Re[2]: Documenting from Program Specs

[Keith Arnett <Keith_Arnett -at- RESTON -dot- OMD -dot- STERLING -dot- COM>]

     I can't help but think of the following (I don't know the
     attribution):

     "Writing code to spec is like walking on water -- it's easy to do when
     when it's frozen."


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Tom Johnson wrote:
> Wow! Our company is taking a big step in the process maturity model.
> I've been asked to write a manual based on the program specs. Up until
> now, I've felt like software documentation would always be like
> "changing a tire on a moving truck." Now the programmers will build
> prototypes and I will base the documentation on those; kind of a
> parallel development instead of a reactive one.
>
> The goal is to have the documentation completed the same time as the
> program. The programmers will be responsible for making sure the code
> matches the specs and the manual. I remember a brief thread about this a
> year or more ago and I wondered if it ever works in real life.
>
> Have others found this to be a workable approach? Have you found fewer
> revisions are necessary? Right now I'm looking forward to trying this
> approach. I've also been asked to voice any concerns I have regarding
> usability. Any comments?