SFT5530

Systems verification, quality and standards

S Ramakrishnan

6 points
* 4 hours per week
* Second semester
* Caulfield
* Prerequisites: SFT3021 or equivalent.

Objectives At the completion of this subject students should gain experience in testing method based on object behaviour specification, in using automatic commercial tools to help detect software system defects such as memory leaks and type violations; appreciate how assertion mechanisms impact reasoning; be able to analyse and control defects in complex systems; and have an understanding of inspection and testing methods, configuration management, performance, and quality standards issues.

Synopsis This subject covers the products, processes, techniques and tools for system validation and verifications. Commercial tools will be used to verify systems for memory leaks. Inspection and testing methodogies, analysis of artifacts, robustness, performance analysis, configuration management, quality assurance plan and standards including ISO9000/AS39000, compliance, assessment, certification issues are covered. Hoare logic - assertion mechanisms - precondition, postcondition and invariants in the development of verifiable programs are discussed.

Assessment Assignments: 60%
* Examination: 40%

Recommended texts

Apt K R and Olderog E-R verification of sequential and concurrent programs Springer-Verlag, 1991
Dahl O-J Verifiable programming Prentice-Hall, 1992
Deutsch M S Software verification and validation Prentice-Hall, 1993
Lewis R O Independent verification and validation: A lifecycle engineering process for quality software Wiley, 1992
Mazz C and others Software engineering standards Prentice-Hall, 1994
Zeigler B P Objects and systems Springer-Verrlag, 1997