Software component types defined

Contrast with code review, design review, requirements review, test readiness review. Intended primarily for use in solving technical problems in mathematics, engineering, and science. IEEE Verifies that each safety-critical software requirement is covered and that an appropriate criticality level is assigned to each software element. IEEE An audit conducted to verify that the development of a configuration item has been completed satisfactorily, that the item has achieved the performance and functional characteristics specified in the functional or allocated configuration identification, and that its operational and support documents are complete and satisfactory.

See: physical configuration audit. IEEE 1 The process of defining the working relationships among the components of a system. See: architectural design. IEEE A requirement that specifies a function that a system or system component must be able to perform. Approximately one billion bytes; precisely or 1,,, bytes. See: kilobyte, megabyte. IEEE A diagram or other representation consisting of a finite set of nodes and internode connections called edges or arcs.

Contrast with blueprint. See: block diagram, box diagram, bubble chart, call graph, cause-effect graph, control flow diagram, data flow diagram, directed graph, flowchart, input-process-output chart, structure chart, transaction flowgraph. Transmissions [communications] which occur in only one direction at a time, but that direction can change.

An interlocked sequence of signals between connected components in which each component waits for the acknowledgement of its previous signal before proceeding with its action, such as data transfer. Hardware used to read from or write to a hard disk. See: disk, disk drive.

ISO Physical equipment, as opposed to programs, procedures, rules, and associated documentation. Contrast with software. A technique used to identify conceivable failures affecting system performance, human safety or other required characteristics. DOD The aggregate probability of occurrence of the individual events that create a specific hazard.

DOD An assessment of the consequence of the worst credible mishap that could be caused by a specific hazard. The base 16 number system. This is a convenient form in which to examine binary data because it collects 4 binary digits per hexadecimal digit; e. A programming language which requires little knowledge of the target computer, can be translated into several different machine languages, allows symbolic naming of operations and addresses, provides features designed to facilitate expression of data structures and program logic, and usually results in several machine instructions for each program statement.

Contrast with assembly language. The process of translating a design into hardware components, software components, or both. See: coding. IEEE The period of time in the software life cycle during which a software product is created from design documentation and debugged.

IEEE A requirement that specifies or constrains the coding or construction of a system or system component. A structured reformation of the program module by module or function by function with an integration test being performed following each addition. Methods include top-down, breadth-first, depth-first, bottom-up.

Contrast with nonincremental integration. IEEE A software development technique in which requirements definition, design, implementation, and testing occur in an overlapping, iterative [rather than sequential] manner, resulting in incremental completion of the overall software product.

Contrast with rapid prototyping, spiral model, waterfall model. QA Procedures and criteria recognized as acceptable practices by peer professional, credentialing, or accrediting organizations. NBS A sequence of program statements that can never be executed. Syn: dead code. The practice of "hiding" the details of a function or structure, making them inaccessible to other parts of the program.

See: abstraction, encapsulation, software engineering. Each microprocessor and each computer needs a way to communicate with the outside world in order to get the data needed for its programs and in order to communicate the results of its data manipulations. IEEE A diagram of a software system or module, consisting of a rectangle on the left listing inputs, a rectangle in the center listing processing steps, a rectangle on the right listing outputs, and arrows connecting inputs to processing steps and processing steps to outputs.

See: block diagram, box diagram, bubble chart, flowchart, graph, structure chart. A structured software design technique; identification of the steps involved in each process to be performed and identifying the inputs to and outputs from each step. A refinement called hierarchical input-process-output identifies the steps, inputs, and outputs at both general and detailed levels of detail.

A manual testing technique in which program documents [specifications requirements, design , source code or user's manuals] are examined in a very formal and disciplined manner to discover errors, violations of standards and other problems.

Checklists are a typical vehicle used in accomplishing this technique. See: static analysis, code audit, code inspection, code review, code walkthrough. ANSI The phase in the system life cycle that includes assembly and testing of the hardware and software of a computerized system.

