(Chap-1)(Marks-3)
1. Define software engineering and explain its
importance.
Ans: Software Engineering is the systematic approach to designing, developing, testing, and
maintaining software using engineering principles. It aims to produce high-quality, reliable,
and cost-effective software solutions.
Importance: It ensures the creation of reliable, scalable, and maintainable software on time
and within budget.
2. What are the reasons for the Failure of Water Fall
Model?
Ans:Rigid & Inflexible – Difficult to accommodate changes once the process starts.
Late Testing – Bugs are found late in the development cycle, increasing costs.
High Risk – If initial requirements are incorrect, the entire project may fail.
Slow Delivery – A fully functional product is delivered only at the end.
Poor Adaptability – Not suitable for complex or evolving projects.
Limited User Feedback – Users see the product only after completion, leading to
potential dissatisfaction.
3. What are software requirements?
Ans:Software requirements are the specifications of what a software system should do and
how it should perform. They define the functional and non-functional needs of a system.
Types of Software Requirements:
Functional Requirements – Describe what the system should do (e.g., login, generate
reports).
Non-Functional Requirements – Define system qualities.
Domain Requirements – Specific to the application’s domain or environment.
4. Describe the phases of the Software Development Life Cycle
(SDLC).
Ans:Requirement Analysis:Gather and analyze user needs.Define clear software
requirements.
System Design:Plan the architecture and components.Create design documents (e.g., data
flow, UI design).
Coding:Developers write the actual code based on the design.
Testing:Test the software for bugs, errors, and requirement compliance.
Deployment:Release the software to users for real-world use.
Maintenance:Fix issues, improve features, and ensure long-term operation.
5. Describe the Waterfall Software Development Life Cycle
Model.
Ans:The Waterfall Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Model is a linear and
sequential approach where each phase must be completed before moving to the next. It is
called "Waterfall" because progress flows downward like a waterfall, through distinct phases.
Phases of the Waterfall Model:
Requirement Gathering and Analysis:All software requirements are collected and
documented.Detailed analysis is performed to understand the needs of the system.
System Design:Based on the requirements, system architecture and design are
developed.Both high-level design (overall system structure) and low-level design (individual
components) are created.
Implementation (Coding):Developers start coding according to the design documents.
Integration and Testing:The system is tested for bugs, issues, and whether it meets the
requirements defined earlier.
Deployment:The system is deployed to the user environment and made operational.
Maintenance:After deployment, maintenance includes fixing bugs, upgrading, and making
necessary improvements.
6. Differentiate between iterative and incremental
models.
Ans:
Aspect Iterative Model Incremental Model
Development Refining the entire system over Building and adding distinct features
Focus multiple iterations. or parts over time.
Revisits and improves phases in Develops a portion of functionality in
Phases
each iteration. each increment.
Continuous feedback from each Feedback after each increment,
Feedback
iteration. affecting the next.
A complete system is delivered after Partial system delivered after each
System Delivery
several iterations. increment.
Flexibility More flexibile Less Flexible
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Agile
Model?
Ans:Advantages of the Agile Model:
Flexibility: Easily adapts to changes in requirements even late in development.
Customer Involvement: Continuous feedback from customers ensures the product meets
their needs.
Faster Delivery: Features are developed in smaller increments, leading to quicker releases.
Improved Quality: Frequent testing and revisions lead to higher quality.
Disadvantages of the Agile Model:
Less Documentation: Emphasis on working code over comprehensive documentation.
Scope Creep: Continuous changes can lead to unclear project scope and direction.
Requires Experienced Teams: Success relies on skilled and self-motivated team members.
8. Identify Object Oriented approach of Software Design.
Ans:The Object-Oriented (OO) approach to software design focuses on structuring a
system around objects rather than actions or logic. These objects represent real-world entities
and interact with one another to achieve desired behaviors.
Key Concepts:
Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on the data into a single unit (class).
Protects data by restricting direct access to it.
Inheritance: Allows a new class to inherit properties and behaviors from an existing class,
promoting code reuse.
Polymorphism: Enables one interface to be used for different underlying data types,
allowing methods to behave differently based on the object.
Abstraction: Hiding the complex implementation details and showing only essential features
to the user.
9. Describe the feasibility study in software development.
Ans:A feasibility study is an assessment of a project's viability before significant
investment. It evaluates whether the project is practical, achievable, and profitable.
Types of Feasibility Study:
1. Technical Feasibility – Assess whether the required technology, tools, and expertise
are available.
2. Economic Feasibility – Evaluates cost-effectiveness by comparing expected benefits
with project costs.
3. Legal Feasibility – Ensures compliance with laws, regulations, and contractual
obligations.
4. Operational Feasibility – Determines if the project meets business needs and is
acceptable to users.
5. Schedule Feasibility – Analyzes if the project can be completed within the given
time frame.
10. What is SRS? Explain its advantages.
Ans:SRS (Software Requirements Specification) is a document that clearly and
comprehensively defines the requirements for a software system. It outlines the expected
functionality, performance, and constraints of the system, providing a detailed description of
what the software will do and how it will behave.
Advantages of SRS:
Clear Communication:It ensures that all stakeholders (clients, developers, testers) have a
clear understanding of the software requirements.
Basis for Design and Implementation:Provides a solid foundation for the design and
development of the system, reducing ambiguity.
Improved Quality:Helps identify potential issues and gaps early in the development process,
leading to better-quality software.
Test Planning:Defines clear criteria for testing, making it easier to verify if the system meets
the requirements.
MARKS 5
1. Explain the fundamental principles of software
engineering.
Ans:· Modularity – Dividing the system into smaller, manageable modules helps in
reducing complexity and improving maintainability.
· · Abstraction – It allows developers to focus on high-level design by hiding complex
details, making the system easier to understand.
· · Encapsulation – Protects data by bundling it with related operations, promoting data
integrity and modularity.
· · Reusability – Designing software components in a way that they can be reused in
different applications reduces duplication and saves development time.
· · Maintainability – Software should be designed to accommodate changes easily,
ensuring long-term usability and efficiency in updates or bug fixes.
2. Analyse different software process models, comparing their
structures, advantages, and challenges.
Ans:
Model Structure Advantages Challenges
Linear and sequential Simple to use and manage, Inflexible, poor for changing
Waterfall (one phase after good for well-defined requirements, late error
another) projects detection
Extension of
Early detection of defects, Rigid structure, difficult to
V-Model Waterfall with
better quality assurance accommodate changes
parallel testing phases
Model Structure Advantages Challenges
Builds system in Faster delivery, easier
Integration can be complex,
Incremental small parts testing and debugging,
needs careful planning
(increments) customer feedback
Iterative with risk Good for large, high-risk Complex to manage,
Spiral analysis and repeated projects, emphasizes risk expensive, requires skilled
development management risk assessment
Less documentation, depends
Iterative and flexible Highly flexible, promotes
heavily on team
Agile with frequent delivery customer involvement, fast
communication and
cycles and continuous delivery
discipline
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of Waterfall and Agile
models.
Ans:Waterfall Model:The Waterfall model is a linear and sequential software development
process where each phase (requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment,
maintenance) must be completed before the next begins.
Effectiveness:
Best suited for projects with clear, fixed requirements and where the technology is
well understood.
Offers strong documentation, making it easier to manage large teams or projects in
regulated environments.
Testing occurs late, so errors are often discovered after most development is done,
which can be costly to fix.
Inflexible to changes—once a phase is completed, going back is difficult.
Agile Model:Agile is an iterative and incremental model where development is broken into
small cycles (called sprints), with continuous feedback and collaboration.
Effectiveness:
Highly effective for projects with changing or unclear requirements.
Focuses on customer satisfaction by delivering working software frequently.
Encourages collaboration between developers and stakeholders.
Testing is continuous, allowing early detection and resolution of issues.
However, it requires experienced teams, and minimal documentation can be
problematic in some contexts.
4. Analyse the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
phases, explaining how each phase contributes to the
successful delivery of a software product.
Ans:1. Requirement Analysis
Purpose: Gather detailed and clear requirements from stakeholders.
Contribution: Ensures the development team understands what the software must
achieve, reducing misunderstandings and scope creep.
2. System Design
Purpose: Create a detailed design of the system architecture, data models, and
interfaces.
Contribution: Provides a blueprint that guides development and helps ensure the
system meets all requirements efficiently.
3. Implementation (Coding)
Purpose: Translate design documents into actual software code.
