This is just an Excerpt from a larger document, click here to view the entire document.What is Software Reliability Engineering?
Software reliability is defined as the probability of failure-free software operation for a specified period of time in a specified environment [Lyu 96]. Software reliability is an attribute and key factor in software quality. It is also a system dependability concept. Software Reliability Engineering (SRE) is defined as the quantitative study of the operational behavior of software-based systems with respect to user requirements concerning reliability [Lyu 96]. As such it encompasses all aspects of the software development process. SRE employs proven best practice to ensure that product reliability meets user needs, to speed products to market faster, reduce product cost, improve customer satisfaction, and increase tester and developer productivity.
The essential components of SRE are categorized as follows:
Establish reliability goals
Develop operational profile
Plan and execute tests
Use test results to drive decisions
These components are sequential. Although this START addresses these SRE elements in isolation the reader should note that in reality they are integrated within the software development process. Reliability goals are part of the requirement definition process. Development of the operational profile occurs in parallel with software design and coding. Testing for reliability is a testing approach which is included in the overall test plan.
