Helgi Thorbergsson

Comparison of software development life cycles: a multiproject experiment

A variety of life cycle models for software development are generally available. Many of the variations were composed to overcome problems in the classic waterfall model. However, it is generally difficult to compare and contrast the methods and very little literature is available to guide developers and managers in making choices. Moreover, in order to make informed decisions, developers require access to real data that compares the different models and the results associated with the adoption of each model. An experiment in which 15 software teams developed comparable software products, using four different development approaches (V-model, incremental model, evolutionary model, and extreme programming), is described. Extensive measurements were taken to assess the time, quality, size, and development efficiency of each product. The experimental data collected and the conclusions related to the choice of method, its impact on the project and the quality of the results, are presented.

Development life cycle management: a multiproject experiment

A variety of life cycle models for software systems development are generally available. However, it is generally difficult to compare and contrast the methods and very little literature is available to guide developers and managers in making choices. Moreover in order to make informed decisions developers require access to real data that compares the different models and the results associated with the adoption of each model. This paper describes an experiment in which fifteen software teams developed comparable software products using four different development approaches (V-model, incremental, evolutionary and extreme programming). Extensive measurements were taken to assess the time, quality, size, and development efficiency of each product. The paper presents the experimental data collected and the conclusions related to the choice of method, its impact on the project and the quality of the results as well as the general implications to the practice of systems engineering project management.

Economic benefits of free and open source software in electronic governance

This paper examines differences of using proprietary software and free software in electronic governance from an economic point of view. The paper identifies and highlights key areas in network economy, where free and open source software can drastically cut costs both short-term and long-term, if used instead of proprietary software. The research examines both governmental use and development of software and proposes a way for governments to manage free and open source software projects in order to lower costs for all agencies. The aforementioned policy is used as a basis for the research and its proposals.

WORKING WITH ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLES: A MULTIPROJECT EXPERIMENT

1. MOTIVATION Should the Waterfall model be dropped in favour of more modern approaches such as incremental development and eXtreme Programming? Many developers appear to show a preference for such modern approaches but there appears to be very little non-anecdotal data that substantiates such choices. IS, software development and software engineering books discuss the alternatives but offer little in the way of direct comparison and explicit metrics that address the impacts on the product, project and people. The classic Waterfall model was refined in the early 1970s to cope with the larger and more demanding software projects characterised by a growing level of complexity. It was heavily influenced by early attempts to introduce structure into the programming process

Software development for governmental use utilizing free and open source software

The Icelandic government is about to release its policy on free and open source software. Many governments around the world have either already released a similar policy or have one planned. The policy of the Icelandic government deals with both the use and the development of free and open source software. This paper takes a close look at the free and open source software policies, particularly the Icelandic one, from a software development perspective. The goal is to show how governments can utilize free and open source software when customized software is required. The paper also touches upon licensing issues for free and open source software by discussing the European Union Public License. Governmental project management and services of small software companies and the free and open source community are the focal points of the research. The basis of the research is the i2010 policy framework of the European Commission. The paper concludes by proposing a suitable methodology to use for governmental software development and recommending tools that foster both development and management, with emphasis on the latter.

Developing the academic-industrial partnership through student research and projects: Case studies from Iceland

The authors have all worked in industry before they joined academia. They present their views and observations on establishing joint academic-industrial projects, based on their former experience in industry and from the viewpoint of the university. Different forms of collaboration are discussed, as well as the steps that are needed to form a successful relationship between industry and academy. The main case presented in the paper outlines an MS project on image processing, and various lessons from it are discussed. This paper is a beginning for further work starting at the department of the authors, where MS project collaboration with industry will be strengthened.