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AVCE Information and Communication Technology/Programming/Program specification

< AVCE Information and Communication Technology | Programming

A program specification is a break-down of what is required of a new program. Writing a specification is the first stage of any development process. A good specification will leave no room for doubt about exactly what is required from a program. It will be specific and allow a finish product to be compared to it to determine whether the project has been successful.

User Needs

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All computer programs are created with an end-user in mind; the person who will eventually use the program being written on a regular basis. In order to write a specification for a new program a conversation with the end-user is required to determine:

  • What system, if any, is currently in-place.
  • What the program outputs will be.
  • What form the output needs to take.
  • What processing is required to generate the necessary output
  • What inputs are required.
  • Where those inputs are going to come from.
  • What user-actions are possible or desirable.

Writing a Specification

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When writing a program specification you need to be able to accurately and precisely define:

Inputs

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Processes

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Outputs

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