Specifying Software Behavior for Requirements and Design

• Main Author: James Kirby Jr.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Institute of Informatics and Cybernetics 2013-12-01
• Series: Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
• Subjects: Software Methods; Computational Behavior; Reactive Systems; Software Design; Software Requirements
• Online Access: http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/CV$/sci/pdfs/iSA152MV.pdf

It would be useful to write one description of software behavior to serve both requirements and design. Having one description could reduce effort by eliminating the work of developing two descriptions and of keeping them consistent and relevant throughout development, evolution, and sustainment. It would also eliminate the inconsistency inherent in having two descriptions, a fertile source of error. A question paramount to software engineers is, Could one description of behavior for a real system serve both requirements and design? This paper answers that question by describing one such description of the software behavior of a real system.