Software Engineering
1. What is Software ?
Ans: Software is a computer program that when executed it provides the
desired features, Functions and performance it is also a data structure
that enables Program to easily manipulate information and it is a
descriptive information in both hard and soft copy that describes the
operation and use of programs.
2. Characteristics of Software.
Ans: Software has unique characteristics that distinguish it from physical
systems or hardware. Here are some key characteristics of software:
1. Intangibility
Unlike hardware, software has no physical presence and cannot be
touched. It exists only in the form of code and binary instructions
that are stored electronically.
2. Changeability (Flexibility)
Software can be easily modified or updated to fix bugs, add new
features, or adapt to changing requirements. However, these
changes can sometimes introduce new errors if not managed
carefully.
3. Complexity
Software systems can become highly complex, especially as they
grow in size and functionality. Managing this complexity requires
clear design principles and systematic approaches.
4. Invisibility
The internal workings of software are not visible, unlike physical
hardware. This "invisibility" makes software harder to understand,
analyze, and manage, especially when bugs arise.
5. Reliability
Software reliability refers to its ability to perform required functions
under specified conditions consistently. Testing and debugging are
essential to enhance reliability.
6. Non-wearability
Unlike physical components, software does not "wear out" or
degrade over time. However, it can become outdated or
incompatible as systems and user requirements evolve.
7. Reusability
Parts of software, like code libraries or modules, can be reused in
other programs, reducing development time and increasing
consistency across applications.
8. Scalability
Software can scale up or down relatively easily by adding resources
like processing power or storage. Many software systems are
designed to handle increased loads without major modifications.
3. Justify : Software Doesn’t “Wear Out “ , but it does Deteriorate.
Ans: Unlike physical products, software does not experience physical wear
and tear. Once created, software remains in the same condition as when it
was developed, without suffering from environmental factors like
temperature or friction that affect hardware. However, software still
"deteriorates" over time due to several factors:
1. Compatibility Issues: As operating systems, hardware, and other
dependencies evolve, older software may no longer function
correctly or optimally in new environments, leading to performance
and usability issues.
2. Bug Accumulation and Code Complexity: Over time, updates to
fix bugs or add features can introduce new issues, making the
software less stable. Additionally, "technical debt" can accumulate,
causing increased complexity and reducing maintainability.
3. Security Vulnerabilities: Software becomes more susceptible to
new security threats over time. Without regular updates, these
vulnerabilities accumulate, leading to security deterioration.
Therefore, while software doesn’t "wear out," it requires regular
maintenance to prevent deterioration and ensure compatibility,
performance, and security over time.
4. What is Software Process and Software Process Framework?
Ans: A software process is a series of activities, actions, and tasks
carried out to create a work product, such as a piece of software.
The process is adaptable; it's not a rigid set of instructions. It allows
flexibility, enabling the software team to choose the most appropriate
actions and tasks depending on the project needs.
Components of a Software Process
Activities: These are broad goals or objectives (e.g.,
communication with stakeholders) and are generally applicable to
all types of software projects.
Actions: Actions consist of tasks designed to produce significant
work products. For example, an action like "architectural design"
would create an architectural design model.
Tasks: These focus on specific, small goals (e.g., conducting a unit
test) and result in clear, observable outcomes.
Software Process Framework
A process framework is a structured approach that organizes
activities, actions, and tasks within a project.
Framework Activities: Each main activity (e.g., communication,
design, coding) forms part of the framework.
Software Engineering Actions: Each activity is populated by
multiple actions, each of which accomplishes a specific set of tasks.
Task Sets: Actions are further broken down into task sets, each
outlining specific work to be completed, expected outputs (work
products), quality assurance measures, and milestones.
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5. What is Umbrella Activites?
Ans: Umbrella Activities are essential supportive tasks that run
continuously throughout the software development lifecycle, helping
teams manage and maintain control over the project. They provide a
structured "skeleton architecture" that guides the entire development
process to ensure progress, quality, and adaptability. Here’s a brief
summary of each umbrella activity:
1. Software Project Tracking and Control: Enables the team to
monitor progress against the project plan and make adjustments to
keep the project on schedule.
2. Risk Management: Identifies, evaluates, and mitigates potential
risks that could impact project outcomes or software quality.
3. Software Quality Assurance (SQA): Ensures that quality
standards are met by defining and conducting quality-focused
activities, including testing and process reviews.