Contribution: Builds the working product; quality coding directly impacts software
performance and reliability.
4. Testing
Purpose: Validate the software against requirements and detect defects.
Contribution: Ensures the software is reliable, functional, and free of critical bugs
before release.
5. Deployment
Purpose: Release the software for use in the production environment.
Contribution: Makes the software available to users, enabling real-world application
and feedback.
6. Maintenance
Purpose: Provide ongoing support, fix issues, and update the software as needed.
Contribution: Keeps the software relevant, improves performance, and adapts it to
changing user needs and environments.
5. Explain software requirements engineering and its
significance.
Ans:Software Requirements Engineering:
The process of gathering, analyzing, documenting, validating, and managing
software requirements.
Ensures that all user and stakeholder needs are clearly understood and recorded.
Involves communication between developers, users, and other stakeholders to define
what the software should do.
Helps in creating a detailed and unambiguous specification of software functionality and
constraints.
Significance:
Ensures clarity: Provides a clear understanding of what the software must achieve.
Reduces errors: Minimizes misunderstandings and errors early in the development
process.
Facilitates planning: Helps in project estimation, resource allocation, and scheduling.
Improves communication: Serves as a common reference for all stakeholders.
Manages scope: Helps control changes and avoid scope creep.
Increases success rate: A well-defined requirements process leads to higher chances of
project success.
6. Analyse the role of functional and non-functional
requirements in software development.
Ans:Functional Requirements:
Define what the system should do (specific functions and features).
Guide the design and implementation of core software capabilities.
Help in creating test cases to verify software behavior.
Ensure the software meets the user’s direct needs and expectations.
Non-Functional Requirements:
Specify how the system performs (quality attributes like performance, security,
usability).
Ensure the software is reliable, efficient, and user-friendly.
Influence system architecture and technology choices.
Help meet regulatory and compliance standards.
Affect user satisfaction and long-term system success.
7. Evaluate various software design methodologies and
determine which is most effective for different types of
projects, justifying your choice with examples.
Ans:
Design
Best For Key Strengths Example Justification
Methodology
Simple, modular, Payroll or Suitable for projects
Structured Small to medium-
easy to Inventory with clear, stable
Design sized projects
understand system requirements.
Promotes reusable
Reusability,
Object-Oriented Large, complex, E-commerce components and
scalability,
Design evolving projects platform handles complexity
flexibility
well.
Large projects Speeds Allows building
Enterprise
Component- needing rapid development, software from
software with
Based Design development and easier reusable pre-built
plugins
reuse maintenance components.
Enables integration
Service-Oriented Distributed, Loose coupling, Cloud
across diverse
Architecture networked scalability, services, web
platforms and
(SOA) applications integration APIs
services.
8. Analyse the advantages and drawbacks of the
Waterfall model.
Ans:Advantages of Waterfall Model:
Simple and easy to understand: Its linear and sequential approach makes it straightforward
to manage and follow.
Clear structure: Each phase has specific deliverables and milestones, which helps in project
tracking.
Well-documented: Extensive documentation is produced, aiding future maintenance and
knowledge transfer.
Works well for fixed requirements: Ideal when requirements are clear, stable, and unlikely
to change.
Discipline: Encourages a systematic approach with defined stages.
Drawbacks of Waterfall Model:
Inflexible to changes: Difficult to accommodate changes once the project progresses beyond
the requirements phase.
Late testing: Testing happens after implementation, so defects can be discovered late and be
costly to fix.
Not suitable for complex or evolving projects: Poor adaptability for projects with changing
or unclear requirements.
User feedback delayed: Users see the product only at the end, risking a mismatch between
expectations and the final product.
Risk of project failure: If early phases are misunderstood, the entire project may be at risk.
9. Analyse the importance of cost estimation in software
engineering.
Ans:·Facilitates Project Planning: Accurate cost estimation helps in developing realistic
project schedules and allocating appropriate resources, ensuring that the project progresses
smoothly without unexpected delays.
·Budget Management: It allows organizations to allocate financial resources wisely,
preventing overspending and ensuring the project stays within its budget limits.
·Sets Stakeholder Expectations: Clear cost estimates help stakeholders understand the
investment required and the timeline, fostering transparency and trust.
·Supports Decision-Making: With cost information, managers can evaluate project
feasibility, decide on feature prioritization, and make trade-offs between cost, quality, and
time.
·Risk Identification and Mitigation: Early cost estimation can highlight potential areas of
risk where costs might escalate, allowing teams to develop mitigation strategies proactively.
·Resource Allocation: Helps determine the number and type of personnel, tools, and
infrastructure needed, ensuring the project is neither under- nor over-resourced.
10. Evaluate various software project scheduling techniques
and determine which technique is most suitable for
different types of software projects.
Ans:
Scheduling
Description Best Suited For Advantages Limitations
Technique
Visual timeline Easy to
Small to medium Can become
showing tasks, understand and
Gantt Chart projects with clear complex for large
durations, and communicate
tasks. projects.
dependencies. progress.
Identifies the longest
sequence of Projects with Helps identify Requires accurate
Critical Path
dependent tasks to well-defined tasks critical tasks to task estimates and
Method (CPM)
determine project and dependencies. prioritize. dependencies.
duration.
Program Uses probabilistic Complex projects Accounts for More complex to
Evaluation and time estimates with uncertain uncertainty and implement and
Review (optimistic, task durations. variability. maintain.
Technique pessimistic, most
(PERT) likely) for
Scheduling
Description Best Suited For Advantages Limitations
Technique
scheduling.
Agile Breaks project into Projects with Allows
Less predictable
Scheduling iterations with evolving adaptability and
timelines and
(Sprint flexible planning per requirements and continuous
scope.
Planning) sprint. frequent changes. feedback.
Adjusts schedules to Optimizes May extend
Projects with
Resource balance resource resource project duration if
limited or shared
Leveling usage and avoid utilization and resources are
resources.
overload. prevents burnout. limited.
(Chap-2)(Marks-3)
1. Differentiate between functional and non-functional
requirements.
Aspect Functional requirements Non-functional requirements
Definition Describes what the Describes how the system
system should do. should perform.
Focus Functionality, features, and Performance, security,
operations. usability, and reliability.
User login authentication System response time
Examples - Payment processing - Data encryption
- Order tracking - User interface aesthetics
Testability Can be tested with input- Requires performance,
output validation. security, or usability testing.
importance Ensures the system works as Ensures the system is
expected. efficient, secure, and user-
friendly.
2. Explain Decision Trees and Decision Tables with
examples.
Ans:Decision Tree:A Decision Tree is a graphical representation of decision-making, where
each node represents a condition, branches represent choices, and leaves indicate outcomes. It
helps in making structured decisions based on conditions and rules.A company decides on
loan approval based on income and credit score.
Income > 50K?
/ \
Yes No
/ \
Credit Score > 700? Loan Rejected
/ \
Yes No
Loan Approved Loan Rejected
Decision Table:A Decision Table is a tabular representation of rules and conditions for
decision-making. It is useful when multiple conditions affect the outcome.
Example:
A simple decision table for a loan approval system:
3. Describe the significance of Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) in
system design.
Ans:A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of how data moves through a
system, showing inputs, processes, storage, and outputs. It helps in understanding system
functionality and data interactions.
Key Significance:
1. Clear System Understanding – Visualizes how data flows and transforms within the
system.
2. Improved Communication – Bridges the gap between technical teams and
stakeholders.
3. Identifies Process Inefficiencies – Helps detect redundancies, bottlenecks, and
optimization areas.
4. Facilitates System Documentation – Acts as a reference for future maintenance and
updates.
5. Supports Modular Design – Enables a structured approach to system development
4. What are the key components of UML Use Case
Diagrams?
Ans:A UML Use Case Diagram visually represents system interactions with users and
external systems, focusing on functionalities rather than implementation details.
Key Components:
1. Actors – Entities (users or external systems) interacting with the system.
2. Use Cases – Functionalities or actions the system provides to actors.
3. System Boundary – Defines the scope of the system being modeled.
4. Relationships:
1. Association – Links actors and use cases.
2. Include – Represents mandatory functionality reuse.
3. Extend – Represents optional or conditional functionality.
5. Generalization – Represents inheritance between actors or use cases.
5.What is level-0 DFD?
Ans:A Level-0 Data Flow Diagram (DFD), also known as a Context Diagram, is the highest-
level representation of a system. It provides a bird’s-eye view of how the system interacts
with external entities (users, other systems) and shows the main data flow without detailing
internal processes.
