Re: Software Requirements Specification

[Tony Markos <ajmarkos -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

Ed:

The article does a fantastic job in describing how a
TW can design a software requirement spec.  However,
it assumes that the Technical Writer already has a
comprehensive, integrated understanding of essential
systems functions and - most importantly - how all of
those functions interrelate.  (If you believe people
like Ed Yourdon, coming up with this understanding is
98% of what needs to be done in writing software
requirements specs.)  

Unfortunately, the assumption is not valid; the TW is
never given this understanding.  So, for systems of
any complexity,  before any outline is ever created or
any text written, the TW needs to perform alot of
critical analysis.  And yes the "M" word (Modeling)
comes into play.  MY sympathies to the "I only do
text" crowd.

Other than the above, the linked-to article is great!

Tony Markos

"It is only by dying (i.e., following the flow of
data) that we (TWs) are born again (i.e., come up with
an understanding of the underlying logic of a
system)." - AJ Markos  



--- Ed Wurster <glassnet -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:

> This is a fine article by Donn Le Vie, Jr. on
> software requirements
> specifications (SRS):
> 
>
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/magazine/writing/softwarerequirementspecs.html
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> --
>

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