ON A GENERALIZED DUAL PROCESS SOFTWARE RELIABILITY GROWTH MODEL

A significant number of software reliability growth models (SRGMs) have been proposed in the literature over the past three decades or so. Most of these models ignored the possibility of imperfect debugging with subsequent introduction of new errors into the software system. In this paper, we present an SRGM which consists of a dual process of debugging followed by introduction of errors in the event of an imperfect debugging. The model also allows for the process to be repeated over several stages. The reliability growth of this model is investigated and is shown to exhibit either an exponential or S-shaped curve. Finally, some reliability measures associated with the SRGM are presented together with illustrative numerical examples.