4. Technical Reviews: Examines work products to uncover and
correct errors early, preventing them from affecting subsequent
stages.
5. Measurement: Collects and analyzes data on project metrics to
support decision-making and improve product quality.
6. Software Configuration Management (SCM): Manages changes
in software elements, ensuring consistency and traceability
throughout development.
7. Reusability Management: Establishes criteria and mechanisms
for reusing software components, promoting efficiency by reusing
existing work products.
8. Work Product Preparation and Production: Involves creating
necessary work products, such as models, documents, logs, and
lists, to support development and documentation.
6. What is software Process Models.
Ans: Software Process Models (also known as Software
Development Life Cycle - SDLC)
Software process models define the structured approach to
developing software by outlining a set of phases, tasks, and
deliverables. These models help in organizing the development
process and ensure that software projects are completed on time and
within scope. They provide stability, control, and a roadmap for
software engineering activities, although they are not perfect and
need to be adapted to specific project needs.
SDLC Phases:
1. Communication – Requirements gathering and understanding.
2. Planning – Estimating time, resources, and defining goals.
3. Modeling – Design and prototyping.
4. Construction – Actual development and coding.
5. Deployment – Deployment and feedback.
Different Software Process Models:
1. Waterfall Model (Linear Sequential Model)
Description: A classic, sequential approach where each phase is
completed before moving to the next.
When to use: Best when requirements are well-understood, stable,
and fixed.
Advantages: Simple to implement and manage, easy to
understand, and suitable for small projects.
Drawbacks: Inflexible to changes, and doesn’t allow for revisiting
earlier phases once they are completed. Not ideal for large projects
with changing requirements.
2. Incremental Process Model
Description: Software is built in increments or versions, with each
version adding more functionality.
When to use: When a basic system needs to be delivered quickly,
and the complete requirements are not yet defined.
Advantages: Quick delivery of functional software, easy to test,
customer can provide feedback early.
Drawbacks: Requires proper management to ensure integration of
increments, and may lead to issues with consistency.
3. Prototyping Model
Description: Used when customers don’t have detailed
requirements, allowing for an initial working model (prototype) to be
built.
When to use: When requirements are unclear or when you need to
validate ideas.
Advantages: Fast user feedback, gives users a tangible product
early in development.
Drawbacks: Prototypes may be incomplete or low quality, and
customers might expect a final product to be built quickly based on
the prototype.
4. Spiral Model
Description: Combines iterative development with a strong
emphasis on risk management. The project progresses in a spiral,
with each loop involving planning, risk analysis, and engineering.
When to use: For large-scale, high-risk projects where cost and risk
evaluation are important.
Advantages: Strong risk management, flexibility, and the ability to
handle complex requirements.
Drawbacks: Can be expensive, requires skilled risk analysis, and
may not work well for smaller projects.
5. Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model
Description: Focuses on rapid prototyping and fast development,
with multiple teams working in parallel.
When to use: When there is a need for fast development and the
system can be modularized.
Advantages: Reduced development time, quick customer
feedback, encourages customer involvement.
Drawbacks: Not suitable for large-scale projects, requires
substantial resources, and can be problematic if the system cannot
be modularized.
6. Agile Model
Description: An iterative, flexible, and collaborative approach to
software development where requirements evolve and software is
delivered in small, functional increments.
When to use: When customer requirements change frequently,
and the development needs to be highly flexible.
Advantages: High adaptability, quick releases, and customer-
focused.
Drawbacks: Requires constant customer collaboration and can lead
to scope creep if not controlled.
Key Factors for Selecting a Process Model:
Project type and complexity: Simple or stable projects may use
Waterfall, while complex projects may benefit from Agile or Spiral.
Team size and expertise: Larger, more skilled teams may be
more suited to complex models like Spiral or Agile.
Time constraints and deadlines: RAD or Incremental models
may be better for projects with tight timelines.
Risk management: For high-risk projects, Spiral and Incremental
models are more suitable.
Each software process model has its strengths and weaknesses, and
the choice of model depends on factors like the project's size,
complexity, and evolving nature of requirements.
7. Justify :Spiral Model is known as META Model
Ans: The Spiral Model is called a META Model because it integrates
elements from multiple software development models, such as the
Waterfall, Incremental, and Prototyping models. It combines
structured phases with iterative development, allowing flexibility and
adaptability. The model emphasizes risk management at every
iteration, which helps address uncertainties early on. Its ability to be
customized for different project needs and its iterative nature, where
feedback and adjustments occur at each cycle, makes it a higher-
level framework that can accommodate various development
strategies, justifying its classification as a META model.
