Term Definitions
Software Quality
Quality Software is subjective term. Our understanding of the term is:
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Our software is to a reasonable degree bug free, developed and delivered in time and
within budge.
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It meets the requirements and visions of the customer and is maintainable and well documented.
To get high quality software, the entire development process has to be aligned on that goal.
It has to be supervised and enhanced all of the time. We intent to find problems and bugs as early as
possible. Prevention is the key, because the later a bug is found,
the more expensive to repair is it. Methods for Software Quality Assurance are Design check, Coder
reviews and inspections, tests of the software in all phases of the development process and a trouble
report handling process.
Validation
What is the meaning of the term Validation?
The term is deduced from validus (lat.), validum facere means to make valid. something
will be made valid or legal.
The term Validation is described in DIN EN ISO 8402:1995, section 2.18, p14:
Confirmation based on an investigation and by proving that the special requirements with
regard to specially intended utilization (expectation of the user) have been met.
Verification
Verification is deduced from versus (lat.),
that is translated to true. Verum facere means then make truth, make true.
It describes the process of the proof of truth, the examination for correctness.
The DIN EN ISO 8402:1995 section 2.17, p.14 has also a definition for Verification:
Proof activity showing that a product completely meets the requirements specified during
previous activities and does not contain further functions.
Difference between Validation and Verification
The difference between validation and verification is not easy to see. The definitions are very
much alike. The difference between make valid and make true is this: To validate You make
a proof that the system satisfies the requirements, because it shows the intended functions.
To verify You proof that a object meets the specifications, because its functions work correctly.
During the Validation it will be shown, that the intended functions of a system fulfill the
Requirements, and during the verification a proof will be made, that this functions will be work
correctly.
This means that Validation always precedes Verification.
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