Structured development refers to a systematic and organized approach to designing and building software or other complex systems. It emphasizes planning, organization, and the use of standardized processes and practices to ensure that the resulting product meets its objectives efficiently and effectively. Here are key principles and aspects of structured development:
- Clear Objectives: Structured development begins with a clear understanding of the project’s objectives and requirements. These objectives guide the entire development process.
- Modularity: Systems are divided into smaller, manageable modules or components. Each module has a specific function and interacts with other modules through well-defined interfaces.
- Hierarchy: Modules are organized in a hierarchical manner, where higher-level modules control and coordinate the activities of lower-level modules. This hierarchical structure simplifies system design and maintenance.
- Abstraction: Abstraction involves simplifying complex systems by focusing on essential details while hiding unnecessary complexity. Abstraction helps in designing and understanding systems at a high level.
- Top-Down Design: In structured development, the design process often follows a top-down approach. The system’s overall structure is designed first, and then each module is designed in detail, gradually moving from high-level concepts to low-level implementation details.
- Flowcharts and Diagrams: Flowcharts and diagrams, such as data flow diagrams (DFDs) and structure charts, are commonly used in structured development to visually represent the flow of data and control between system components.
- Data Structures: Data structures are defined to represent and manage data within the system. These structures include records, arrays, lists, and other data storage formats.
- Control Structures: Structured programming relies on control structures like loops (e.g., for, while) and conditional statements (e.g., if-else) to manage the flow of program execution.
- Error Handling: Error handling mechanisms are incorporated to detect and manage errors or exceptions that may occur during program execution.
- Documentation: Structured development places a strong emphasis on documentation. Comprehensive documentation is created at every stage of development, including requirements, design, coding, and testing.
- Testing and Validation: Rigorous testing and validation processes are employed to ensure that the system functions as intended and meets user requirements. This includes unit testing, integration testing, and system testing.
- Change Control: Procedures for managing changes to the system are established to ensure that modifications are controlled, documented, and tested to maintain system integrity.
- Quality Assurance: Quality assurance processes are implemented to verify that the development process adheres to established standards and best practices.
- Reusability: Modules and components that have been developed and tested successfully can be reused in other projects, promoting efficiency and consistency.
- Maintenance: Structured development recognizes that software and systems require ongoing maintenance and support. Maintenance tasks are planned and managed.
Structured development methodologies, such as the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) and the Waterfall Model, have been widely used in software engineering to create reliable and maintainable software systems. While modern software development often incorporates agile and iterative approaches, the principles of structured development continue to provide a strong foundation for effective system design and implementation.