OCR A-Level Computer Science - Software Development – Methodologies Questions and Answers

Waterfall Method A development methodology that splits a project up into a number of sequential stages, with each stage having a specific purpose. Pure Waterfall Method Identical to Waterfall Method, except once a stage is passed it cannot be re-visited. Stages of Waterfall Method 1. Define Requirements 2. Analyse 3. Design 4. Implement 5. Test 6. Install 7. Maintain Define Requirements stage of Waterfall Method Decribe project's purpose and define the stakeholder's needs. Analysis stage of Waterfall Method Assess time, costs, manpower and resources the project will need. Design stage of Waterfall Method Figure out how the software is to be structured and created. Implement stage of the Waterfall Method Code the software. Test stage of the Waterfall Method Plan out how the software will be tested, then carry out tests to confirm that the software works as intended. Install stage of the Waterfall Method Roll out software to stakeholders. Maintain stage of the Waterfall Method Fix any bugs that weren't picked up during testing and keep the software up to date. Waterfall Method Pros 1. 'Plan-first-then-do' approach, which saves time and money. 2. Encourages extensive documentation. 3. Clear milestones, allowing for easy assessment.