A comparative analysis of software verification and validation methodologies

Includes bibliographical references (pages 116-128)Typically more than 50 percent of software development cost goes into software testing. Thus, there is a critical need for cost effective, easily used and reliable software verification and validation methodologies.\ud This thesis contains a comparative analysis of fifteen methodologies selected with respect to a software development phase (i.e., functional requirements, design specification, implementation and maintenance).\ud Each methodology is discussed emphasizing both their weak and strong points and categorized mainly through a subjective selection process then ranked based on criterion\ud such as cost, ease of use and reliability of the methodology. In addition, a discussion of each software development phase is presented.\ud In conjunction with the above comparative analysis, a study of error occurrence and detection was conducted by reviewing data compiled for several software programs (various sizes) in order to gain some insight into where a particular software verification and validation methodology should be concentrated. This study was accomplished within the framework of the four software development phases stated earlier.\ud As part of the findings in this analysis, it was determined that cost effectiveness and an appreciable early detection of errors were apparent if the methodologies were used judiciously and as early as possible in the software development process