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Unit 12: Building and Deploying an Information System

form needs to be designed. The input screen enables the user to enter the required information notes
into the system. The screen design should be based on certain guidelines, a few of which are
listed below:
1. Simple screen - avoid cluttering
2. Consistent screen presentation - locate information in the same area

3. Easy navigation between screens - Use scrolling or calling another screen if required rather
than going to the main menu
4. Provide status to the user - Use of user - friendly messages

5. Provide a facility to undo an action.
Output Design: Information is provided to the user in soft copy, a printed copy, a display on the
screen or a Audio / Video output. The outputs design should serve the intended purpose and
provide the information when required.
Program Design is a set of guidelines and a method for coding programs, which can be
maintained easily. Structured design reduces the complexity by breaking the programs into
smaller components.
A Software Design Document is generated at the end of this process. The Program specifications
provide the basis for program coding.

12.5 software testing

Software testing is the most tedious, unpredictable and expensive phase in software development.
To ease this it is necessary to supplement testing with Reviews. Software testing actually begins
with design reviews and code walk-through. These are pre-implementation “tests” which can
identify a significant percentage of faults at the initial stages. The cost and effort associated with
this is also far less than computer based tests for the same purpose.
Testing and reviews have to be planned and executed at various stages of the system life cycle so
as to find defects in requirements, design, documentation and code as early as possible.
Historically, testing has focused on executing the software to obtain confidence in its readiness
for use and to demonstrate that it is working satisfactorily. Testing today, in addition to
the above aspects recognizes that major errors are rooted in requirement & design due to
misunderstanding, omissions and inconsistencies. Testing is undertaken at different stages of
the system development process in terms of reviews, walkthroughs and code inspection and
functional testing. The features of various types of testing are discussed below.

12.5.1 testing Linked to phases of Development

unit testing

In Unit testing the smallest testable component, which is termed as the ‘Unit’, is tested. It is tested
for consistency with the program / process specifications. All important statements, branches,
conditions & paths are tested for expected results. Though unit testing is the responsibility of the
implementation programmer, the project leader should be aware of the unit test results. The unit
test cases can be used during Integration testing.
Unit Test Plan, Test cases, Test data & defect log are important documents to be prepared and
stored for future reference and analysis.

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