Page 178 - DCAP405_SOFTWARE_ENGINEERING

Unit 10: Creating an Architectural Design

Systematic analysis principles applied to function and behavior should also be applied to Notes
data.

All data structures and operations to be performed on each should be identified.
The content of each data object should be defined through a mechanism that should be
established.

Low level data design decisions should be deferred until late in design process.
A library of data structures and operations that are applied to them should be developed.
The representation of data structure should only be known to those modules that can
directly use the data contained within the structure.

Software design and programming language should support the specification and
realization of abstract data types.

Task Analyze what is the basic importance of data design at component level?

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
9. All data structures and …………………….. to be performed on each should be identified.

10. Software design and programming language should support the specification and
realization of ……………….. data types.

10.3 Architectural Design

As architectural design begins, the design should define the external entities that the software
interacts with and nature of the interaction. Once the context is modeled and all external interfaces
are explained, the structure of the system is specified by the designer. It is done by defining and
refining software components that implement the architecture.

10.3.1 Representing the System in Context

Architectural context represents how the software interacts with entities external to its boundaries.
A system context diagram accomplishes this requirement by representing the flow of information
into and out of the system. At the architectural design level, a software architect uses an
architectural context diagram to model the manner in which software interacts with entities
external to its boundaries.

How do systems inter-operate with the target system?

Superordinate Systems: These systems use the target system as part of some higher level
processing scheme.
Subordinate Systems: These systems are used by the target system and provide data or processing
that are necessary to complete target system.

Peer-level Systems: These systems interact on a peer-to-peer basis.
Actors: These entities interact with the target system by producing or consuming information
necessary for requisite processing.

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