Installation includes installing a new computer system, new software or hardware, or otherwise modifying the current system. IEEE The period of time in the software life cycle during which a software product is integrated into its operational environment and tested in this environment to ensure that it performs as required. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. An organization involved in the generation and promulgation of standards. IEEE standards represent the formalization of current norms of professional practice through the process of obtaining the consensus of concerned, practicing professionals in the given field.

See: computer instruction set. NBS The insertion of additional code into a program in order to collect information about program behavior during program execution. Useful for dynamic analysis techniques such as assertion checking, coverage analysis, tuning. Small wafers of semiconductor material [silicon] etched or printed with extremely small electronic switching circuits. Syn: chip. A standard interface for hard disks which provides for building most of the controller circuitry into the disk drive to save space.

IDE controllers are functionally equivalent to ST standard controllers. IEEE Pertaining to a system or mode of operation in which each user entry causes a response from or action by the system.

See: conversational, on-line, real time. The concept involves the specification of the connection of two devices having different functions. IEEE Evaluation of: 1 software requirements specifications with hardware, user, operator, and software interface requirements documentation, 2 software design description records with hardware, operator, and software interface requirements specifications, 3 source code with hardware, operator, and software interface design documentation, for correctness, consistency, completeness, accuracy, and readability.

Entities to evaluate include data items and control items. IEEE A requirement that specifies an external item with which a system or system component must interact, or sets forth constraints on formats, timing, or other factors caused by such an interaction. International Electrotechnical Commission.

Geneva, Switzerland. An organization that sets standards for electronic products and components which are adopted by the safety standards agencies of many countries. International Organization for Standardization. An organization that sets international standards. It deals with all fields except electrical and electronics which is governed by IEC. Syn: International Standards Organization. International Standards Organization.

See: International Organization for Standardization. An international organization for communications standards. IEEE To translate and execute each statement or construct of a computer program before translating and executing the next. Contrast with assemble, compile. IEEE A computer program that translates and executes each statement or construct of a computer program before translating and executing the next.

The interpreter must be resident in the computer each time a program [source code file] written in an interpreted language is executed.

Contrast with assembler, compiler. The device sends a signal, called an interrupt, to the processor. The processor interrupts its current program, stores its current operating conditions, and executes a program to service the device sending the interrupt.

After the device is serviced, the processor restores its previous operating conditions and continues executing the interrupted program. A method for handling constantly changing data. Contrast with polling. A software tool which analyzes potential conflicts in a system as a result of the occurrences of interrupts.

IEEE A user-defined unit of work that is to be accomplished by a computer. For example, the compilation, loading, and execution of a computer program. See: job control language. IEEE A language used to identify a sequence of jobs, describe their requirements to an operating system, and control their execution. An asynchronous file transfer protocol developed at Columbia University, noted for its accuracy over noisy lines. Several versions exist. Contrast with Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem.

One or more characters, usually within a set of data, that contains information about the set, including its identification. QA An individual step in an critical control point of the manufacturing process. Approximately one thousand bytes. This symbol is used to describe the size of computer memory or disk storage space. Because computers use a binary number system, a kilobyte is precisely or bytes. A graphical, problem oriented, programming language which replicates electronic switching blueprints.

A classification of ICs [chips] based on their size as expressed by the number of circuits or logic gates they contain. ISO The time interval between the instant at which a CPU's instruction control unit initiates a call for data and the instant at which the actual transfer of the data starts. Syn: waiting time. The use of any one of several structured methods to plan, design, implement, test. See: waterfall model. IEEE A computer program that creates a single load module from two or more independently translated object modules or load modules by resolving cross references among the modules and, possibly, by relocating elements.

May be part of a loader. Syn: link editor, linker. A program which copies other [object] programs from auxiliary [external] memory to main [internal] memory prior to its execution. A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations, a network operating system, and a communications link. IEEE Evaluates the safety-critical equations, algorithms, and control logic of the software design.

IEEE A system of error control based on the formation of a block check following preset rules. See: assembly language. The advantage of assembly language is that it provides bit-level control of the processor allowing tuning of the program for optimal speed and performance. For time critical operations, assembly language may be necessary in order to generate code which executes fast enough for the required operations.