6. What is COCOMO model? Explain its significance in
cost estimation.
Ans:COCOMO (Constructive Cost Model) is a software cost
estimation model developed by Barry Boehm. It is used to
estimate the effort, time, and cost required to develop a
software project based on the size of the project (usually in
KLOC – thousands of lines of code).
Significance in Cost Estimation:
Predicts Project Cost and Effort: Helps in planning budgets and timelines accurately.
Improves Decision Making: Assists in choosing between project alternatives and resource
allocation.
Early Estimation: Provides useful estimates in early stages of development.
Standardized Approach: Offers a proven, quantitative method over subjective guessing.
7. Differentiate between LOC and FP metrics.
Ans:
Aspect LOC (Lines of Code) FP (Function Point)
Measures the size of software by Measures the functionality
Definition
counting lines of code written. delivered to the user.
Based on user-visible functions
Focus Based on code length.
and features.
Language Highly dependent on programming
Language-independent.
Dependency language.
Can be estimated early in the
Early Estimation Difficult to estimate in early stages.
project lifecycle.
Measurement
Physical size metric. Logical size metric.
Type
Better for maintenance and Better for cost estimation and
Usefulness
productivity tracking. comparison across projects.
8. Describe the role of PERT and CPM in project
scheduling.
Ans:Role of PERT in Project Scheduling:
Focus: Time estimation and uncertainty management.
Use: Best suited for projects with uncertain task durations.
Function:
Uses three time estimates for each task:Optimistic (O),Most likely (M),Pessimistic (P)
Calculates expected time:TE = (O + 4M + P) / 6
Helps identify critical tasks and estimate total project time with variability.
Role of CPM in Project Scheduling:
Focus: Time and cost optimization.
Use: Best for projects with predictable, well-known task durations.
Function:
Identifies the critical path (longest duration path through the project).
Helps schedule tasks to avoid delays and allocate resources efficiently.
Highlights tasks with slack (float) and those without it.
9. What is risk management in software projects?
Ans:Risk management in software projects is the process of identifying, analyzing, planning
for, and responding to potential risks that could negatively impact the project’s success.
Key Steps in Risk Management:
Risk Identification:Recognizing possible risks (e.g., scope changes, technology issues,
resource shortages).
Risk Analysis:Assessing the probability and impact of each risk.
Risk Prioritization:Ranking risks based on their severity and likelihood.
Risk Planning (Mitigation):Developing strategies to avoid, reduce, or respond to risks (e.g.,
backup plans, training, better tools).
Risk Monitoring and Control:Continuously tracking risks and adjusting responses as
needed.
10. Explain Black Box and White Box testing.
Ans:Black Box Testing:
A software testing method where the tester evaluates the functionality of the application
without any knowledge of the internal code, structure, or logic. It focuses on input-output
behavior based on requirements.
White Box Testing:
A software testing method where the tester has full knowledge of the internal workings of the
code, including logic, structure, and paths. It is used to test how the software works
internally.
MARKS 5
1. Analyse the risk management process in software
engineering and determine its impact on project
success
Ans:Risk Management Process:
Risk management in software engineering involves identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and
controlling risks that could negatively affect a project. The typical process includes:
Risk Identification: Recognizing potential risks early, such as technical challenges,
resource shortages, or requirement changes.
Risk Analysis: Evaluating the likelihood and impact of each risk to understand its
severity.
Risk Prioritization: Ranking risks based on their potential effect on the project,
focusing on the most critical ones.
Risk Mitigation Planning: Developing strategies to reduce or eliminate risks, such as
contingency plans or alternative solutions.
Risk Monitoring and Control: Continuously tracking risks throughout the project and
adjusting plans as necessary.
Impact on Project Success:
Effective risk management significantly improves project success by minimizing surprises
and enabling proactive handling of potential issues. It helps in:
Reducing delays and cost overruns by anticipating problems early.
Improving decision-making with clear insights into risks and their effects.
Enhancing stakeholder confidence through transparent risk handling.
Increasing project quality by addressing risks that could impact functionality or
performance.
Facilitating better resource allocation by focusing efforts on high-risk areas.
2. Analyse Black Box and White Box testing approaches,
comparing their objectives, methods, and effectiveness in
ensuring quality.
Ans:
Aspect Black Box Testing White Box Testing
Verify software functionality against
Validate internal logic, code paths,
Objective requirements without knowing internal
and implementation correctness.
code structure.
Focuses on input-output testing using
Involves code coverage analysis, path
techniques like equivalence
Methods testing, statement and branch testing.
partitioning, boundary value analysis,
Requires knowledge of source code.
and functional testing.
Requirements, specifications, and user
Test Basis Source code and design documents.
scenarios.
Tester No need for programming or code Requires deep understanding of code
Knowledge knowledge. and logic.
Effective at detecting missing or Effective at finding hidden errors,
Effectiveness incorrect functions, usability issues, and logical errors, and optimizing code
interface errors. coverage.
Can be time-consuming and complex;
Cannot test internal code structure, may
Limitations may overlook missing functionalities
miss hidden bugs inside code.
not in the code.
3. Explain the significance of software quality assurance
(SQA).
Ans:Software Quality Assurance (SQA) is a systematic process that ensures software
products and processes meet defined quality standards and requirements throughout the
development lifecycle. Its significance lies in:
Ensuring Product Quality: SQA helps deliver reliable, efficient, and defect-free
software that meets user expectations and requirements.
Preventing Defects: By embedding quality practices early in development, SQA reduces
the likelihood of errors and costly fixes later.
Compliance and Standards: It ensures adherence to industry standards, regulations, and
organizational policies, which is critical in regulated industries.
Customer Satisfaction: High-quality software leads to increased user satisfaction, trust,
and competitive advantage.
Risk Reduction: SQA identifies and mitigates risks related to software failures, security
vulnerabilities, and performance issues.
Cost Efficiency: Early detection and prevention of defects reduce rework, saving time
and costs in the long run.
4. Analyse different software reliability metrics, explaining
how each metric contributes to assessing software
dependability and performance.
Ans:·Mean Time to Failure (MTTF): Measures the average time software operates without
failure; indicates software stability and expected lifespan.
·Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): Calculates the average time between consecutive
failures in repairable systems; helps plan maintenance and assess reliability over time.
·Failure Rate: Counts how often failures occur within a given time or number of operations;
reflects software robustness and user experience impact.
·Fault Density: Number of defects per thousand lines of code (KLOC); provides insight into
code quality and areas needing improvement.
·Defect Removal Efficiency (DRE): Percentage of defects detected and fixed before release;
measures effectiveness of testing and quality assurance processes.
·Availability: Percentage of time software is operational and accessible; critical for assessing
readiness in systems requiring high uptime.
·Recovery Time: Time needed to recover from a failure; indicates system resilience and
impact on users after faults occur.
5. What are the different types of software maintenance?
Explain.
Ans:Corrective Maintenance:Involves fixing bugs and errors discovered after the software
is deployed. It ensures the software continues to operate as intended by correcting faults.
Adaptive Maintenance:Modifying software to keep it compatible with changes in the
environment, such as new operating systems, hardware upgrades, or regulatory changes.
Perfective Maintenance:Enhancing software by improving performance, usability, or adding
new features based on user feedback and changing requirements.
Preventive Maintenance:Making changes to the software to prevent future problems,
improve maintainability, and reduce the risk of faults before they occur.
6. Analyse the processes of software re-engineering and reverse
engineering, comparing their goals, techniques, and
outcomes in software maintenance.
Ans:
Aspect Reverse Engineering Software Re-engineering
Understand and extract knowledge from Improve or modernize existing
Goal existing software, often when software to enhance functionality,
documentation is missing or outdated. performance, or maintainability.
Code analysis, documentation extraction,
Source code restructuring, redesign,
Techniques model recovery, and system
code translation, and optimization.
comprehension.
Analyzes and extracts system Modifies and updates software
Process
specifications, architecture, and design components based on insights gained
Focus
from the software. from reverse engineering.
Comprehensive understanding of Refactored or redeveloped software
Outcome software structure and behavior; updated with improved quality,
documentation. maintainability, and functionality.
7. Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different
software development models
Ans:
Model Strengths Weaknesses
Waterfall Simple, easy to manage, clear Inflexible to changes, late
Model Strengths Weaknesses
milestones testing
Flexible, adaptive to change, Requires disciplined team, less
Agile
continuous feedback predictability
Delivers usable software early, Integration challenges,
Incremental
flexible requires good planning
Risk-focused, iterative Complex, costly, requires
Spiral
refinement expertise
Emphasizes testing at each Rigid, similar to Waterfall’s
V-Model
stage, clear structure inflexibility
RAD (Rapid Application Not suitable for large complex
Fast delivery, user involvement
Development) projects
8. Evaluate the impact of Agile methodology in modern
software development.
Ans:Enhanced Flexibility and Adaptability: Agile allows teams to respond quickly to
changing requirements and market demands, enabling continuous improvement throughout
the development cycle.
Improved Customer Collaboration: Regular feedback from customers and stakeholders
ensures the product better aligns with user needs and expectations.
Faster Delivery: Agile’s iterative approach enables frequent releases of working software,
providing value to users early and often.
Higher Product Quality: Continuous testing and integration within Agile cycles help detect
defects early, improving overall software quality.
Risk Reduction: Frequent reviews and iterative development minimize the risk of project
failure by identifying issues early.
Challenges: Agile requires disciplined teams and active stakeholder involvement; without
these, projects may face scope creep or lack of clear documentation
9. Design a UML class diagram for an online shopping
system.
Ans:
10. Critically assess the effectiveness of software testing techniques.
Ans:Black Box Testing: Effective in validating functional requirements without needing
internal code knowledge; good for detecting missing features and incorrect behaviors from a
user perspective.
White Box Testing: Thoroughly checks internal logic, code paths, and security
vulnerabilities; helps ensure code quality and correctness at a granular level.
Automated Testing: Speeds up regression testing, improves repeatability, and reduces
human error; essential for continuous integration and deployment.
Exploratory Testing: Useful for uncovering unexpected bugs by creatively exploring the
software beyond predefined test cases.
Performance Testing: Ensures software meets speed, scalability, and stability requirements
under load conditions.
(Chap-3)(Marks-3)
1. Describe McCall’s Quality Triangle.
Ans:McCall’s Quality Triangle is a model in software engineering that defines software
quality using three main perspectives:
Product Operation – How well the software performs its intended functions (e.g., reliability,
efficiency, correctness).
Product Revision – How easily the software can be changed (e.g., maintainability,
flexibility, testability).
Product Transition – How easily the software can be adapted to new environments (e.g.,
portability, reusability, interoperability).
2. What are the different types of software
maintenance?
Ans:The four main types of software maintenance are:
Corrective Maintenance – Fixing bugs or errors found after the software is released.
Adaptive Maintenance – Modifying software to work in a new or changed environment
(e.g., OS updates).
Perfective Maintenance – Enhancing features or improving performance based on user
feedback.
Preventive Maintenance – Making changes to prevent future problems and improve
software stability.
3. Explain Capability Maturity Model (CMM).
Ans:The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a framework developed by the Software
Engineering Institute (SEI) to assess and improve the maturity of software development
processes in an organization.
It consists of five maturity levels:
Level 1 – Initial: Processes are ad hoc and chaotic; success depends on individual effort.
Level 2 – Repeatable: Basic project management processes are established to track cost,
schedule, and functionality.
Level 3 – Defined: Processes are well-documented, standardized, and integrated into a
standard software process.
Level 4 – Managed: Processes are measured and controlled using data and metrics.
Level 5 – Optimizing: Focus on continuous process improvement through feedback and
innovation.
4. Define software reliability and its significance.
Ans:Software reliability is the probability that software will operate without failure under
specified conditions for a specified period of time.
Significance:
Ensures consistent performance, building user trust.
Reduces system crashes and downtime, improving user satisfaction.
Helps in cost reduction by minimizing failures and maintenance needs.
Critical for safety-critical systems like healthcare, aviation, and finance.
5. What is the role of ISO in software quality?
Ans:The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides standards (like
ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 25010) to ensure software quality through structured processes,
documentation, and quality assurance. These standards help organizations produce consistent,
high-quality software products.
6. Explain software reuse and its benefits.
Ans:Software reuse is the practice of using existing software components (like code,
designs, or documentation) in new applications.
Benefits:
Reduces development time and cost
Improves reliability (reused components are already tested)
Encourages standardization and consistency
7. What is software re-engineering?
Ans:Software re-engineering is the process of analyzing and modifying existing
software to improve its structure, performance, or maintainability without changing its
functionality. It is often used to modernize legacy systems.
8. Differentiate between forward and reverse
engineering.
Aspect Forward Engineering Reverse Engineering
Building software from Deriving design/specs from
Definition
specifications/designs existing software
Aspect Forward Engineering Reverse Engineering
From code to high-level
Direction From high-level design to code
design
To understand or modify an
Purpose To create a new system
existing system
Analyzing legacy or
Used When Developing new applications
undocumented systems
Design, documentation, or
Outcome Working software product
system understanding
9. Describe the challenges of software reuse.
Ans:·Compatibility Issues – Reused components may not integrate well with new systems
due to differences in architecture or technology.
·Lack of Documentation – Insufficient or outdated documentation makes understanding and
using reused code difficult.
·Quality Assurance – Ensuring reused software meets required standards can be challenging.
·Licensing and Legal Issues – Reused software may have restrictions or licensing terms that
limit its use.
·Maintenance and Support – The original developers may no longer maintain reused
components, leading to security or performance issues.
10. What are CASE tools? Provide examples.
Ans:CASE (Computer-Aided Software Engineering) tools are software tools that support
software development activities like design, coding, testing, and documentation.
Examples:
Rational Rose (UML modeling)
Enterprise Architect
Visual Paradigm
JIRA (project management and tracking)
MARKS 5
1. Devise a risk management plan for a large-scale
software project.
Ans:1. Risk Identification:
Review past projects and lessons learned to anticipate common risks.
Categorize risks into technical, operational, financial, legal, and external risks.
2. Risk Analysis:
Assess each risk’s likelihood (probability) and impact (severity) on project objectives.
Use qualitative methods (e.g., risk matrix) or quantitative methods (e.g., probability-
impact calculations).
3. Risk Prioritization:
Rank risks based on their combined likelihood and impact scores.
Focus on high-priority risks that could significantly affect project success.
4. Risk Mitigation Planning:Develop strategies for each prioritized risk:
Avoidance: Change plans to eliminate the risk.
Mitigation: Reduce the probability or impact.
Transfer: Outsource or insure risk.
Acceptance: Acknowledge risk and prepare contingency plans.
5. Risk Monitoring and Control:
Assign risk owners responsible for monitoring specific risks.
Regularly review and update the risk register throughout the project lifecycle.
6. Communication and Documentation:
Maintain clear documentation of identified risks, analyses, mitigation plans, and
outcomes.
Communicate risk status and changes transparently to all stakeholders.
2. Examine the role of quality assurance in reducing
software failures.
Ans:Early Detection of Defects: QA activities such as reviews, inspections, and testing
identify defects early in the development lifecycle, reducing the chances of failures in later
stages or after release.
Process Improvement: QA enforces adherence to standardized development processes and
best practices, which helps minimize errors caused by inconsistent or poor-quality work.
Verification and Validation: QA ensures the software meets its specifications (verification)
and fulfills user needs (validation), reducing failures due to incorrect or incomplete
requirements.
Comprehensive Testing: Systematic testing (unit, integration, system, acceptance) uncovers
functional and non-functional issues, preventing software from failing under real-world
conditions.
Risk Management: QA helps identify high-risk areas and focuses testing efforts
accordingly, reducing the likelihood of critical failures.
3. Compare different software reliability models and
suggest the best one.
Ans:
Model Key Feature Advantages Limitations
Fixed faults, decreasing Unrealistic
Jelinski-Moranda Simple, easy to use
failure rate assumptions
Exponential failure rate Needs extensive failure
Goel-Okumoto Widely used, practical
decay data
Accurate for Complex, data
Musa-Okumoto Considers execution time
operational use intensive
Littlewood-
Bayesian approach Uses prior knowledge Statistically complex
Verrall
Logarithmic Logarithmic failure rate Good for reliability
Complex calculations
Poisson decline growth
4. Propose a software reuse strategy for an enterprise
application.
Ans:Establish a Reuse Policy:Define clear guidelines and objectives for reuse, including
what types of components (code, modules, libraries, services) should be reused and how.
