A Classification Scheme for Software Development Methods

Abstract : Software development methods are used to assist with the process of designing software for real-time systems. Many such methods have come into practice over the last decade, and new methods are emerging. These new methods are more powerful than the old ones, especially with regard to real-time aspects of the software. This report describes a classification scheme for software development methods, includes descriptions of the major characteristics of such methods, and contains some words of advice on choosing and applying such methods. A major challenge in any engineering endeavor is taking a poorly structured, ambiguous, inconsistent, incomplete, and oversimplified requirements specification and turning it into a well-structured design. It is especially difficult in software engineering a new field with few standards and procedures to act as guidelines for designers. This report is one of a series concerning the classification, assessment, and evaluation of software development methods and tools. Its purpose is to describe a classification scheme for software development methods and provide relevant background material about these methods. In a second report, the assessment criteria for software development methods are developed, and a third report describes both a classification scheme for tools and evaluation criteria for selecting appropriate ones. Future reports will apply the classification scheme and assessment criteria to particular methods and tools.