. The screen can not only show images, such as logos of products, but names or pictures of staff, departments, or anything that has a URL to a link or requires a login. And it is designed to be user-friendly and easily customizable.

Customers, vendors, and visitors to a company website can easily locate a person or department and quickly move to where they need to go. And for regular clients or customers, it provides a visual impact while logging into an office environment with a personalized page for each logged-in user.

When it comes to video, audio, and live chats, all correspondence related to that particular logged-in user is displayed on the screen. No longer is it necessary to skim through a maze of e-mails, letters, documents and meeting notes while in a discussion. All documents, appointment history and notes are simultaneously displayed on both sides. The user and the corresponding account manager can relate to each other instantly and discuss their core issues without having to look around for data or relevant information.

i Cube Office is currently available in English, Tamil and Arabic versions, and will have more linguistic additions in the future. Samuel Martyn James, CEO of Owtsar, says, “The coming year will find more innovative additions to i Cube Office, such as virtual office-files folder with desktop movement, logs and access control, and knowledge base with eLearning.” He further added that Owtsar will also deploy i Cube Office as a software application customized to client specifications, integrated with legacy databases.

All of these benefits are available at normal web hosting costs from Owtsar Technologies and hosted in secured data centers based in Northern America to customers who do not wish to have their own server. Complimentary product demonstrations and downloads are available from the company website: http://www.owtsar.co.in

About Owtsar Technologies Pvt Ltd:

Owtsar is a software development company with applications designed and developed specifically for U.S.-based companies and law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Parthasarathy of “The Hindu” (India’s National Newspaper) remarks, “Their e:Office Suite goes far beyond a conventional word processor-spreadsheet-presentation-emailer combo. I ‘test-drove’ the product and it is truly a crossover product, bridging the gap between consumer and enterprise computing …”

ANPR Cameras, Web based Office, and the Document Encryption system are some of the products developed and sold successfully by the company.

Steps For Troubleshooting Extension Card Problems

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:58:53 +0000

Unlike other parts covered in this chapter, cards almost always require drivers-specially crafted pieces of software that let your operating system recognize and talk to the cards. Once you’ve installed a card, Windows usually recognizes it, and begins searching through its own built-in stash of drivers for the right one.
If you’re not lucky and Windows doesn’t even notice your newly installed card, run Windows’ Add Hardware Wizard (Start – Control Panel – Add Hardware). The Wizard searches your PC for the new hardware, finds it, and leads you through the process of installing the driver.
If you’re downright cursed, Windows needs your handholding in locating and installing the right driver . Some PCs don’t have any cards in their slots. That means the circuitry for most of your PC’s ports-its network, sound, and video ports-are built into the motherboard itself. Sly engineering wizards compressed all those circuits into a chip or two and placed it on the motherboard. Reducing a bulky card to a tiny chip waves space, cost, and, unfortunately, performance. Sliding in a high –performance card overrides the motherboard’s built-in circuitry, letting you beef up your computer.
If you newly added replacement for a motherboard’s onboard task – video, for instance-doesn’t work, you probably need to enter your PC’s stop using the motherboard’s built-in circuits and to use the more advanced circuitry on the newly added video card, instead.

Removing & Inserting Extension Card

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:43:32 +0000

Before you install a card, turn off and unplug your PC, remove your PC’s case , and take a moment to orient yourself. Your new card’s shiny silver edge aims toward the back of your PC, where it pokes through one of the case’s several rectangular openings . Once you have your bearings, follow these steps to insert and attach your new card.

1.Remove the thin piece of metal covering the opening in your PC’s case near the empty slot.
A piece of metal covers the opening where your card will poke through Remove the screw that holds the cover in place, and lift out the cover.

2.Position the card directly over the slot.

The card’s flat metal end points toward the newly uncovered rectangular opening in the back of your PC . A notch in the card’s tab aligns with a ridge in the motherboard’s slot. The design lets cards and slots mesh like pieces of a puzzle. You won’t be embarrassed by accidentally pushing a PCI-Express AGP card into a PCI slot, because the card won’t fit.

3.Push the card into the slot.

If the card resists, try pushing with a gentle rocking motion until it slips into the slot.

4. Fasten the card in place and them replace your PC’s cover.

Video Image Compression Methodology

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:50:58 +0000

In 1990 the domain of the video computer system and communication services are coming together and are being integrated to a level where information communications and entertainment can use a common set of services and equipment for distribution.

The development of digital video technology has made it possible to use digital video compression for a variety of telecommunication applications such as video conferencing and digital telephony.

Digital video compression is going to play an important role in multimedia applications. There are number of different standards that provide compression and external interfaces for gray scale images, sound and full motion video. It include CD-I, DVI, JPEG,MPEG and so on.

For video standard to be really sucessful it must be able to support a variety of storage media,displays technologies and all of the intermediate communication infrastructure.

The video compression algorithm was initiated by CCITT for teleconferencing and video telephony. The International consultative committee on Broadcasting is charted with standardizing video compression techniques for transmission of television signal.