Create a Centralized Reuse Repository:Maintain a well-organized, searchable repository of
reusable assets such as components, templates, APIs, and documentation accessible to all
development teams.
Component-Based Development:Design the application using modular, loosely-coupled
components or microservices that can be independently developed, tested, and reused.
Standardize Development Practices:Adopt coding standards, design patterns, and
documentation norms to ensure reusable components are consistent, reliable, and easy to
integrate.
Implement Automated Tools:Use tools for version control, component discovery, and
integration testing to streamline reuse and manage dependencies effectively.
Train and Incentivize Teams:Educate developers on reuse benefits and best practices.
Encourage and reward reuse efforts to build a culture supportive of reuse.
5. Describe the characteristics of good software.
Ans:· Correctness:The software performs all required functions accurately and meets its
specified requirements.
· Reliability:It operates without failure under defined conditions for a specified period.
· Usability:It has a user-friendly interface and is easy to learn and use, even for non-
technical users.
· Efficiency:It optimally uses system resources (memory, CPU, bandwidth) without
unnecessary overhead.
· Maintainability:The code is easy to understand, fix, and update when requirements change
or bugs are found.
· Portability:It can run on different platforms and operating systems with minimal changes.
6. Explain the role of feasibility study in software project
development.
Ans:1. Technical Feasibility:
Assesses whether the current technology, hardware, software, and technical expertise are
adequate to build and run the system.
Identifies any technical challenges, limitations, or dependencies early in the project.
2. Economic Feasibility:
Conducts a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate whether the expected benefits (e.g.,
increased efficiency, revenue) justify the investment.
Helps determine return on investment (ROI) and long-term financial sustainability.
3. Operational Feasibility:
Analyzes how well the proposed software will integrate with existing processes and
whether users can adapt to it.
Ensures that the system will be used effectively by stakeholders and end-users.
4. Legal and Regulatory Feasibility:
Ensures the project complies with relevant laws, standards, data protection policies, and
industry regulations.
Helps avoid legal complications that could derail the project later.
5. Schedule Feasibility:
Estimates whether the project can be completed within the desired time frame based on
available resources and constraints.
Prevents delays by setting realistic milestones and deadlines.
6. Risk Assessment:
Identifies potential risks (technical, financial, operational) and assesses their impact on
project success.
Helps in planning mitigation strategies early in the development process
7. Differentiate between prescriptive and specialized
process models.
Ans:
Aspect Prescriptive Process Models Specialized Process Models
General, standard frameworks for Tailored models for specific domains, needs, or
Definition
software development. constraints.
To provide a structured approach To handle unique project requirements (e.g.,
Purpose
applicable to many projects. real-time, safety-critical systems).
Waterfall, Spiral, Incremental, V- Component-Based Development, Formal
Examples
Model. Methods, Agile variants for embedded systems.
Often rigid, follows defined stages More adaptable to specific project
Flexibility
sequentially or iteratively. characteristics.
Suitable for typical software Best for projects needing domain-specific
Usage
projects with general needs. solutions.
Broad coverage of development Emphasizes domain-specific features (e.g.,
Focus
activities. security, precision).
8. Analyse the principles of software engineering ethics and
explore how they influence decision-making, product
quality, and user trust.
Ans:· Public Interest First:Act in the interest of the public and ensure safety, privacy, and
well-being.
Influence: Engineers avoid releasing unsafe or unreliable software, improving user safety
and trust.
· Client and Employer Responsibility:Be honest and provide competent service to clients
and employers.
Influence: Promotes transparency in communication and realistic timelines, aiding informed
decision-making.
· Product Quality:Ensure the software meets the highest professional standards possible.
Influence: Encourages thorough testing, documentation, and maintenance, resulting in higher
quality outputs.
· Judgment and Honesty:Maintain integrity and avoid deceptive claims about software
capabilities.
Influence: Builds credibility with users and stakeholders, leading to long-term trust.
· Management and Leadership:Support ethical development practices and foster a
professional work culture.
Influence: Good leadership ensures teams adhere to ethical standards, enhancing project
accountability.
· Professional Development:Continually upgrade technical knowledge and encourage
learning.
Influence: Keeps teams updated with best practices, boosting innovation and software
reliability.
9. Analyse how decision trees and decision tables assist in
software requirements analysis, comparing their
effectiveness in handling complex decision scenarios.
Ans:Decision Trees:
Aspect Description
Structure A graphical, tree-like model of decisions and their possible consequences.
Use Visualizes the flow of conditions and decisions in a branching format.
Strengths Easy to understand; great for sequential decisions; visually intuitive.
Can become large and hard to manage for very complex or multi-variable
Weaknesses
scenarios.
Decision Tables:
Aspect Description
Structure A tabular format listing all possible conditions and corresponding actions.
Use Systematically captures combinations of inputs and their resulting actions.
Strengths Excellent for handling complex rule sets; concise and complete coverage.
Weaknesses Can be less intuitive; harder to visualize the flow of logic or order of events.
10. Design a modular architecture for a software system of
your choice, explaining how your design enhances
maintainability, flexibility, and performance.
Ans:Modular Architecture: Online Food Delivery System
User Module:Handles user registration, login, profile management.
Restaurant Module:Manages restaurant data, menus, availability, and ratings.
Search & Filter Module:Enables search by cuisine, location, or ratings.
Order Management Module:Manages order placement, confirmation, and order history.
Payment Module:Integrates with payment gateways, handles transactions and invoices.
Delivery Module:Manages delivery tracking, assignments, and status updates.
Admin Panel Module:Provides tools for managing users, restaurants, and analytics.
Notification Module:Sends email/SMS/notifications for order updates and promotions.
Enhancement Through Modular Design
Maintainability:
Each module has a single responsibility, making it easy to locate and fix bugs.
Updates to one module (e.g., payment gateway changes) don’t affect the others.
Flexibility:
New features (e.g., loyalty points or offers) can be added as independent modules.
Modules can be swapped or upgraded (e.g., changing the notification service) without
disrupting the system.
Performance:
Modules can be deployed and scaled independently (e.g., scaling the Order
Management Module during peak hours).
Load balancing and caching can be applied to specific performance-critical modules like
Search or Delivery Tracking.
(Chap-4)(Marks-3)
1. Analyse the advantages and limitations of different SDLC
models.
Ans:
Model Advantages Limitations
Clear, simple structure, easy to Inflexible, difficult to go back and
Waterfall
understand. modify once stages are completed.
Emphasizes validation and Can be rigid and lacks flexibility in
V-Model
verification, clear testing stages. handling changes.
Allows flexibility, early delivery Can lead to scope creep and
Iterative/Incremental
of partial product. inconsistent results across iterations.
Risk management, iterative and Can be expensive and time-
Spiral
flexible, good for large projects. consuming due to repeated cycles.
High flexibility, adaptive to Requires strong collaboration, can
Agile
changes, customer-focused. be chaotic without proper planning.
2. Evaluate the role of SDLC in software project success.
Ans:The SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) provides a structured framework for
developing software in a systematic manner. It ensures that:
Project requirements are met.
Clear stages for design, development, and testing are defined.
Risks are identified and managed early.
Efficient resource and time management.
By following a structured SDLC, project success is more likely, as the process helps maintain
focus, reduces errors, and ensures timely delivery.
3. Design a simple use case diagram for an online library
management system.
Ans:
4. Assess the importance of DFDs in system design.
Ans:Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) are essential in system design as they:
Help visualize how data flows through the system.
Provide a clear representation of system functions and their interactions.
Aid in identifying potential bottlenecks, redundancies, and inefficiencies.
Serve as documentation for system analysis, making communication easier between
stakeholders.
5. Compare Object-Oriented modelling with structured
design in terms of modularity and reusability.
Ans:
Aspect Object-Oriented Modeling Structured Design
Encourages modularity via classes Divides the system into modules but often
Modularity and objects, making it easier to results in less flexibility when
modify or extend. modifications are needed.
High reusability due to inheritance, Reusability is lower as components are
Reusability
polymorphism, and encapsulation. often more tightly coupled.
6. Explain how a decision tree helps in evaluating software
requirements with an example.
Ans:A decision tree is a diagram used to evaluate different software requirement options.
For example:
If a customer wants a mobile app, the decision tree could branch into options like Native
App or Hybrid App.
Each branch would have further options or criteria (cost, time, functionality).
The decision tree helps prioritize requirements based on factors like feasibility, cost, and
time.
7. Examine the impact of cost estimation errors on
project success.