The disadvantage of assembly language is the high-level of complexity and detail required in the programming. This makes the source code harder to understand, thus increasing the chance of introducing errors during program development and maintenance. All source code, regardless of the language in which it was programmed, is eventually converted to machine code.

Syn: object code. IEEE In software engineering, a predefined sequence of computer instructions that is inserted into a program, usually during assembly or compilation, at each place that its corresponding macroinstruction appears in the program. IEEE A source code instruction that is replaced by a predefined sequence of source instructions, usually in the same language as the rest of the program and usually during assembly or compilation.

A non-moving storage device utilizing one of a number of types of electronic circuitry to store information. IEEE A software component that is called by the operating system of a computer and that usually calls other software components. See: routine, subprogram. IEEE The ease with which a software system or component can be modified to correct faults, improve performance or other attributes, or adapt to a changed environment.

Syn: modifiability. QA Activities such as adjusting, cleaning, modifying, overhauling equipment to assure performance in accordance with requirements. Maintenance to a software system includes correcting software errors, adapting software to a new environment, or making enhancements to software.

See: adaptive maintenance, corrective maintenance, perfective maintenance. A measure of the reliability of a computer system, equal to average operating time of equipment between failures, as calculated on a statistical basis from the known failure rates of various components of the system.

A measure of reliability, giving the average time before the first failure. A measure of reliability of a piece of repairable equipment, giving the average time between repairs. IEEE A quantitative assessment of the degree to which a software product or process possesses a given attribute.

The process of determining the value of some quantity in terms of a standard unit. Approximately one million bits. Precisely K bits, bits, or 1,, bits. Approximately one million bytes. Precisely K Bytes, bytes, or 1,, bytes. See: kilobyte. Any device or recording medium into which binary data can be stored and held, and from which the entire original data can be retrieved. The two types of memory are main; e.

See: storage device. A computer display listing a number of options; e. Sometimes used to denote a list of programs. One of two major categories of chip design [the other is bipolar]. It derives its name from its use of metal, oxide and semiconductor layers. Common type of transistor fabricated as a discrete component or into MOS integrated circuits.

NBS The process of generating test sets for structural testing based upon use of complexity metrics or coverage metrics. IEEE A quantitative measure of the degree to which software possesses a given attribute which affects its quality. Communications network that covers a geographical area such as a city or a suburb. Permanent memory that holds the elementary circuit operations a computer must perform for each instruction in its instruction set.

Frequently synonymous with a microcomputer. Execution speed of a computer. MIPS rate is one factor in overall performance. Bus and channel speed and bandwidth, memory speed, memory management techniques, and system software also determine total throughput. DOD An unplanned event or series of events resulting in death, injury, occupational illness, or damage to or loss of data and equipment or property, or damage to the environment. Syn: accident.

A symbol chosen to assist human memory and understanding; e. Construction of programs used to model the effects of a postulated environment for investigating the dimensions of a problem for the effects of algorithmic processes on responsive targets. ISO A functional unit that modulates and demodulates signals. One of the functions of a modem is to enable digital data to be transmitted over analog transmission facilities.

The term is a contraction of modulator-demodulator. Using a modem to communicate between computers. MODEM access is often used between a remote location and a computer that has a master database and applications software, the host computer. A structured software design technique, breaking a system into components to facilitate design and development. Syn: functional decomposition, hierarchical decomposition. See: abstraction.

IEEE Software composed of discrete parts. See: structured design. IEEE The degree to which a system or computer program is composed of discrete components such that a change to one component has minimal impact on other components. Varying the characteristics of a wave in accordance with another wave or signal, usually to make user equipment signals compatible with communication facilities.

Contrast with demodulate. Converting signals from a binary-digit pattern [pulse form] to a continuous wave form [analog]. Contrast with demodulation. See: unit. A table which provides a graphic illustration of the data elements whose values are input to and output from a module.

