Mathematical Approaches To Software Quality

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to various mathematical approaches to achieving high-quality software. An introduction to mathematics that is essential for sound software engineering is provided as well as a discussion of various mathematical methods that are used both in academia and industry. The mathematical approaches considered include: Z specification language Vienna Development Methods (VDM) Irish school of VDM (VDM) approach of Dijkstra and Hoare classical engineering approach of Parnas Cleanroom approach developed at IBM software reliability, and unified modelling language (UML). Additionally, technology transfer of the mathematical methods to industry is considered. The book explains the main features of these approaches and applies mathematical methods to solve practical problems. Written with both student and professional in mind, this book assists the reader in applying mathematical methods to solve practical problems that are relevant to software engineers.

This textbook describes the approaches used by software engineers to build quality into their software. The fundamental principles of software quality management and software process improvement are discussed in detail, with a particular focus on the CMMI framework. Features: includes review questions at the end of each chapter; covers both theory and practice, and provides guidance on applying the theory in an industrial environment; examines all aspects of the software development process, including project planning and tracking, software lifecycles, software inspections and testing, configuration management, and software quality assurance; provides detailed coverage of software metrics and problem solving; describes SCAMPI appraisals and how they form part of the continuous improvement cycle; presents an introduction to formal methods and the Z specification language; discusses UML, which is used to describe the architecture of the system; reviews the history of the field of software quality.

This invaluable textbook/reference provides an easy-to-read guide to the fundamentals of formal methods, highlighting the rich applications of formal methods across a diverse range of areas of computing. Topics and features: introduces the key concepts in software engineering, software reliability and dependability, formal methods, and discrete mathematics; presents a short history of logic, from Aristotle’s syllogistic logic and the logic of the Stoics, through Boole’s symbolic logic, to Frege’s work on predicate logic; covers propositional and predicate logic, as well as more advanced topics such as fuzzy logic, temporal logic, intuitionistic logic, undefined values, and the applications of logic to AI; examines the Z specification language, the Vienna Development Method (VDM) and Irish School of VDM, and the unified modelling language (UML); discusses Dijkstra’s calculus of weakest preconditions, Hoare’s axiomatic semantics of programming languages, and the classical approach of Parnas and his tabular expressions; provides coverage of automata theory, probability and statistics, model checking, and the nature of proof and theorem proving; reviews a selection of tools available to support the formal methodist, and considers the transfer of formal methods to industry; includes review questions and highlights key topics in every chapter, and supplies a helpful glossary at the end of the book. This stimulating guide provides a broad and accessible overview of formal methods for students of computer science and mathematics curious as to how formal methods are applied to the field of computing.

A brief but comprehensive introduction to the field and pragmatic guidance on the implementation of a sound quality system in the organization. It provides an enhanced knowledge of software inspections, metrics, process involvement, assessment of organization, problem solving, customer satisfaction surveys, the CMM, SPICE, and formal methods. Sample material on software inspections, metrics, and customer satisfaction can be adapted by readers to their respective organizations. In addition, readers will gain a detailed understanding of the principles of software quality management and software process improvement. Concepts can then be readily applied to assist improvement programs within organizations.

This textbook presents a concise introduction to the fundamental principles of software engineering, together with practical guidance on how to apply the theory in a real-world, industrial environment. The wide-ranging coverage encompasses all areas of software design, management, and quality. Topics and features: presents a broad overview of software engineering, including software lifecycles and phases in software development, and project management for software engineering; examines the areas of requirements engineering, software configuration management, software inspections, software testing, software quality assurance, and process quality; covers topics on software metrics and problem solving, software reliability and dependability, and software design and development, including Agile approaches; explains formal methods, a set of mathematical techniques to specify and derive a program from its specification, introducing the Z specification language; discusses software process improvement, describing the CMMI model, and introduces UML, a visual modelling language for software systems; reviews a range of tools to support various activities in software engineering, and offers advice on the selection and management of a software supplier; describes such innovations in the field of software as distributed systems, service-oriented architecture, software as a service, cloud computing, and embedded systems; includes key learning topics, summaries and review questions in each chapter, together with a useful glossary. This practical and easy-to-follow textbook/reference is ideal for computer science students seeking to learn how to build high quality and reliable software on time and on budget. The text also serves as a self-study primer for software engineers, quality professionals, and software managers.

This textbook presents an introduction to the mathematical foundations of software engineering. It presents the rich applications of mathematics in areas such as error-correcting codes, cryptography, the safety and security critical fields, the banking and insurance fields, as well as traditional engineering applications. Topics and features: Addresses core mathematics for critical thinking and problem solving Discusses propositional and predicate logic and various proof techniques to demonstrate the correctness of a logical argument. Examines number theory and its applications to cryptography Considers the underlying mathematics of error-correcting codes Discusses graph theory and its applications to modelling networks Reviews tools to support software engineering mathematics, including automated and interactive theorem provers and model checking Discusses financial software engineering, including simple and compound interest, probability and statistics, and operations research Discusses software reliability and dependability and explains formal methods used to derive a program from its specification Discusses calculus, matrices, vectors, complex numbers, and quaternions, as well as applications to graphics and robotics Includes key learning topics, summaries, and review questions in each chapter, together with a useful glossary This practical and easy-to-follow textbook/reference is ideal for computer science students seeking to learn how mathematics can assist them in building high-quality and reliable software on time and on budget. The text also serves as an excellent self-study primer for software engineers, quality professionals, and software managers.

This book introduces Software Quality Assurance (SQA) and provides an overview of standards used to implement SQA. It defines ways to assess the effectiveness of how one approaches software quality across key industry sectors such as telecommunications, transport, defense, and aerospace. Includes supplementary website with an instructor’s guide and solutions Applies IEEE software standards as well as the Capability Maturity Model Integration for Development (CMMI) Illustrates the application of software quality assurance practices through the use of practical examples, quotes from experts, and tips from the authors

This practically-focused textbook provides a concise and accessible introduction to the field of software testing, explaining the fundamental principles and offering guidance on applying the theory in an industrial environment. Topics and features: presents a brief history of software quality and its influential pioneers, as well as a discussion of the various software lifecycles used in software development; describes the fundamentals of testing in traditional software engineering, and the role that static testing plays in building quality into a product; explains the process of software test planning, test analysis and design, and test management; discusses test outsourcing, and test metrics and problem solving; reviews the tools available to support software testing activities, and the benefits of a software process improvement initiative; examines testing in the Agile world, and the verification of safety critical systems; considers the legal and ethical aspects of software testing, and the importance of software configuration management; provides key learning topics and review questions in every chapter, and supplies a helpful glossary at the end of the book. This easy-to-follow guide is an essential resource for undergraduate students of computer science seeking to learn about software testing, and how to build high quality and reliable software on time and on budget. The work will also be of interest to industrialists including software engineers, software testers, quality professionals and software managers, as well as the motivated general reader.