Ans:Errors in cost estimation can lead to:
Budget overruns: Underestimating costs can strain the project budget.
Delays: If costs exceed expectations, the project might be delayed due to reallocation of
resources.
Reduced quality: To stay within budget, developers may cut corners, leading to lower
quality software
8. What is PERT in project scheduling?
Ans:PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) is a project scheduling tool used
to estimate the duration of tasks. It helps:
Visualize task dependencies.
Identify the critical path (longest sequence of tasks).
Estimate time with optimism, pessimism, and realistic timeframes.
9. Describe common risk mitigation strategies used in
software projects.
Ans:Common strategies include:
Risk Avoidance:Modify the project plan to eliminate risky aspect
Risk Reduction:Reduce the impact or likelihood of risks through preventive measures
Risk Transfer:Shift the impact of a risk to a third party
Risk Acceptance:Acknowledge the risk and prepare to handle its consequences if it occurs
10. Analyse how software quality models impact
reliability.
Ans:Software quality models (like ISO 9126, CMMI, or McCall’s Model) help assess and
improve various attributes, including:
Reliability: Ensures that software performs consistently under expected conditions.
Maintainability: Reduces the chances of introducing new errors during updates.
Performance: Ensures the system remains reliable under varying loads.
By implementing quality models, organizations ensure that their software is dependable and
robust.
MARKS 5
1. Explain the importance of data flow diagrams (DFDs) in
software design.
ANS:· Visual Representation of System Flow:DFDs provide a clear graphical view of data
processes, data stores, inputs, and outputs, helping stakeholders understand how the system
functions.
· Improves Communication:Acts as a bridge between technical and non-technical users,
ensuring developers, clients, and analysts have a common understanding of system
requirements.
· Aids in Requirement Analysis:Helps identify functional requirements early in the
development process by focusing on what the system should do rather than how.
· Supports Modularity:Encourages the decomposition of the system into smaller sub-
processes, aiding in modular and organized design.
· Facilitates Error Detection:Makes it easier to spot missing or redundant processes,
incorrect data flows, or unclear data sources, which improves the overall quality of the
design.
· Helps in System Documentation:Acts as a part of system documentation that can be
referenced during future enhancements, maintenance, or onboarding of new team members.
2. Discuss the significance of Unified Modelling Language
(UML) in software engineering.
Ans:· Standardized Visual Language:UML provides a common notation that is universally
understood by developers, designers, analysts, and stakeholders, reducing
miscommunication.
· Supports Object-Oriented Design:It effectively models the structure and behavior of
object-oriented systems, making it ideal for modern software development.
· Improves Communication and Collaboration:Diagrams like use case, class, and
sequence diagrams help teams visualize system functionality, enhancing team collaboration
and understanding.
· Helps in Requirement Gathering and Analysis:Use Case diagrams help identify user
requirements and interactions early in the project, ensuring alignment with client
expectations.
· Assists in System Design and Architecture:UML diagrams (class, component,
deployment) allow for the detailed planning of system components, their relationships, and
infrastructure.
· Documentation and Maintenance:UML models serve as comprehensive documentation,
which is helpful during software updates, debugging, and onboarding new team members.
3. Explain function-oriented and object-oriented
software design.
Ans:Function oriented:
Aspect Description
Focus Focuses on functions and procedures that operate on data.
Uses a top-down approach, breaking the system into smaller functional
Design Basis
modules.
Data Handling Data is global and shared among functions.
Modularity Modules are based on functions or actions performed (e.g., calculateTotal()).
Example Structured Design using tools like Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs).
Best Suited For Simple or computation-heavy applications (e.g., calculators, scripts).
Object oriented:
Aspect Description
Focus Focuses on objects, which combine data and behavior.
Design Basis Uses a bottom-up approach, identifying objects and their interactions.
Data Handling Data is encapsulated within objects and accessed through methods.
Aspect Description
Modularity Modules are based on real-world entities (e.g., User, Order, Product).
Example Unified Modeling Language (UML) used to model classes and interactions.
Best Suited For Large, complex, and reusable software systems (e.g., web apps, simulations).
4. Evaluate various cost estimation techniques in
software project management.
Ans:1. Expert Judgment
Description: Relies on the experience of senior developers or project managers.
Advantages:
Quick and easy to apply.
Useful when historical data is unavailable.
Limitations:
Highly subjective and may be biased.
Accuracy varies with the expert’s experience.
2. Analogous Estimation
Description: Uses historical data from similar past projects as a reference.
Advantages:
Saves time and effort.
Practical in early project phases.
Limitations:
Assumes past projects are truly comparable.
May overlook unique project-specific factors.
3. Parametric Estimation
Description: Uses mathematical models (e.g., cost = size × productivity rate).
Advantages:
More objective than expert judgment.
Useful for large projects with reliable historical data.
Limitations:
Requires accurate and sufficient historical data.
Model complexity can be high.
4. Bottom-Up Estimation
Description: Estimates cost by breaking down tasks into smaller components and summing
their costs.
Advantages:
Highly detailed and accurate.
Encourages task-level planning.
Limitations:
Time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Risk of underestimating overhead costs.
5. Top-Down Estimation
Description: Starts with an overall estimate and allocates budgets to subcomponents.
Advantages:Fast and good for rough initial estimates.
Limitations:Lacks detail and may be unrealistic at the lower levels.
6. Algorithmic Models (e.g., COCOMO)
Description: Uses formulas based on empirical data (e.g., size in LOC or function points).
Advantages:
Scientifically derived and scalable.
Provides consistent estimates.
Limitations:
Requires accurate size estimation.
Sensitive to input parameters.
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of
automated software testing?
Ans:Advantages of Automated Testing:
Faster Execution:Automated tests run much quicker than manual tests, especially useful for
large projects or repeated testing (regression testing).
Reusability of Test Scripts:Once created, test scripts can be reused across different versions
of the application, saving time and effort.
Improved Accuracy:Reduces human errors by executing the same steps precisely every
time.
Cost-Effective in the Long Run:Initial setup may be costly, but long-term savings are
significant due to reduced manual effort and faster testing cycles.
Disadvantages of Automated Testing:
High Initial Investment:Requires time and money to set up the test environment, tools, and
scripts.
Not Suitable for All Test Cases:Complex test scenarios involving user experience or visual
elements may still require manual testing.
Maintenance Overhead:Test scripts must be updated with each change in the application,
leading to ongoing maintenance work.
Limited Flexibility:Automated tests are rigid and cannot easily adapt to unexpected behavior
or changes unless reprogrammed.
6. Analyse various software testing strategies
Ans:Unit Testing:Testing individual units or components of a software system (e.g.,
functions, methods). Verify that each unit works as expected in isolation.
2. Integration Testing:Testing the combination of units/modules to ensure they work
together.Identify issues in interfaces, communication, and data flow between components.
3. System Testing: Testing the complete, integrated system to validate overall
functionality.Ensure that the system meets the specified requirements.
4. Acceptance Testing (User Acceptance Testing - UAT):Testing performed by the end-user
or client to verify if the system meets their needs.Validate the system from the user’s point of
view.
5. Regression Testing:Testing existing software to ensure that new changes haven’t affected
existing functionality.Detect unintended side effects after code changes.
6. Smoke Testing: A quick, shallow test to verify basic system functionality.Determine
whether the system is stable enough for further testing.
7. Discuss the role of software quality models in software
development.
Ans:Defining Quality:Software quality models help define what constitutes "good" software by
identifying key characteristics like reliability, usability, efficiency, and maintainability.
Measuring Quality:They provide a way to measure the extent to which a software product
meets these quality requirements, allowing for objective assessment and comparison.
Guiding Development:By understanding the relationships between quality attributes,
models can guide developers in making choices that prioritize quality and reduce potential
defects.
Improving Processes:By providing a framework for measuring and improving quality,
models can help organizations establish and improve their software development
processes.
Facilitating Communication:Models can serve as a common language for communication
between developers, stakeholders, and users, ensuring everyone understands the
expectations for software quality.
Enhancing Testing:Models can help identify the most critical areas to focus testing efforts,
ensuring that the software meets the required quality standards.
8.Analyse the factors affecting software reliability and evaluate
how different reliability growth models help improve software
dependability.
Ans:Complexity of Software:
More complex software has more interactions, dependencies, and potential failure points.
Complex logic, numerous modules, and intricate algorithms can increase the chance of
defects.
