Chapter 5 Definitions

Question 1

What is stepwise refinement about?

Answer 1

It is about starting with a genral task and breaking it down into smaller steps, putting some of the smaller and less important tasks until last

Question 2

What does cost benefit analysis do?

Answer 2

Compare costs and future benefits
– Estimate costs
– Estimate benefits
– State all assumptions explicitly

Question 3

What does divide and conquer do?

Answer 3

Solves a large, hard problem by breaking up into smaller subproblems that hopefully will be easier to solve

Question 4

What are the 5 basic metrics?

Answer 4

Size
– In lines of code, or better
Cost
– In dollars
Duration
– In months
Effort
– In person months
Quality
– Number of faults detected

Question 5

What are some useful tools for CASE?

Answer 5

Data dictionary
– Computerized list of all data defined within the product
Consistency checker
Report generator, screen generator

Question 6

What are revisions?

Answer 6

– A version to fix a fault in the artifact
– We cannot throw away an incorrect version
» The new version may be no better
» Some sites may not install the new version

Question 7

What is a variation?

Answer 7

A version for a different operating system–hardware

Question 8

What is a configuration?

Answer 8

A version of each artifact from which a given version of a product is built