8. What are CASE tools and Examples of it?
Ans: CASE Tools (Computer-Aided Software Engineering tools) are
software applications designed to support software development and
engineering tasks, helping automate various stages of the software
development lifecycle (SDLC). CASE tools provide support for
activities like design, coding, testing, debugging, and project
management, improving productivity, quality, and efficiency.
Types of CASE Tools:
1. Upper CASE Tools: Focus on the early stages of the SDLC like
requirements gathering, system design, and modeling.
2. Lower CASE Tools: Focus on the later stages, including coding,
testing, and maintenance.
3. Integrated CASE Tools: Provide support for all phases of the SDLC,
offering a complete suite of tools.
Examples of CASE Tools:
1. IBM Rational Rose
o Type: Upper CASE tool
o Description: A modeling tool used for designing object-
oriented systems. It supports UML (Unified Modeling
Language) diagrams, including class diagrams, use case
diagrams, and sequence diagrams.
2. Microsoft Visio
o Type: Upper CASE tool
o Description: A diagramming tool commonly used for creating
flowcharts, UML diagrams, network diagrams, and
organizational charts. It's used in the design and planning
phases.
3. Jira
o Type: Integrated CASE tool
o Description: A popular project management and issue
tracking tool used for tracking development tasks, sprints, and
bug tracking, often associated with Agile methodologies.
4. Eclipse
o Type: Lower CASE tool
o Description: An integrated development environment (IDE)
that provides tools for coding, debugging, and testing. It
supports various programming languages and frameworks.
5. TestComplete
o Type: Lower CASE tool
o Description: A functional automated testing tool that
supports regression, performance, and load testing, used in
the testing phase of software development.
6. Version Control Systems (e.g., Git, SVN)
o Type: Integrated CASE tool
o Description: Tools used for version control to track and
manage changes to the source code over time, allowing for
team collaboration and code management.
Benefits of CASE Tools:
Improved productivity by automating repetitive tasks.
Enhanced software quality due to better design and early error
detection.
Better collaboration among development teams.
Faster development time through efficient resource management
and tracking.
CASE tools are integral to modern software development,
streamlining processes, and increasing the effectiveness of software
projects.
9. What is AGILE MODEL?
Ans: The Agile Model is an iterative and flexible approach to
software development that focuses on delivering small, incremental
improvements to the software with each iteration or sprint. Agile
methodologies emphasize collaboration, customer feedback, and
adaptive planning, allowing teams to respond to changing
requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
Key Characteristics of the Agile Model:
1. Iterative and Incremental: Development is done in short cycles
(called sprints), usually lasting 1-4 weeks, allowing for frequent
releases of working software.
2. Customer Collaboration: Agile places a strong emphasis on
continuous customer involvement and feedback. Regular meetings
and updates ensure that the software meets customer needs.
3. Responding to Change: Agile encourages flexibility and welcomes
changing requirements, even late in development. Teams adapt
their plans as the project evolves.
4. Cross-Functional Teams: Agile teams are typically small, self-
organized, and cross-functional, including developers, testers, and
business stakeholders working together.
5. Working Software: The primary measure of progress in Agile is the
delivery of working software that provides value to the customer.
Agile Principles (from the Agile Manifesto):
1. Customer satisfaction through early and continuous delivery
of valuable software.
2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development.
3. Deliver working software frequently, with a preference for
shorter timescales.
4. Business people and developers must work together daily
throughout the project.
5. Build projects around motivated individuals and give them
the environment and support they need.
6. Face-to-face communication is the best form of
communication.
7. Working software is the primary measure of progress.
8. Simplicity—the art of maximizing the amount of work not
done—is essential.
9. Self-organizing teams produce the best architectures,
requirements, and designs.
10. Regular reflection on how to become more effective
and adjust accordingly.
Popular Agile Frameworks:
1. Scrum: A framework that organizes development into fixed-length
sprints with specific roles (e.g., Scrum Master, Product Owner) and
regular meetings (e.g., Daily Standups, Sprint Reviews).
2. Kanban: Focuses on continuous delivery by visualizing the workflow
and limiting work in progress (WIP).