Quality of Requirements and Design:
Ambiguous, incomplete, or changing requirements lead to misunderstandings and errors.
Poor architectural and design decisions reduce robustness and error tolerance.
Coding Practices:
Poor coding standards, lack of code reviews, and insufficient adherence to best practices
cause defects.
Use of unproven or unreliable third-party libraries can introduce vulnerabilities.
Testing Effectiveness:
The thoroughness of test cases and coverage affects the detection of bugs before release.
Insufficient or ineffective testing results in undetected defects causing failures.
Development Environment:
Tool support, programming language, and development methodologies impact defect
injection and removal.
Changes in environment, like platform or hardware, can introduce unexpected behavior.
9.Analyse the role of software configuration management in
software development, examining its impact on version control,
collaboration, and project stability.
Ans:Key Roles of SCM in Software Development
Version Control
SCM systems manage multiple versions of software artifacts.
They record changes made over time, who made them, and why.
Enable rollback to previous versions if defects are introduced or if a feature needs to be
reverted.
Facilitating Collaboration
SCM provides a shared repository for the team, ensuring all developers work with the
latest versions.
It prevents conflicts through locking mechanisms or merging strategies.
Tracks changes and authorship, improving accountability and transparency.
Ensuring Project Stability
SCM helps maintain a stable baseline of software by controlling changes rigorously.
Enables controlled releases and build management, reducing integration issues.
· Impact on Version Control:SCM provides tools and processes to track changes, manage
multiple versions, support branching and merging, and enable rollback. This ensures code
integrity and easy recovery from errors.
·Impact on Collaboration:SCM enables multiple developers to work simultaneously on the
same project by synchronizing changes, preventing conflicts, and providing transparency
through detailed change logs and histories.
Impact on Project Stability:By controlling changes, maintaining stable baselines, and
integrating with build and release processes, SCM reduces errors, avoids integration
issues, and ensures consistent, reliable software delivery.
10.Analyse the impact of reverse engineering in
modernizing legacy software.
Ans:Understanding Legacy Systems
Helps uncover the internal structure, logic, and dependencies of legacy code.
Provides insights needed to safely modify, extend, or replace parts of the system.
Facilitates Migration and Re-engineering
Extracted models and documentation enable smoother migration to modern platforms,
languages, or architectures.
Supports re-design efforts by revealing hidden complexities and obsolete components.
Improves Maintenance and Debugging
Enhances comprehension of code behavior, which reduces maintenance time and cost.
Helps identify redundant, dead, or poorly implemented code for cleanup.
Enables Integration with New Systems:Provides clear interfaces and data flows, making it
easier to integrate legacy systems with new applications or services.
Supports Compliance and Risk Management:
Reveals security vulnerabilities or compliance issues embedded in legacy code.
Helps assess risks before modernization efforts.
(Chap-5)(Marks-3)
1. Illustrate how CMMI helps improve software quality.
Ans: The Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) helps improve software quality
by providing a structured framework for process improvement. It ensures:
Consistency: Standardized processes across the organization.
Continuous improvement: By measuring and monitoring processes, CMMI encourages
refinement.
Risk management: Identifying risks and implementing controls to mitigate them.
Better project management: Clearer goals, objectives, and quality standards lead to more
predictable outcomes.
2. What is a quality assurance plan in a software project?
Ans:A Quality Assurance (QA) Plan outlines the strategies and procedures for ensuring that
software meets the required quality standards throughout its lifecycle. It typically includes:
Quality goals: What quality criteria must be met.
Testing strategies: Types of testing (unit, integration, system) to be conducted.
Roles and responsibilities: Who is responsible for quality activities.
Tools and techniques: QA tools and methodologies to be used.
Metrics: How quality will be measured (e.g., defect density, test coverage).
3. Compare different reliability models and suggest the best
one for critical systems.
Ans:
Model Advantages Limitations
Exponential Simple, suitable for systems with Assumes constant failure rate, which
Model constant failure rate. isn't realistic for all systems.
Flexible, can model both increasing More complex, requires detailed data
Weibull Model
and decreasing failure rates. to be effective.
Log-Normal Useful for systems where failures are Requires large amounts of data for
Model rare but severe. accurate prediction.
4. What are some strategies for improving software
maintenance processes?
Ans:Strategies for improving software maintenance processes:
Automated Testing: Reduce the time and effort needed for regression testing.
Code Refactoring: Continuously improve code structure to enhance maintainability.
Documentation: Maintain thorough documentation to aid future modifications.
Modularization: Break down the system into smaller, manageable parts to make
maintenance easier.
Change Management: Establish formal processes for handling software updates and bug
fixes.
5. How can reverse engineering contribute to improving
software reusability?
Ans:Understanding legacy code: Reverse engineering helps in understanding existing
systems, making it easier to reuse code components.
Modularization: Through reverse engineering, developers can identify reusable components
and modularize them for future use.
Documentation: It generates documentation for undocumented systems, making it easier to
reuse parts of the system in future projects.
6. Propose a framework for implementing software reuse in an
enterprise.
Ans:Identify reusable assets: Start by identifying which parts of the code or system can be
reused across projects (e.g., libraries, functions, services).
Centralized repository: Create a central repository to store reusable components.
Standardization: Develop standard guidelines for creating reusable code (e.g., coding
conventions, documentation standards).
Reuse awareness: Promote a culture of reuse within the organization.
Quality control: Ensure reusable components are tested and meet quality standards before
they are stored in the repository.
7. What are the main challenges organizations encounter when
adopting CASE tools?
Ans:High initial cost: CASE tools can be expensive to purchase and implement.
Training: Employees need to be trained to effectively use the tools.
Resistance to change: Teams may be resistant to adopting new tools and processes.
Integration with existing systems: CASE tools may not integrate seamlessly with existing
software and workflows.
Customization needs: CASE tools often require customization to fit the specific needs of the
organization.
8. Evaluate the impact of software re-engineering on legacy
systems.
Ans:·Improved maintainability: Legacy systems can be made easier to modify and update.
· Extended lifespan: Re-engineering can extend the life of legacy systems without the need
for a complete rewrite.
·Increased efficiency: Refactoring or optimizing code during re-engineering can improve
system performance.
·Risk of disruption: There is a potential risk that re-engineering may introduce new defects
into the system.
9. Create a software reuse model for a real-world
application.
Ans:Create a software reuse model for a real-world application: For a web-based e-
commerce platform, a software reuse model could include:
Reusable components: Payment gateway, user authentication, shopping cart.
Shared services: Inventory management, product recommendation engine.
Reusable UI templates: Common components like header, footer, and product display
modules.
Centralized repository: A repository to store and version these components for use in future
applications or updates.
10.How can best practices for software reusability be applied to
improve development efficiency?
Ans:Encapsulation: Design components that are self-contained, with clear interfaces.
Documentation: Provide detailed documentation so others can easily understand and reuse
components.
Modular design: Break down software into smaller, reusable units.
Code standards: Ensure consistency in coding practices to make it easier to reuse and
integrate code.
Automated testing: Implement automated testing to quickly verify that reused components
function correctly in different contexts.
MARKS 5
1. What are the main challenges in implementing
software reuse in large-scale applications?
Ans:Implementing software reuse in large-scale applications offers significant benefits like
reduced development time, increased reliability, and lower costs. However, it also comes
with several challenges, especially at scale. Here are the main ones:
1. Component Compatibility and Integration
Challenge: Reusable components may not integrate smoothly with the architecture,
technologies, or data structures of a new application.
Example: A module built for a monolithic app might not work well in a microservices-based
system.
2. Design Constraints and Rigidity
Challenge: Reusable components often have rigid interfaces or specific assumptions that
limit flexibility.
Result: Developers may need to heavily adapt or wrap these components, reducing the
benefit of reuse.
3. Lack of Standardization
Challenge: Inconsistent coding practices, documentation, and naming conventions make
components hard to understand or integrate.
Large teams and distributed development often amplify this issue.
4. Poor or Missing Documentation
Challenge: Without clear documentation, it's hard to understand how to use or configure
reusable components.
Result: Developers may choose to rewrite instead of reuse.
5. Security and Quality Assurance
Challenge: Reused code can introduce vulnerabilities if it’s not properly tested or
maintained.
Example: Using outdated libraries with known security flaws.
2. Propose a software maintenance plan for a cloud based
application.