IEEE A mode of operation in which two or more processes [programs] are executed concurrently [simultaneously] by separate CPUs that have access to a common main memory. Contrast with multi-programming. See: multi-tasking, time sharing. Syn: parallel processing.

Contrast with multi-tasking. See: time sharing. IEEE A mode of operation in which two or more tasks are executed in an interleaved manner. See: multi-processing, multi-programming, time sharing. Myers A test coverage criteria which requires enough test cases such that all possible combinations of condition outcomes in each decision, and all points of entry, are invoked at least once.

Contrast with branch coverage, condition coverage, decision coverage, path coverage, statement coverage. A device which takes information from any of several sources and places it on a single line or sends it to a single destination.

IEEE Computer systems that perform more than one primary function or task are considered to be multipurpose. In some situations the computer may be linked or networked with other computers that are used for administrative functions; e. NBS A method to determine test set thoroughness by measuring the extent to which a test set can discriminate the program from slight variants [mutants] of the program. Contrast with error seeding. National Bureau of Standards.

Now National Institute for Standards and Technology. National Institute for Standards and Technology. Gaithersburg, MD A federal agency under the Department of Commerce, originally established by an act of Congress on March 3, as the National Bureau of Standards. The Institute's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. The National Computer Systems Laboratory conducts research and provides, among other things, the technical foundation for computer related policies of the Federal Government.

A type of microelectronic circuit used for logic and memory chips. A database organization method that allows for data relationships in a net-like form. A single data element can point to multiple data elements and can itself be pointed to by other data elements.

Contrast with relational database. A junction or connection point in a network, e. IEEE 1 Examines software elements that are not designated safety-critical and ensures that these elements do not cause a hazard. Generally, safety-critical code should be isolated from non-safety-critical code. This analysis is to show this isolation is complete and that interfaces between safety-critical code and non-safety-critical code do not create hazards. A reformation of a program by immediately relinking the entire program following the testing of each independent module.

Integration testing is then conducted on the program as a whole. Syn: "big bang" integration. Contrast with incremental integration. A high priority interrupt that cannot be disabled by another interrupt. It can be used to report malfunctions such as parity, bus, and math co-processor errors.

IEEE A value whose definition is to be supplied within the context of a specific operating system. This value is a representation of the set of no numbers or no value for the operating system in use.

IEEE Data for which space is allocated but for which no value currently exists. IEEE A string containing no entries. Note: It is said that a null string has length zero. In object oriented programming, A self contained module [encapsulation] of data and the programs [services] that manipulate [process] that data. NIST A code expressed in machine language ["1"s and "0"s] which is normally an output of a given translation process that is ready to be executed by a computer.

Syn: machine code. Contrast with source code. See: object program. IEEE A software development technique in which a system or component is expressed in terms of objects and connections between those objects. IEEE A programming language that allows the user to express a program in terms of objects and messages between those objects. A technology for writing programs that are made up of self-sufficient modules that contain all of the information needed to manipulate a given data structure.

The modules are created in class hierarchies so that the code or methods of a class can be passed to other modules. New object modules can be easily created by inheriting the characteristics of existing classes. See: object, object oriented design. IEEE A computer program that is the output of an assembler or compiler. IEEE Pertaining to a system or mode of operation in which input data enter the computer directly from the point of origin or output data are transmitted directly to the point where they are used.

For example, an airline reservation system. See: conversational, interactive, real time. Usually, operating systems are predominantly software, but partial or complete hardware implementations are possible. IEEE The period of time in the software life cycle during which a software product is employed in its operational environment, monitored for satisfactory performance, and modified as necessary to correct problems or to respond to changing requirements.

IEEE An exception that occurs when a program encounters an invalid operation code. An information processing technology that converts human readable data into another medium for computer input. An OCR peripheral device accepts a printed document as input, to identify the characters by their shape from the light that is reflected and creates an output disk file.