3. Extreme Programming (XP): Emphasizes technical excellence,
continuous testing, and close collaboration with the customer.
4. Lean: Focuses on delivering value by eliminating waste, improving
efficiency, and continuously optimizing processes.
Advantages of Agile:
Flexibility and Adaptability: Agile can easily accommodate
changing requirements and feedback.
Faster Delivery: Frequent releases ensure that stakeholders see
working software sooner.
Improved Collaboration: Continuous communication between
teams and stakeholders fosters better understanding.
Higher Quality: Regular testing and iterative development improve
the overall quality of the product.
Disadvantages of Agile:
Requires Customer Involvement: Success depends on constant
feedback and availability from the customer.
Can Be Hard to Scale: While Agile works well for small to medium-
sized teams, scaling it for large projects can be challenging.
Less Predictability: Since Agile emphasizes flexibility and
changing requirements, it can sometimes be difficult to predict the
final scope and cost upfront.
In essence, the Agile Model is best suited for projects where
requirements are expected to evolve, and frequent collaboration with
customers is crucial. It provides flexibility, quick feedback, and the
ability to adapt to changing needs.
10. What are 4 P’s of Software Project Management?
Ans: The 4 P’s of Software Project Management are:
1. People: The most important element for project success. This
includes the project team (developers, testers, managers) and
stakeholders who contribute to and influence the project. Effective
collaboration, skills, and communication are key.
2. Product: The software being built. It includes the functional and
non-functional requirements, design, features, and the quality of the
final deliverable.
3. Process: The set of structured activities, methodologies, and tasks
(like Agile or Waterfall) that guide the development and delivery of
the software, ensuring it meets quality and schedule expectations.
4. Project: The entire scope of work required to bring the product into
existence, from planning, resource allocation, risk management, and
progress tracking, ensuring the project stays on track and meets its
goals.
11. What are W5HH of Software Project Management?
Ans: Here's an example of how the W5HH framework can be applied
to a software project for developing an online e-commerce
website:
1. What?
What is to be done?
o Develop an e-commerce website where users can browse
products, add them to the shopping cart, and make secure
payments. The website should include a user-friendly
interface, an admin panel for inventory management, and
integration with a payment gateway.
2. Why?
Why is it being done?
o The website is being developed to expand the business
online and reach more customers. It will improve the customer
experience, increase sales, and provide easier access to
products for users.
3. Where?
Where will it be done?
o The website will be developed in-house by the company’s
internal IT team. It will be hosted on a cloud server for better
scalability and availability, accessible globally.
4. When?
When will it be done?
o The project has a timeline of 6 months. Key milestones:
Requirement gathering and planning: 2 weeks
Design and prototyping: 4 weeks
Development and testing: 3 months
Deployment and launch: 1 month
5. Who?
Who will do it?
o The development team consists of:
Project Manager: Oversees project progress and
manages resources.
Front-end Developers: Responsible for the website’s
user interface.
Back-end Developers: Work on the server-side and
database.
UI/UX Designers: Design the website's layout and user
experience.
Quality Assurance (QA) Testers: Ensure the website
is bug-free and meets the requirements.
Marketing Team: Promotes the website once launched.
6. How?
How will it be done?
o The project will follow an Agile development process with 2-
week sprints, allowing for regular feedback and iterative
improvements. The website will be developed using React for
the front-end, Node.js for the back-end, and MongoDB for
the database. Jira will be used for project management, and
GitHub will manage the code.
7. How Much?
How much will it cost?
o The estimated budget for the project is $100,000. This
includes costs for:
Development team salaries
Cloud hosting and infrastructure
Software tools and licenses
Marketing and promotional expenses
Contingency fund for unforeseen issues
Summary:
By answering these questions, the project manager ensures that the
e-commerce website is clearly defined, properly resourced, and
planned, helping to avoid ambiguity and ensuring the project's
success. The W5HH framework provides a structured approach to
understanding all critical aspects of the project from planning
through execution.
12. What is risk analysis in software projects? Explain risk
identification, projection, refinement, and mitigation.
Ans: Risk Analysis in Software Projects refers to the systematic
process of identifying, assessing, and managing risks that could
negatively affect the project's success. Risk analysis helps project
managers predict potential problems and take proactive steps to
minimize their impact, ensuring the project stays on track.