Ans:A solid software maintenance plan for a cloud-based application should prioritize
reliability, security, and scalability. Here's a well-structured approach:
1. Preventive Maintenance: Use tools like AWS CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, or Google
Cloud Operations Suite for real-time insights.Keep libraries, APIs, and frameworks
updated to prevent vulnerabilities.
2. Corrective Maintenance: Implement an issue tracking system (e.g., JIRA, GitHub
Issues) for efficient bug resolution. Define rollback strategies, failover mechanisms, and
automated alerts for quick recovery.
3. Adaptive Maintenance: Utilize auto-scaling to handle traffic spikes and optimize
costs. Periodically evaluate and migrate to newer cloud services for performance gains.
4. Perfective Maintenance:Improve application functionalities based on user feedback
and analytics. Optimize code for better readability, efficiency, and maintainability
5. Security & Compliance:Conduct penetration testing and vulnerability
scans.Strengthen IAM policies and implement encryption for sensitive data. Ensure
adherence to industry regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001.
6. Documentation & Training: Maintain updated API references, architecture
diagrams, and troubleshooting guides. Conduct workshops and knowledge-sharing
sessions to ensure best practices.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of CASE tools in software
development.
Ans:CASE (Computer-Aided Software Engineering) tools play a crucial role in software
development by improving efficiency, consistency, and maintainability. Their effectiveness
can be evaluated across several dimensions:
1. Productivity & Automation
CASE tools automate repetitive tasks, such as code generation, documentation, and
testing.
They help reduce human errors and speed up development cycles.
2. Standardization & Consistency
Ensure adherence to software engineering best practices (e.g., design patterns,
structured methodologies).
Help maintain consistent code quality and documentation.
3. Software Design & Modeling
Support UML diagrams, DFDs, and ER models, improving system visualization.
Make collaboration between teams more structured
4. Maintenance & Debugging
Aid in version control, impact analysis, and automated regression testing.
Facilitate code refactoring, reducing technical debt.
5. Limitations & Challenges
Learning Curve: Some CASE tools are complex and require training.
Integration Issues: Compatibility with various development environments can be a
concern.
Cost: High-end CASE tools can be expensive.
4. Compare various software re-engineering techniques.
Ans:
Technique Description Use Case Pros Cons
Improve code structure Enhances
Clean messy or No new features
Refactoring without changing readability &
legacy code added
behavior maintainability
Aids
Analyze and recover Understand Time-
Reverse understanding for
design from existing undocumented consuming; may
Engineering future
code legacy systems miss full context
enhancements
Rebuild system using Migrating to a Leverages Costly and
Forward
new tech based on old new platform or modern tools & requires full
Engineering
design language tech redevelopment
Normalize, Improves data Risk of data loss
Data Re- Improve database
migrate, or clean integrity and if not handled
engineering structure and quality
old databases performance carefully
Improve
Modify system structure Boosts efficiency May introduce
Restructuring performance or
(code, UI, data) and usability new bugs
user experience
Enables Compatibility
Move system to new Cloud migration,
Migration scalability and and performance
environment/platform OS change
modernization risks
5. Design a software reuse strategy for a mobile application
development company.
Ans:A software reuse strategy helps a mobile application development company improve
efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain consistency across projects.
1. Establish a Modular Architecture
Use component-based design where UI elements, business logic, and database
interactions are separate.
Create reusable modules for authentication, notifications, payment processing, and
analytics.
2. Maintain a Centralized Repository
Set up a code library with well-documented reusable components.
Use GitHub, Bitbucket, or an internal repository for version control and access
management.
3. Develop Standardized APIs & SDKs
Build RESTful APIs or GraphQL endpoints for common functions.
Offer an SDK for internal teams to integrate essential features easily.
4. Automate Code Generation & Templates
Use code scaffolding tools like Yeoman or Plop for rapid project initialization.
Create UI design templates using frameworks like Jetpack Compose (Android) or
SwiftUI (iOS).
5. Implement a Microservices Approach
Develop independent microservices for common functionalities (e.g., user management,
payments).
Ensure services are loosely coupled for easy integration across multiple apps.
6. Define Reusability Guidelines
Establish coding standards and best practices to ensure uniformity.
Maintain proper documentation for reusable components to aid developers.
6. Assess the benefits and risks of using open-source
software components.
Ans:Benefits:
Cost-Effective – No licensing fees; reduces development costs.
Customizable – Source code can be modified to fit specific needs.
Community Support – Active developers contribute to improvements and bug fixes.
Transparency & Security – Public scrutiny helps detect vulnerabilities early.
Avoids Vendor Lock-in – No dependency on a single proprietary vendor.
Risks :
Security Vulnerabilities – Some OSS lacks timely updates, exposing systems to risks (e.g.,
Log4j).
Licensing Risks – Non-compliance with licenses (e.g., GPL) can lead to legal issues.
Lack of Official Support – Some projects rely on community help, not professional support.
Maintenance Overhead – Requires internal expertise to manage and update OSS.
Unstable or Abandoned Projects – Some OSS may become outdated or unsupported.
7. Analyse how software engineering methodologies
influence project success.
Ans:
Aspect Influence of Methodology
Methodologies like Waterfall enforce detailed upfront planning,
Project Planning reducing uncertainty but limiting flexibility. Agile promotes adaptive
planning, helping teams adjust to changes.
Agile and Scrum improve team communication through regular stand-
Team Collaboration
ups and feedback loops, increasing productivity and alignment.
Iterative models (e.g., Agile, Spiral) allow early detection of scope
Time & Budget
creep or cost overruns. Waterfall can risk major issues being found
Management
late.
Spiral methodology explicitly includes risk analysis, helping mitigate
Risk Management
technical and business risks early in the lifecycle.
Test-driven development (TDD) and DevOps practices embedded in
Product Quality Agile improve software quality through continuous testing and
integration.
Customer Agile and Lean emphasize frequent releases and customer feedback,
Satisfaction leading to higher satisfaction and relevance of features.
Change Agile and Kanban handle changing requirements well, while Waterfall
Management struggles with late-stage changes.
Documentation Waterfall emphasizes complete documentation upfront. Agile uses
Aspect Influence of Methodology
minimal but useful documentation, which may reduce clarity over time.
8. Develop a testing framework for a web-based e
commerce application.
Ans:A testing framework for a web-based e-commerce application should ensure
reliability, security, and scalability across various components. Here’s a structured approach:
1. Define Testing Types
Functional Testing: Verify core functionalities like product search, cart management,
checkout process.
Performance Testing: Assess load handling, response times, and scalability.
Security Testing: Identify vulnerabilities in payment gateways, user authentication, and
data protection.
Compatibility Testing: Ensure responsiveness across different browsers and devices.
Regression Testing: Validate new updates without breaking existing features.
2. Choose the Right Tools
Selenium/WebDriver: Automated UI testing.
JUnit/TestNG: Unit testing for backend logic.
3. Implement Test Automation
Create a test suite covering major functionalities.
Use CI/CD integration (e.g., GitHub Actions, Jenkins) for automated execution.
Maintain data-driven tests for realistic test scenarios.
4. Establish a Test Environment
Mirror production configurations, including databases and third-party integrations.
Use mock services for external dependencies like payment gateways.
5. Define Reporting & Debugging Mechanisms
Implement logging and error tracking with tools like Log4j or ELK Stack.
Generate test reports (Allure, Extent Reports) for insights.
9. Compare and contrast between function oriented and object
-oriented design approaches
Ans:
Aspect Function-Oriented Design (FOD) Object-Oriented Design (OOD)
Focuses on functions or procedures Focuses on objects that combine data
Basic Concept
that operate on data and behavior
Divides system into Divides system into interacting
Modularity
functions/modules objects/classes
Data and functions (methods) are
Data Handling Data and functions are separate
encapsulated together
Reuse achieved by using common High reusability via inheritance and
Reusability
functions polymorphism
Can be harder as system grows due Easier due to encapsulation and clear
Maintenance
to scattered data object boundaries
Example Structured programming languages Object-oriented languages like Java,
Paradigm like C C++, Python
Data hiding through access specifiers
Data Security Less control over data access
(private/protected)
Typical Use Simple, computational or algorithm- Complex, large-scale, interactive
Aspect Function-Oriented Design (FOD) Object-Oriented Design (OOD)
Cases focused systems systems
10. Design a sequence diagram for item ordered in a
restaurant having the objects customer, cash counter and food
-counter respectively.
Ans:
11. Design an activity diagram to withdraw cash from an
ATM