For best results, the printed page must contain only characters of a type that are easily read by the OCR device and located on the page within certain margins. When choosing an OCR product, the prime consideration should be the program's level of accuracy as it applies to the type of document to be scanned. Thin glass wire designed for light transmission, capable of transmitting billions of bits per second. Unlike electrical pulses, light pulses are not affected by random radiation in the environment.

NIST Modifying a program to improve performance; e. A relational database programming system incorporating the SQL programming language. A registered trademark of the Oracle Corp. ISO In a calculator, the state in which the calculator is unable to accept or process the number of digits in the entry or in the result.

See: arithmetic overflow. IEEE An exception that occurs when the result of an arithmetic operation exceeds the size of the storage location designated to receive it. Contrast with serial. IEEE A constant, variable or expression that is used to pass values between software modules. Syn: argument. An error detection method in data transmissions that consists of selectively adding a 1-bit to bit patterns [word, byte, character, message] to cause the bit patterns to have either an odd number of 1-bits [odd parity] or an even number of 1-bits [even parity].

ISO A binary digit appended to a group of binary digits to make the sum of all the digits, including the appended binary digit, either odd or even, as predetermined.

ISO A redundancy check by which a recalculated parity bit is compared to the predetermined parity bit. Contrast with check summation, cyclic redundancy check [CRC]. A high-level programming language designed to encourage structured programming practices.

ISO A character string that enables a user to have full or limited access to a system or to a set of data. IEEE A change made directly to an object program without reassembling or recompiling from the source program. IEEE A sequence of instructions that may be performed in the execution of a computer program. IEEE Analysis of a computer program [source code] to identify all possible paths through the program, to detect incomplete paths, or to discover portions of the program that are not on any path.

IEEE Software maintenance performed to improve the performance, maintainability, or other attributes of a computer program. Contrast with adaptive maintenance, corrective maintenance. IEEE A requirement that imposes conditions on a functional requirement; e. Equipment that is directly connected a computer. A peripheral device can be used to input data; e. Syn: peripheral equipment. Synonymous with microcomputer, a computer that is functionally similar to large computers, but serves only one user.

IEEE An audit conducted to verify that a configuration item, as built, conforms to the technical documentation that defines it. See: functional configuration audit. IEEE A requirement that specifies a physical characteristic that a system or system component must posses; e. IEEE 1 In image processing and pattern recognition, the smallest element of a digital image that can be assigned a gray level. This term is derived from the term "picture element".

The hardware and software which must be present and functioning for an application program to run [perform] as intended. A technique a CPU can use to learn if a peripheral device is ready to receive data or to send data. In this method each device is checked or polled in-turn to determine if that device needs service. The device must wait until it is polled in order to send or receive data. This method is useful if the device's data can wait for a period of time before being processed, since each device must await its turn in the polling scheme before it will be serviced by the processor.

Contrast with interrupt. A type of microelectronic circuit in which the base material is positively charged. The relative degree of repeatability, i.

It is the result of resolution and stability. See: accuracy, bias, calibration. IEEE 1 The process of analyzing design alternatives and defining the architecture, components, interfaces, and timing and sizing estimates for a system or component.

See: detailed design. IEEE A review conducted to evaluate the progress, technical adequacy, and risk resolution of the selected design approach for one or more configuration items; to determine each design's compatibility with the requirements for the configuration item; to evaluate the degree of definition and assess the technical risk associated with the selected manufacturing methods and processes; to establish the existence and compatibility of the physical and functional interfaces among the configuration items and other items of equipment, facilities, software and personnel; and, as applicable, to evaluate the preliminary operational and support documents.

A flat board that holds chips and other electronic components. The board is "printed" with electrically conductive pathways between the components. The computer file that contains the establishment's current production data.

Processing may include the use of an assembler, a compiler, an interpreter, or another translator to prepare the program for execution. The instructions may include statements and necessary declarations. IEEE A specification language with special constructs and, sometimes, verification protocols, used to develop, analyze, and document a program design.

IEEE A computer program that has been purposely altered from the intended version to evaluate the ability of program test cases to detect the alteration. See: testing, mutation. A programmable logic chip. See: programmable logic device. A logic chip that is programmed at the user's site. Contrast with PROM. A chip which may be programmed by using a PROM programming device.

