software process

What is a software process?
A software process is the set of activities and associated results that produce a software
product. There are four fundamental process activities (covered later in the
book) that are common to all software processes. These are:
1. Software specification where customers and engineers define the software to
be produced and the constraints on its operation.
2. Software development where the software is designed and programmed.
3. Software validation where the software is checked to ensure that it is what the
customer requires.
4. Software evolution where the software is modified to adapt it to changing customer
and market requirements.
Different types of systems need different development processes. For example,
real-time software in an aircraft has to be completely specified before development
begins whereas, in e-commerce systems, the specification and the program are usually
developed together. Consequently, these generic activities may be organised in
different ways and described at different levels of detail for different types of software.
However, use of an inappropriate software process may reduce the quality or
the usefulness of the software product to be developed and/or increase the development
costs.