Software Quality—Prevention versus Cure?

Suggestions are made on how appropriate component-based quality models, that contain both generic and domain-specific quality knowledge, may be used to support a preventative approach to producing quality software products and systems.

Abstract

In traditional engineering disciplines a preventative approach is used to tackle defects and thereby produce quality products and systems. A recent case study suggests that in software engineering a curative approach to finding defects and producing quality software may be the most practical way to proceed. Here, the argument for a curative approach to software quality is challenged, and suggestions are made on how appropriate component-based quality models, that contain both generic and domain-specific quality knowledge, may be used to support a preventative approach to producing quality software products and systems.