Insights into Software Quality

When it comes to software development, quality is the key. I've become quite involved in this industry and have grown to understand the complexity of software quality. A great deal of research has been done in an attempt to create a formal definition of software quality. Many quality models have been developed to evaluate various aspects of quality, such as Reliability, Efficiency, Security, Maintainability, and Size. Let's explore what software quality truly represents and why it matters so much in the software industry.

The Dual Nature of Quality

Consider software as an iceberg, of which the elements that are visible are only the tip. The user interface, functionality, and overall user experience together make up what we refer to as external quality. Customer happiness and the extent to which the product fulfills its intended purpose are directly impacted by external quality factors, such as functionality and user experience and robustness of the software. But beyond the surface is a crucial element that people frequently miss: internal quality. Internal quality creates the foundation for long-term success by making the software easier to evolve and maintain over time.

This includes the software's architecture, structural integrity, and how well the code is organized. Ignoring any one of these factors might result in problems like increased defects, slower development and less reliable software.

Why Both Sides Matter

Internal quality is the foundation that allows the software to evolve over a period of time, while external?quality draws the user's attention. While a slick user interface might grab the public's interest at first, software that lacks strong underlying quality may struggle to meet changing needs and may not scale well to growing user base. Therefore, in order to ensure a legitimately high-quality product, it is essential to find a balance between both of these aspects.

Concerns about internal quality typically center on how well the system can handle growing user base(scalability), how well it can adjust to changing requirements (Maintainability), and how well domain logic is separated from the underlying framework (Modularity). Sustaining internal quality also requires having strong tests to protect current functionality (Testability).

Software quality is essentially composed of both objective and subjective aspects. Subjective quality is related to users' experiences and perceptions, whereas objective quality is concerned with the software's intrinsic qualities.

Drawing from Experience

I've seen firsthand the consequences of ignoring internal quality throughout my career. Organizations may put user experience and aesthetics first while ignoring the intricacies of code quality. But this lack of foresight frequently results in an array of problems later on. The consequences could be severe and harmful to the product's success, ranging from prolonged development cycles to unanticipated technical debt.

Being in the services industry as InTimeTec we have had our own share of experiences working with partners, we have had situations where onboarding took longer because the internal quality of the code was not up to the mark. It also would take significantly longer time to add new features or fix defects. other situations we normally encounter is when one defect is fixed it results into many new defects.

Final Thoughts

Our compass in the ever-changing world of software development is quality. Understanding the relationship between internal and external quality allows us to create software that is not only visually stunning to consumers but also more reliable. In addition, the emergence of new technologies like machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) presents both chances and challenges for preserving quality. Testing efforts can be enhanced, and possible problems can be found more quickly by utilizing AI-driven testing tools and methodologies. As we set out to push the limits of creativity and provide outstanding software solutions, let's adopt this mindset.?