Steps in Risk Analysis:
1. Risk Identification:
o Definition: Risk identification is the first step in the risk
analysis process. It involves discovering potential risks that
might impact the project. The aim is to uncover uncertainties
and threats that could affect the project’s schedule, budget,
quality, or deliverables.
o Approach:
Review the project’s goals, tasks, and dependencies.
Identify risks from previous similar projects,
brainstorming sessions, and expert judgment.
Use risk identification tools such as checklists,
interviews with stakeholders, and expert reviews.
o Examples:
Project Risks: Delays in schedule, resource shortages.
Technical Risks: Technology compatibility, complexity
of integration.
Business Risks: Market conditions, changing business
priorities.
2. Risk Projection:
o Definition: Risk projection involves estimating the probability
of each identified risk occurring and evaluating its potential
impact if it does happen.
o Steps:
Assign a likelihood (probability) to each risk (e.g., 1-10
scale, where 1 is low probability and 10 is high).
Evaluate the impact of the risk on the project (e.g., low,
medium, high).
Use historical data, expert judgment, and past
experiences to project the potential consequences.
o Examples:
Likelihood: A risk of tool failure may have a 70%
chance of happening.
Impact: A tool failure could delay the project by 2
weeks, resulting in a moderate impact on the project
schedule.
3. Risk Refinement:
o Definition: Risk refinement is the process of breaking down
identified risks into smaller, more specific components to
better understand and manage them. This involves analyzing
the root causes and possible outcomes in greater detail.
o Steps:
Review each risk and refine it into more detailed sub-
risks.
Reassess risks as the project progresses to ensure that
new risks are identified and previous ones are mitigated
effectively.
Use tools like risk breakdown structures (RBS) to
organize and categorize risks.
o Example:
A broad risk like "Technology failure" could be refined
into "Incompatibility with existing systems" or "Difficulty
in scaling the application."
4. Risk Mitigation:
o Definition: Risk mitigation refers to the strategies and actions
taken to minimize the impact of risks or prevent them from
occurring. This is the proactive part of risk management.
o Steps:
Avoidance: Altering the project plan to avoid risks
altogether (e.g., changing technology to avoid
compatibility issues).
Reduction: Reducing the probability or impact of the
risk (e.g., performing additional testing to reduce the
risk of software bugs).
Contingency Planning: Developing backup plans to
handle risks if they occur (e.g., training additional staff
to handle resource shortages).
Acceptance: Acknowledging the risk and preparing to
handle its consequences if it occurs.
o Examples:
Avoidance: Switching to more stable software tools to
mitigate the risk of software failure.
Reduction: Hiring more experienced developers to
minimize the risk of bugs in the code.
Contingency: Allocating additional budget for
unforeseen challenges.
Conclusion:
Risk analysis in software projects is essential to anticipate potential
problems and implement solutions before they threaten the project's
success. By systematically identifying, projecting, refining, and
mitigating risks, project managers can ensure that risks are managed
effectively and minimize their impact on the project’s schedule,
quality, and cost.
13. Justify:Software Design are Highly Cohesive and loosely
coupled.
Ans: In software engineering, cohesion and coupling are key
principles that help in designing high-quality software. These
principles aim to make the software maintainable, scalable, and easy
to understand
Cohesion refers to the degree to which the components of a
module or class are related to one another. In other words, it
measures how closely related the functionality within a module is.
Highly Cohesive Design: A module is considered highly cohesive
when all its functions or methods are closely related in terms of
functionality. The components of the module are designed to perform
a specific task or related tasks.
Coupling refers to the degree of dependency between modules or
classes. Loose coupling means that the modules or classes have
minimal dependencies on each other, while tight coupling means
they are highly dependent.
Loosely Coupled Design: In a loosely coupled system, each
module or component interacts with others only through well-defined
interfaces, without relying on the internal implementation details of
other components.
Highly cohesive modules perform focused tasks, improving clarity,
reusability, and maintainability. Loosely coupled systems are more
flexible, scalable, and easier to test and maintain.
14. Explain MOI Model?
Ans: The MOI Model in software engineering is a design model that
focuses on Modularity, Objectivity, and Interface as key
principles for creating scalable and maintainable software systems. It
helps developers structure software in a way that each part is
independent, flexible, and easy to understand.
Here's a brief explanation of each component:
1. Modularity:
o Software is divided into distinct, independent modules, each
responsible for a specific task. This allows for easier
maintenance, testing, and modification.
o Modules can be developed and tested independently, reducing
complexity.
