Introducing object validation and navigation in software process to improve software quality

Abstract

Software quality can be judged by various factors [1,2,3,4]. Correctness is one of the important factors that signify the capability of software to satisfy its specifications and meet customer needs. One of the means for improving correctness is by performing verification and validation. Validation can be performed at various levels, but is most effective when it is coherent with the implementation. This paper presents a process called Ucita, which supports validation using certain domain specific rules and also enhances system comprehension with navigational aids. The process does not impede regular development cycle but adds value to it by precisely validating existing implementation and providing means for generating validated source. In order to facilitate this process an experimental toolset was developed at Nokia Research Center and successfully applied on a mobile software component. The proposed process, tools and benefits of Ucita are highlighted in this paper.