How unit 2 is examined
This unit has a single topic, software product development standards, and no past question has been asked on it, so a short definition and a few key points are enough.
Software product development standards
<span style="display:inline-block;padding:.16em .6em;border:1.5px solid currentColor;border-radius:999px;font-size:.68em;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;opacity:.75">Not asked since 2022</span>
Definition. <mark>Software development standards are agreed rules, guidelines and best practices for how software is planned, designed, coded, tested, documented and maintained, so that every product is of consistent and predictable quality.</mark>
Key points.
- Standards cover the process (for example ISO/IEC 12207 and CMMI), the product (coding, naming and documentation conventions) and quality management (ISO 9001, IEEE standards).
- They give a team a common language, so code and documents written by different people look and behave alike.
- Following standards improves quality, reliability and maintainability, and reduces defects and rework.
- Reviews, inspections and audits check that the project complies with its standards.
Last-minute revision
- Software standards are agreed rules and best practices for developing, documenting and maintaining software.
- They apply to the process, the product and quality management.
- ISO/IEC 12207 defines software life cycle processes; CMMI rates process maturity.
- ISO 9001 and IEEE standards support quality management and documentation.
- Coding conventions cover naming, indentation, comments and file layout.
- Benefits are consistency, quality, maintainability and less rework.
- Compliance is checked by reviews, inspections and audits.
- No past question has been asked on this unit.
Memory hooks
- PPQ: standards cover Process, Product, Quality.
- 12207 is the life cycle, CMMI is the maturity ladder.
- Standard in, rework out.
Coverage checklist
- Software product development standards: definition, scope and benefits (no past questions asked).