2. Objectivity:
o The system is designed using objects, which encapsulate
both data and behavior. This aligns with object-oriented
programming principles, promoting abstraction, inheritance,
and polymorphism.
o It helps in representing real-world entities and interactions
more naturally.
3. Interface:
o The interaction between different modules is facilitated
through well-defined interfaces. This allows different parts of
the system to communicate without exposing internal details.
o Well-designed interfaces enable easy integration and
maintenance.
In summary, the MOI Model encourages a modular, object-oriented
design approach where components are independent and interact
through clear interfaces. This leads to more maintainable, flexible,
and scalable software systems.
15. SRS document of E COMMERCE website
Ans: Software Requirements Specification (SRS)
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose
This document specifies the requirements for the E-commerce
System, which allows users to browse products, place orders,
manage accounts, and process payments online.
1.2 Scope
The system will allow users to:
Browse products by category.
Add products to the shopping cart.
Create and manage user accounts.
Proceed to checkout and make payments.
Admins will manage product listings and user data.
1.3 Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations
E-commerce: Buying and selling of goods/services over the
internet.
User: A person who browses and purchases products from the
website.
Admin: A person who manages the website’s content and user
data.
SRS: Software Requirements Specification.
1.4 References
None for this simplified document.
1.5 Overview
The rest of this document provides functional and non-functional
requirements, system interfaces, and constraints for the E-commerce
System.
2. System Overview
The E-commerce System will consist of two major user types:
Customer and Administrator. The customer will be able to browse
products, add items to their cart, checkout, and track orders. The
admin will manage the website’s inventory, user accounts, and view
order histories.
3. Functional Requirements
3.1 User Registration and Authentication
3.1.1 Customers must be able to register by providing their name,
email, password, and shipping address.
3.1.2 Registered users should be able to log in with their email and
password.
3.1.3 Password recovery functionality should be available.
3.2 Product Management
3.2.1 Admin can add, edit, and remove products from the inventory.
3.2.2 Admin can define product attributes (e.g., name, price,
description, and images).
3.2.3 Users can view products by category and search for products
by name or keyword.
3.3 Shopping Cart
3.3.1 Users can add products to their shopping cart.
3.3.2 Users can view and modify the contents of their cart before
checkout (e.g., change quantity or remove products).
3.4 Checkout and Payment
3.4.1 Users can proceed to checkout and enter payment and
shipping information.
3.4.2 Payment can be made via credit card, debit card, or other
payment gateways (e.g., PayPal).
3.4.3 Users should receive an order confirmation after successful
payment.
3.5 Order Management
3.5.1 Users can view their order history and status.
3.5.2 Admin can manage user orders (e.g., update order status,
process refunds).
3.6 User Account Management
3.6.1 Users can view and update their profile information.
3.6.2 Users can manage their shipping addresses and payment
methods.
4. Non-functional Requirements
4.1 Performance
The system should handle up to 500 simultaneous users with no
noticeable performance degradation.
4.2 Availability
The system should have 99.9% uptime, excluding scheduled
maintenance.
4.3 Security
All user data (e.g., passwords, payment information) should be
encrypted using modern encryption algorithms (e.g., AES-256).
Admin accounts should have role-based access control.
4.4 Usability
The system should have a responsive design that works on both
desktop and mobile devices.
The user interface should be intuitive and easy to navigate.
5. System Interfaces
5.1 Payment Gateway Integration
The system should integrate with third-party payment providers like
Stripe and PayPal for processing payments.
5.2 Email Notification System
The system will send order confirmation and shipping updates to
users via email.
6. Constraints
The system must be developed using the MERN stack (MongoDB,
Express, React, Node.js).
The project must be delivered within 6 months of the start date.
7. Appendices
A. User Stories:
o As a customer, I want to browse products and filter them by
category so that I can easily find what I’m looking for.
o As an admin, I want to manage inventory so that I can keep
the product catalog up to date.
This SRS document provides the basic requirements for developing
an e-commerce platform. Further details would be added in
subsequent stages of the project.
16. Class Diagram
17. USE-Case Diagram
18. Sequence Diagram
19. Testing Strategies
Ans:
Testing Strategies
Testing strategies outline the approach for validating software by
checking whether it meets the expected functionality and
requirements. These strategies ensure that all aspects of the
software are thoroughly tested, from individual components to the
system as a whole, and confirm that the software is ready for
deployment.
