When the team is going to develop software, it should have a clear path in mind. The clarity means the user interface, features, users, and needs of the product.
You can achieve this purpose through a software requirements specification document. It is significant to have this document because it is a general way of explaining a product to every related personnel.
SRS document has a proper format, but you can change it based on the information and type of project. So, let us have an overlook about the SRS document.
What is Software Requirements Specification?
A Software Requirements Specification (SRS) is a document that outlines the characteristics of a project, piece of software, or application.
An SRS document is a project manual that a software programmer or technical writer writes before working on a product. We also know this document as an SRS report and a software document.
Types of Requirements in Software Engineering
- Business Requirements: A business requirements document (BRD) specifies measurable project objectives for the organization, users, and other stakeholders. At the start of a project, business analysts, leaders, and other project sponsors establish the BRD. This paper explains the reason for building products. The BRD also serves as the foundation for more extensive document preparation with clients for software development contractors.
- Functional Requirements: These specifications define how software interacts with its environment. What should it include, like inputs, outputs, external interfaces, and functionalities? In addition, the services supplied by functional requirements define how the software should react to specific inputs or behave in particular scenarios.
- Non-functional Requirements: Non-functional requirements are concerned with system characteristics, such as dependability and response time. User requirements, budget constraints, organizational policies, and other factors all contribute to non-functional requirements. These requirements have nothing to do with any of the system’s specific functions. It further has some requirements including product, efficiency, reliability, usability, and organizational needs.
What is the Purpose of SRS?
- The SRS serves as the foundation for several important papers, including the Software Design Specification.
- It aids in confirming with the client about the product.
- It develops stakeholders’ agreement and consensus.
- SRS document helps in setting budget and timetable estimations that are more accurate.
- Design, development, QA, and vendor teams will benefit from this information.
- Before beginning design and coding work, be sure you have a plan. SRS document gives you this plan.
- There will be less rework and scope creep.
SRS Format for Software Project
The format of SRS depends on the information, but the general pattern is:
- Introduction
- Purpose of the document
- Intended Audience
- Intended Use
- Scope of the Product
- Definition and Acronyms
- General description
- User Needs
- Assumptions and Dependencies
- System Features and Requirements
- Functional requirements
- Interface requirements
- Performance requirements
- Project finance
How to Write Software Requirements Specification Document?
1. Introduction:
The introduction section of the SRS is the most significant part. It further comprises the following sub-heading:
I. Purpose: Explain the primary purpose of your software project or product.
II. Intended Audience and Intended Use: Add who will have access to the SRS and how they will use it in your organization.
III. Scope of Product: It should include the benefits, aims, and goals of the product. It should relate to overall business goals, particularly if teams other than development have to access the SRS.
IV. Definition and Acronyms: This section is for defining jargon and introducing risks.
2. General Description:
This section is for describing the overall project.
I. User Needs: You must determine who will use the product and how they will use it.
II. Assumptions and Dependencies: Add assumptions that are not true. You should keep track of whether your project is reliant on any outside influences. It could involve software components from another project that you are reusing.
3. System Features and Requirements
I. Functional Requirement: These requirements are essential for developing a product, such as a battery and other mandatory components.
II. Interface Requirements: These requirements are for integrating hardware or software devices. Suppose you are developing a Bluetooth system, then you will need a Bluetooth device to connect the appliance and the product.
III. Performance Requirements: These are non-functional requirements that include safety and security measures, performance, and quality.
IV. Project Finance: It is your budget section. Here, add the cost of the components you are using in the product.
Note: You can write or can explain things through software engineering diagrams. Such as you can use a use-case diagram for users, a class diagram for the coding side, and the deployment diagram for implementation.
Difference Between BRD and SRS
- BRD is an abbreviation for the Business Requirement Document. SRS is an abbreviation for Software Requirement Specification.
- Business Analyst oversees keeping BRD up to date, while Business Analyst or a System Analyst oversees the SRS.
- The product needs BRD in the initial phase and SRS in the planning phase.
- BRD describes why you have chosen the requirement, while SRS is the requirements they have selected for the product.
- Management teams use BRD, while project managers and technical resources use SRS.
Conclusion
The Software requirement specification document is the explanation of the product means what it will have. It differs from BRD, but the purpose is almost the same.
The company must prepare an SRS document to prevent misunderstandings between the project managers and the stakeholders. Moreover, it also provides a roadmap to the developers and insights to the entire team.
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