Software Engineering Institute

This module presents an introduction to models of software system evolution and their role in structuring software development. It includes a review of traditional software life-cycle models as well as software process models that have been recently proposed. It identifies three kinds of alternative models of software evolution that focus attention to either the products, production processes, or production settings as the major source of influence. It examines how different software engineering tools and techniques can support life-cycle or process approaches. It also identifies techniques for evaluating the practical utility of a given model of software evolution for development projects in different kinds of organizational settings.