1. Unit Testing
Unit testing involves testing individual units or components of the
software, such as functions, methods, or classes. The purpose is to
ensure that each unit behaves as expected in isolation.
Purpose: To identify issues within small, isolated pieces of code.
Focus: Functionality of a single method, function, or class.
Example: Testing a function that calculates the total price of items
in a shopping cart, ensuring that it correctly sums up the prices and
applies any discounts.
Tools: JUnit (Java), NUnit (.NET), PyTest (Python).
Benefits:
Helps detect bugs early in the development cycle.
Makes the code more maintainable by ensuring each part works
independently.
Supports easier refactoring and code optimization.
2. Integration Testing
Integration testing checks the interaction between different modules
or components of the software to ensure that they work together as
expected.
Purpose: To verify the interfaces and interactions between different
modules or services.
Focus: Ensuring that data flows correctly between components and
that modules are properly integrated.
Example: Testing the interaction between a login form and the
backend database to ensure that login credentials are correctly
validated and stored.
Tools: Postman (for APIs), JUnit (with mocking frameworks like
Mockito).
Benefits:
Identifies issues related to how modules communicate with each
other.
Ensures that integrated components work together as expected.
Prevents defects that can emerge due to incompatible interfaces.
3. System Testing
System testing involves testing the entire system as a whole to
ensure that it meets the specified requirements and works correctly
under real-world conditions.
Purpose: To validate the complete and integrated system’s
functionality, performance, and compliance with requirements.
Focus: Overall behavior of the system, covering both functional and
non-functional requirements (e.g., security, performance).
Example: Testing an e-commerce website to ensure all features
(like browsing products, adding to the cart, and completing
checkout) work together seamlessly.
Tools: Selenium, TestComplete, QTP.
Benefits:
Verifies that the system works as expected in an end-to-end
environment.
Helps ensure that all requirements, both functional and non-
functional, are met.
Identifies issues related to system performance and security.
4. Acceptance Testing
Acceptance testing is conducted to determine whether the software
meets the user’s requirements and is ready for deployment. It is
typically performed by the customer or end-user.
Purpose: To validate whether the software meets the business
needs and requirements specified by the customer or end-user.
Focus: End-user experience, business functionality, and overall
system acceptance.
Example: A customer testing the login process and shopping cart
functionality on an e-commerce website to ensure it works as
expected.
Types:
o Alpha Testing: Conducted by developers or QA team before
release.
o Beta Testing: Performed by real users in a production-like
environment.
Benefits:
Ensures that the software satisfies the customer’s needs.
Validates that the system is ready for deployment.
Helps prevent post-release issues by catching missing or incorrect
features.
5. Test Automation
Test automation involves using specialized tools to automatically
execute tests and compare actual results with expected results.
Purpose: To run repetitive or large-scale tests quickly and
consistently, improving test efficiency and coverage.
Focus: Automating the execution of test cases, especially for
regression and performance testing.
Example: Using Selenium to automatically run tests on a web
application to verify that the user interface behaves as expected
across multiple browsers.
Tools: Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, Appium (for mobile apps), Jenkins
(for CI/CD integration).
Benefits:
Speeds up the testing process and makes it more efficient.
Provides quick feedback on the system’s health after each change.
Reduces the manual effort involved in running repetitive tests.
6. Manual Testing
Manual testing is performed by testers who interact with the software
as end-users, usually for exploratory, usability, and ad-hoc testing.
Purpose: To find issues that automated tests might miss, especially
those related to user experience, UI, and complex scenarios.
Focus: Testing from the perspective of the end-user, often in
unpredictable or exploratory ways.
Example: A tester manually exploring a website's navigation,
ensuring buttons and links are working, and assessing overall
usability.
Tools: There are no specific tools for manual testing (though test
management tools like Jira or TestRail may be used to track manual
test cases).
Benefits:
Allows for testing real-world scenarios that are difficult to automate.
Helps identify UI/UX issues that impact user satisfaction.
Ideal for exploratory testing and discovering unexpected bugs.
Conclusion
The different testing strategies—unit testing, integration testing,
system testing, acceptance testing, test automation, and
manual testing—all play critical roles in ensuring the quality of the
software. Each strategy targets a specific level or aspect of the
software, from individual functions to the system as a whole, and
involves a combination of automated and manual techniques to
ensure that the software meets the requirements and works as
expected.