It can be programmed only once. It cannot be erased and reprogrammed. Each of its bit locations is a fusible link. An unprogrammed PROM has all links closed establishing a known state of each bit. Programming the chip consists of sending an electrical current of a specified size through each link which is to be changed to the alternate state.

This causes the "fuse to blow", opening that link. IEEE A language used to express computer programs. See: computer language, high-level language, low-level language. IEEE Analysis to ensure that all portions of the program follow approved programming guidelines. See: code audit, code inspection. NIST A management document describing the approach taken for a project. The plan typically describes work to be done, resources required, methods to be used, the configuration management and quality assurance procedures to be followed, the schedules to be met, the project organization, etc.

Project in this context is a generic term. Some projects may also need integration plans, security plans, test plans, quality assurance plans, etc. See: documentation plan, software development plan, test plan, software engineering. PROM programmer. NBS The use of techniques of mathematical logic to infer that a relation between program variables assumed true at program entry implies that another relation between program variables holds at program exit. IEEE An exception that occurs when a program attempts to write into a protected area in storage.

ISO A set of semantic and syntactic rules that determines the behavior of functional units in achieving communication. Using software tools to accelerate the software development process by facilitating the identification of required functionality during analysis and design phases. A limitation of this technique is the identification of system or software problems and hazards. See: rapid prototyping. A combination of programming language and natural language used to express a software design.

If used, it is usually the last document produced prior to writing the source code. FDA Establishing confidence that process equipment and ancillary systems are compliant with appropriate codes and approved design intentions, and that manufacturer's recommendations are suitably considered. FDA Establishing confidence that process equipment and sub-systems are capable of consistently operating within established limits and tolerances.

FDA Establishing confidence that the process is effective and reproducible. FDA Establishing confidence through appropriate testing that the finished product produced by a specified process meets all release requirements for functionality and safety. IEEE 1 A planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that an item or product conforms to established technical requirements. The operational techniques and procedures used to achieve quality requirements.

High frequency electromagnetic waves that emanate from electronic devices such as chips and other electronic devices. An electromagnetic disturbance caused by such radiating and transmitting sources as electrostatic discharge [ESD], lightning, radar, radio and TV signals, and motors with brushes can induce unwanted voltages in electronic circuits, damage components and cause malfunctions.

See: electromagnetic interference. The term random access means that each memory location [usually 8 bits or 1 byte] may be directly accessed [read from or written to] at random. Cases on Teaching Sexuality Education to Ind There are several reasons for providing sexuality Study Abroad Opportunities for Community Col Community colleges serve more students than any ot Pedagogy Development for Teaching Online Mus With the shift towards online education, teaching Handbook of Research on Competency-Based Edu The majority of adult learners are looking to atta Handbook of Research on Foreign Language Edu The role of technology in the learning process can Assessing and Evaluating Adult Learning in C Increased interest in and use of theoretical and e Integrating Adult Learning and Technologies Recognizes all design classes that correspond to the problem domain as defined in the analysis model and architectural model.

Describes all design classes that are not acquired as reusable components, and specifies message details.

Identifies appropriate interfaces for each component and elaborates attributes and defines data types and data structures required to implement them. Describes processing flow within each operation in detail by means of pseudo code or UML activity diagrams. Describes persistent data sources databases and files and identifies the classes required to manage them. Develop and elaborates behavioral representations for a class or component. This can be done by elaborating the UML state diagrams created for the analysis model and by examining all use cases that are relevant to the design class.

Demonstrates the location of key packages or classes of components in a system by using class instances and designating specific hardware and operating system environment. The final decision can be made by using established design principles and guidelines. Experienced designers consider all or most of the alternative design solutions before settling on the final design model.

Independent development of components by different group in parallel. Productivity for the software development and future software development. Arnab Chakraborty. Zach Miller. John Shea. Daniel IT. Component-Based Architecture Advertisements. Previous Page. Next Page. Useful Video Courses.