Integrated software methodologies – An engineering approach

We make the case for greater integration of the individual methods and documentation used in the software development life-cycle. We illustrate practical benefits from this approach through the use of examples drawn from a methodology that has been used to develop successful safety-critical applications. Integration limits the number of different specifications that have to be developed and also typically results in improved traceability from requirements through to code. We also show that integration may reduce the burden imposed by formal verification. Integrated software toolsets are a natural consequence. This integration is exactly what engineers do in other disciplines, and software engineers should take note of this.