20. Explain Black-Box Testing , White-box testing and grey -box
testing
Ans: 1. Black-Box Testing
Black-box testing, also known as functional testing, focuses on
verifying the functionality of the software without any knowledge of
its internal code or structure. The tester is concerned only with the
inputs provided to the system and the expected outputs, ensuring
that the software behaves as expected based on its functional
requirements.
Focus: Testing the functionality of the software by checking its
outputs for given inputs, without knowing how the system processes
them internally.
Tester's Knowledge: No knowledge of the internal code, structure,
or logic of the software is required. The tester only needs to
understand the requirements and specifications.
Methods Used:
o Equivalence partitioning (dividing inputs into equivalent
classes to reduce the number of test cases)
o Boundary value analysis (testing boundary values of input
ranges)
o Decision table testing (representing complex business logic
through tables)
o State transition testing (testing behavior for different states of
the system)
Examples:
o A tester tests a login page by entering valid and invalid
username/password combinations to see if the system
responds correctly.
o A form validation where the system checks whether the
required fields are filled correctly.
Advantages:
o Useful for functional validation.
o Test cases are independent of the system's internal code.
o Can be performed by non-developers (e.g., QA testers).
Disadvantages:
o Limited coverage since the tester doesn’t know the internal
workings.
o Redundant test cases might arise, and not all possible paths
can be tested.
2. White-Box Testing
White-box testing, also known as structural testing or clear-box
testing, is an approach where the tester has full knowledge of the
internal workings of the software. The tester examines the code
structure, logic, and flow to design tests that ensure all paths,
branches, and statements are properly tested.
Focus: Testing the internal structure, logic, and flow of the software.
The goal is to verify that the code works as expected, that all
branches and paths are covered, and to detect potential errors in
the logic.
Tester's Knowledge: The tester needs detailed knowledge of the
software’s code, algorithms, data structures, and internal design.
Methods Used:
o Statement coverage: Ensuring every statement in the code
is executed at least once.
o Branch coverage: Ensuring every possible branch (if/else) is
tested.
o Path coverage: Ensuring that all possible paths through the
code are tested.
o Condition coverage: Ensuring each boolean condition is
tested for both true and false.
Examples:
o Testing a sorting algorithm by checking if the code correctly
sorts lists of different sizes.
o Writing tests to verify that all conditional branches (like if-else
statements) are covered.
Advantages:
o Provides thorough test coverage since it checks every line,
branch, and condition of the code.
o Helps identify security vulnerabilities, logic errors, and
boundary issues.
o Useful for debugging and improving code quality.
Disadvantages:
o Requires detailed knowledge of the system's internal
workings.
o Time-consuming to test all paths, especially in large systems.
o It may not always focus on the end-user experience and
functional behavior.
3. Grey-Box Testing
Grey-box testing is a hybrid approach that combines elements of
both black-box and white-box testing. In this approach, the tester has
partial knowledge of the internal workings of the application but still
primarily focuses on testing the functionality from an end-user
perspective. This allows testers to design better test cases than
black-box testing while still maintaining a focus on functionality.
Focus: A combination of testing functionality (like black-box testing)
and testing internal code structure (like white-box testing), but with
partial knowledge of the system’s internals.
Tester's Knowledge: The tester has partial knowledge of the
system's design, architecture, or source code. The level of
knowledge can vary, but it's typically enough to design more
informed test cases.
Methods Used:
o Security testing: Checking for vulnerabilities in the system
with partial access to its internals.
o Regression testing: Testing the system for any unintended
side effects of changes.
o Functional testing: Testing system features while having
some understanding of the architecture or API.
Examples:
o A tester may know how the database is structured and use
this information to verify that queries return correct results
under various conditions, without needing full knowledge of
the application’s code.
o Testing an API with knowledge of the server-side architecture
and database schema to validate interactions between
different components.
Advantages:
o Provides better test coverage compared to black-box testing
while maintaining a focus on functionality.
o The tester can identify flaws in the system's design or
implementation that are missed in pure black-box testing.
o Helps in identifying both functional and security issues.
Disadvantages:
o Requires more technical knowledge than black-box testing,
but not as much as white-box testing.
o Test cases may still miss some low-level implementation
issues due to incomplete access to the internal code.
21. Differentiate BLACK,WHITE GREY BOX TESTING
Ans: