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A. Introduction

B. Institutional Requirements

C. Project Software Requirements

D. Topics

E. Tools, References, and Terms

F. SPAN
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UNDER CONSTRUCTION


Notes in this template provide guidance to authors on how the section if to be completed. Once the section is populated, the Note may be deleted. Notes are not intended to be left in the completed page. 

Activity - Software Design

1. Introduction

Typically starts with a quote from the NPR that helps define the activity. Additional descriptive material is meant to help define the activity but not be so detailed that it pulls in all of the guidance from the SWEs in the activity. 

NPR 7150.2B para 4.3.1

4.3.1 Software design is the process of defining the software architecture, components, modules, interfaces, and data for a software system to satisfy specified requirements. The software architecture is the fundamental organization of a system embodied in its components, their relationships to each other and the environment, and the principles guiding its design and evolution. The software architectural design is concerned with creating a strong overall structure for software entities that fulfill the allocated system and software-level requirements. Typical views captured in an architectural design include the decomposition of the software subsystem into design entities, computer software configuration items, definitions of external and internal interfaces, dependency relationships among entities and system resources, and finite state machines. The design should be further refined into lower-level entities that permit the implementation by coding in a programming language. Typical attributes that are documented for lower-level entities include the identifier, type, purpose, function, constraints, subordinates, dependencies, interface, resources, processing, and data. Rigorous specification languages, graphical representations, and related tools have been developed to support the evaluation of critical properties at the design level. Projects are encouraged to take advantage of these improved design techniques to prevent and eliminate errors as early in the life cycle as possible. Software, developed or purchased, has additional requirements to comply with from Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as defined in NPR 2800.2.Software peer reviews and inspections are the in-process technical examination of work products by peers to find and eliminate defects early in the life cycle. Software peer reviews and inspections are performed following defined procedures covering the preparation for the review, the review itself is conducted, results are recorded, results are reported, and completion criteria is certified. When planning the composition of a software peer review or inspection team, consider including software testing, system testing, software assurance, software safety, software cybersecurity, and software IV&V personnel.

Inputs, Outputs, and Predecessor Activities

Activity graphical representation of Inputs, Outputs, Predecessor and Successor Activities as appropriate. Not meant to be exhaustive, but representative of a typical project. 

1.1 Inputs

List of some of the inputs from other activities that are necessary for the activity to begin. 

Examples: 

1.2 Predecessor Activities

List of some of the other activities that must be started (not necessarily completed) so that this activity may begin. 

Examples: 

Predecessor Activities are performed before Design. These activities produce the work products that will be reviewed. 

  • Life Cycle Planning - Design activities are included in the plan and schedules
  • Software Requirements - These influence the design of the software
  • Software Architecture - These influence the design of the software

1.3 Outputs

List of some of the outputs or work products of the activity. These are typically used as inputs by the downstream activity. In some cases there is a supporting SWE associated with the work product. 

Output Work ProductUsed by Downstream Activity
  • Implementation and Unit Testing
  • Preliminary at Preliminary Design Review
  • Baselined at Critical Design Review
  • Updated at Test Readiness Review
  • Implementation and Unit Testing
  • Preliminary at Preliminary Design Review
  • Baselined at Critical Design Review
  • Updated at Test Readiness Review
  • Implementation and Unit Testing
  • Baselined at Operational Readiness Review

1.4 Successor Activities

Links to Activities which might be started or supported by this activity. 

  • Implementation and Unit Testing - Implements the Design into one or more code modules. 
  • Preliminary Design Review
  • Critical Design Review
  • Test Readiness Review
  • Operational Readiness Review

1.5 Activity Repetition

Describe what conditions determine if the activity needs to be repeated, such as re-planning after a change in requirements or schedule constraints. 

  • How much of the activity needs to be repeated
  • Frequency of repetition
  • Design is always done once. It should be peer reviewed and analyzed by Software Assurance. 
  • Design may be reviewed and re-analyzed as often as there are significant changes in architecture or requirements. For example:  
    • Technology changes to the architecture requires changes to the design
    • Customer changes to requirements require changes to the design

1.6 Center Resources From SPAN

Add links to SPAN activity pages that are appropriate for this activity. Use links from the Activity section of the front page. SPAN All  of the links to SPAN activities are provided. Delete the ones that do not apply

Several Centers Process Asset Libraries have materials related to this activity. Related Processes, templates, and other resources may be found in the following Activities in SPAN (available to NASA only). 

ActivityDescription

Design

Assets for use during product design

2. Software Development Activity

This tab contains the links to pages in the SWEHB that are at the heart of the activity. 

2.1 SWEs

This section contains the links to SWE pages that form the heart of the activity.  For each SWE, the related tasks from tab 4 are listed. 

2.2 Topics and other Supporting Materials

This section is for SWEHB pages, other than SWEs, that directly support the activity. This section contains Topics, PATs, and other relevant pages. 

2.2.1 Topics

2.2.2 Supporting Materials

2.3 Other Associated SWEs, Topics, etc.

Includes other SWEHB pages that are indirectly associated with the activity. May include SWEs, Topics, document definition pages, PATs, etc. They may have been mentioned in the guidance of another page. This section may be removed if there is no content for it. 

3. Software Assurance Activity

Software Assurance is integral to the performance of all Software Development activities. It includes Process Monitoring as well as Process Analysis. 

  • Process Monitoring - addresses the question, "Is the development team following their processes and producing the expected work products?"
  • Process Analysis - addresses the question, "Are there better ways of performing the processes that would result in the early discovery of defects?"

3.1 Software Assurance Tasks from SWEs

Software Assurance Tasks are included in tab 7 of the SWEs in this activity. 

3.1.1 - Copy of SWE-058 - Detailed Design with new tab 4

    • Tasking From NASA-STD-8739.8B

      1. 1. Assess the software design against the hardware and software requirements and identify any gaps.
      2. 2. Assess the software design to verify that the design is consistent with the software architectural design concepts and that the software design describes the lower-level units to be coded, compiled, and tested. 
      3. 3. Assess that the design does not introduce undesirable behaviors or unnecessary capabilities.
      4. 4. Confirm that the software design implements all of the required safety-critical functions and requirements. 
      5. 5. Perform a software assurance design analysis.
    • Software Assurance Products
      1. Software Design Analysis
      2. Results of software assurance design analysis, including assessments in Tasks 1, 2, and 3. 
      3. List of any identified design risks and issues.
    • Metrics
      1. # of architectural issues identified vs. number closed.
      2. # of design issues found versus the number of design issues resolved.
      3. # of safety-related requirement issues (Open, Closed) over time.
      4. # of safety-related non-conformances identified by life cycle phase over time.
      5. # of software work product Non-Conformances identified by life cycle phase over time

3.2 Topics and Other Supporting Materials

3.2.1 Topics

  • Topic 8.16 - Software Design Analysis
      • SA Tasks for SWEs
        • SWE-034 - Acceptance Criteria
          • 1. Confirm software acceptance criteria are defined and assess the criteria based on guidance in the NASA Software Engineering Handbook, NASA-HDBK-2203.
        • SWE-134 - Safety-Critical Software Design Requirements
          • 1. Analyze the software requirements and the software design and work with the project to implement NPR 7150.2 requirement items "a" through "l."
          • 4. Analyze the software design to ensure the following:
               a. Use of partitioning or isolation methods in the
                     design and code,
               b. That the design logically isolates the safety-critical
                     design elements and data from those that are
                     non-safety-critical.
          • 5. Participate in software reviews affecting safety-critical software products.
          • 6. Ensure the SWE-134 implementation supports and is consistent with the system hazard analysis.
        • SWE-057 - Software Architecture
          • 1. Assess that the software architecture addresses or contains the software structure, qualities, interfaces, and external/internal components.
          • 2. Analyze the software architecture to assess whether software safety and mission assurance requirements are met.
        • SWE-143 - Software Architecture Review
          • 1. Assess the results of or participate in software architecture review activities held by the project.
        • SWE-080 - Track and Evaluate Changes
          • 1. Analyze proposed software and hardware changes to software products for impacts, particularly safety and security.
        • SWE-081 - Identify Software CM Items
          • 2. Assess that the software safety-critical items are configuration-managed, including hazard reports and safety analysis.
        • SWE-203 - Mandatory Assessments for Non-Conformances
          • 2. Assess the impact of non-conformances on the project software's safety, quality, and reliability.

3.2.2 Process Asset Templates

3.3 Other Associated SWEs, Topics, etc.

Includes other SWEHB pages that are indirectly associated with the activity. May include SWEs, Topics, document definition pages, PATs, etc. They may have been mentioned in the guidance of another page. This section may be removed if there is no content for it. 

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